With no route to run, the Minneapolis Marathon is canceled
Organizers of the Minneapolis Marathon have canceled this year's plans, saying they couldn't lock down run routes in time for the June 5 event.
The Team Ortho Foundation, the nonprofit that organizes the marathon, initially proposed a route that crossed the Franklin Avenue Bridge and West River Parkway — both of which are currently closed.
So, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board denied a permit for the race.
"Despite our attempts to work with them to get a route and other details confirmed, we never received that information and we never issued them a permit," Park Board spokesperson Dawn Sommers told MPR News last week.
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Local distance runners still have a nearby marathon option in the Twin Cities Marathon, which is scheduled for Oct. 9 with a different group organizing.
Minneapolis Marathon organizers apologized for falling short.
"We understand that you have worked very hard to prepare for your race," they wrote on the marathon's Facebook page. "We know this cancellation is a disappointment to you and disrupts your plans and your running life."
Some runners, though, weren't in a forgiving mood and quickly took to social media to criticize organizers and express their frustration.
"Really sad that 6 months notice about construction is not enough time to figure out an alternate route. This means that you were probably still accepting registration without a confirmed route. Failure on many fronts for your company," wrote one Facebook user on the post announcing the run had been canceled.
Another post read: "Are you going to refund my $400 plane ticket????????"
Organizers are offering full refunds to runners who already registered, plus discounts on upcoming Team Ortho races.