The Alsatian delegation learned that it could not run the New York marathon. And for good reason, on October 15, the United States announced the reopening of its borders on November 8, the day after the marathon. A huge disappointment for the 170 Alsatian runners.
Two years, that they thought about it day and night. Two years that they trained for THE race of their life. “Everything was ready, the American government was talking about a reopening at the beginning of November, it was thought that the borders would reopen on the 1st, the marathon being fixed on November 7th, everything seemed to be good” explains Pascal Leroy, co-organizer of the Alsatian delegation for the New York marathon.
But now, on October 15, the ax fell. “We learned via a Reuters report that the US borders would not open until November 8, the day after the marathon. We were in a state of shock, really stunned.” adds Pascal Leroy, who is carrying out this project with the Haut-Rhin building federation.
To date no explanation has been given from the US government or the NY Marathon organizers. “We know there was a cluster at the London Marathon maybe it was scary” tries to understand Pascal Leroy.
Injustice and disappointment for the largest French delegation
This year each country could take 1000 runners. In total, 30 countries participated in the event so 30,000 runners were expected. Of the 1000 French runners, 170 were Alsatians which made it the largest French delegation.
Of these, 90% have never run a marathon in their life. This is the case of Peggy Guillon-Zaegel. Suffering from an autoimmune disease, she was diagnosed when the project was created. “When I found out that I was sick, I didn’t tell myself that I was going to stop, on the contrary. I set myself a goal, to run the 42km and fight the disease” Peggy Guillon-Zaegel tells us.
It’s two years of investment, two years of sacrifice, running New York is the holy grail
She and the other Alsatian runners trained four times a week. Like Peggy Guillon-Zaegel, many of them took to running late, so challenging themselves to run the world’s most famous marathon was no small feat. “It’s two years of investment, two years of sacrifice, running New York is the holy grail“she explains to us.
Human commitment, unforgettable encounters
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For him, this is not a first, however. In 2007 and then in 2009, Pascal Leroy had already set up delegations to go to New York. There they had organized meetings with the firefighters of the Casagrande barracks in the Bronx. An operation that they had to repeat this year since Colmar firefighters as well as gendarmes had to run the marathon.
At the time, Alsatian runners were mobilized for the fight against cancer. This year it was for the benefit of the ELA association that they were to set foot on New York soil. Note that a check for 10,000 euros will still be paid to him on November 17 in Colmar.
Head for the Lake Maggiore marathon as a replacement
Motivated, determined not to let themselves be defeated, the Alsatian runners have decided, failing to go to New York, to register for the Lake Maggiore marathon to be held on November 7. To mark the occasion, they will run in their New York marathon jerseys and intend to send the photo to American President Joe Biden, without resentment, as a wink …
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