SALT LAKE CITY — Runners are a tough bunch. We will run through rain, sleet, snow and hail, sometimes all at the same time. I’ve been known to run in winds so strong that they blow me off the sidewalk. No exaggeration there.

I’ve run in temperatures so cold that as my eyes water, ice crystals form on my eyelashes. I’ve been pelted by hail on my bare shoulders enough to give me bruises. Yep, runners and mail carriers will muscle through it all.

But there are times when we simply shouldn’t, and this past weekend was a good example.

After Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, the devastation was widespread and far greater than many imagined it would be. One of the hardest hit areas, Staten Island, is the start of the New York City Marathon.

For many, the NYC Marathon is a lifelong dream. It’s a difficult race to get into, even with a field as large as 45,000. Runners travel from around the globe to join forces and run through the five boroughs in a traveling U.N. I was fortunate enough to run this race last year, and it was an unforgettable experience. Even the trip to the starting line was exciting, as the ferry floated past the Statue of Liberty. Running across the Verrazano Bridge and finally finishing in the most famous park in the world, Central Park, is a memory I hold dear.

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Another 45,000 people looked forward to making similar memories this year, many of them dear friends of mine. After Sandy, they were faced with a decision: to run, or not to run.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg insisted that the marathon go forward even amidst the devastation and despair that gripped many of New York’s residents. That’s when the grumbling started.

Thousands of people were without power. Others lost their homes entirely. Even worse, many lost loved ones. Some still remain missing.

Resources like clean water, gas and fresh food were scarce. Streets were made impassable with trees and debris in every direction. Central Park was closed while cleanup crews struggled to restore the park.

Some felt that continuing on with the race would only benefit the city. Runners bring in millions of dollars on race weekend. I know for a fact that I contributed an obscene amount of money to the New York economy last year. In addition, many felt that the race would show the strength and resilience of New York.

All that is true, but the timing was wrong. Yes, the city could use the economic boost. And, yes, New York has bounced back from tragedy before and still retains it’s stubborn tenacity. But it's just too soon.

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Last year I found myself stranded when my car battery died. I had just picked up my kids from school. We were in the midst of a heavy rainstorm with darker clouds looming over the horizon. A woman in the school parking lot noticed my distress and made her way to me. Thinking she was going to offer me a jump, I felt a sense of relief. I rolled down my window, but instead of offering me help, she gave me a flower and said she hoped my day would get better. Before I could utter a word, she walked away.

I know she meant well, but what she offered wasn’t what I needed at that time. I didn’t need encouragement or a kind smile. I needed a battery jump or a ride. Her gesture left me more frustrated than I’d felt before.

That’s how I felt about running the marathon this year. Those that wanted to continue the race to boost the economy and spirits of New York meant well, but it just wasn’t the right time.

There was no shortage of critics ready to tell Bloomberg that either.

Anti-marathon anger grew to new heights with threats even being made towards the runners themselves. Residents were pleading into television cameras for help while race preparations went full steam ahead. It made me feel uneasy.

Runners are my people. We are kind, generous and generally good folk. But the situation at hand made us look selfish.

Amidst the growing resentment, Bloomberg finally canceled the marathon Friday afternoon, only two days before the race. It was a the right decision, but it should have been made earlier so travel plans could have been changed.

To put it simply, the whole situation was an ugly mess.

I don’t blame the runners. Many did cancel their trips before the race was officially canceled. Other runners made the trip and attempted to organize relief efforts during their stay in the city.

I had many friends with good, generous hearts who chose to fly back to New York, trusting that the mayor’s and race director’s decision to continue the marathon was in the best interest of the city. On Sunday morning, thousands of runners boarded the Staten Island Ferry, but instead of making their way to the starting line, they organized clean-up efforts where they were needed most.

My heart goes out to those directly affected by Hurricane Sandy. Canceling the marathon is disappointing, but that disappointment pales in comparison to the desperation so many are feeling at this time. It warmed my heart to see pictures of runners hard at work Sunday morning, unwilling to let the morning pass by without trying to make a difference.

For the rest of us who can’t physically help, we can donate to the Red Cross or any other of the various charities set up to help with the relief effort.

The only people more resilient than runners and mail carriers are Americans.

Kim Cowart is a wife, mother, 24-Hour Fitness instructor and marathoner who encourages her fellow, generous, good-hearted runners to donate what they can to the Red Cross.

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