I’ve run the NYC Marathon five times (last year I participated as a guide for Achilles, running with a visually impaired athlete from Poland). I ran it in November 2001, less than 2 months after 9/11. Back then, many said the city should cancel the marathon, with real concerns about safety from potential terrorism. Life must go on, and so should the marathon. It is the ultimate healer in continuing to bring New York together. The marathon itself has already officially dedicated this year’s event to focus on recovery efforts, and it will be run with a different tone this year. The New York Road Runners and marathon organizers have already teamed to donate over $2.5 million to relief efforts, with a goal to far exceed that. I’ve seen some participants already work to create a system where all marathon participants can do good by bringing much needed supplies to the start of the race in Staten Island, which seems to have received the brunt of damage.