New York City Marathon Canceled After Post-Sandy Criticism

The New York City Marathon has been stopped in its tracks.

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Around the same time that much of lower Manhattan finally was returned to the working electric grid, it was reported by NBC News and The Charlie Rose Show that the famed 26.2 mile race around all five boroughs of the city would no longer be run on Sunday.

The Mayor's office soon confirmed the cancellation, saying in a statement, "We have decided to cancel the NYC marathon. The NYRR will have additional information in days ahead for participants."

It's a reversal of a decision that was announced early Friday by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg -- a decision that earned City Hall much criticism. Manhattan and Staten Island Borough Presidents Scott Stringer and James Molinaro publicly disagreed with Bloomberg's decision, citing destruction in much of the city, as well as the power and hotel rooms that the marathon would take, which could otherwise be used by displaced citizens.

Many participants in the marathon had already arrived in New York, collecting their bibs and settling in for the weekend.