Woman runs own NYC marathon in Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The announcement from Mayor Michael Bloomberg of the New York City Marathon being cancelled today certainly did not stop runners in Delaware Park including one woman in particular.

Julia Burke had trained for the NYC Marathon, but she just didn't feel right, running in the midst of Sandy's destruction.

More than 80 people laced up and joined Burke, running an impromptu marathon in Delaware Park to raise money for Hurricane Sandy victims in New York City.

Burke says, "I was devastated. I have a lot of friends in the area, and most of them still don't have power. Some of them couldn't return to their homes because they were evacuated. They had major flooding, and I was just really trying to think of what I could do to help."

She was hoping others would join her, both in running and donating to relief efforts; the outcome she received was beyond anything she imagined.

The runner's father and mother drove all the way from Ohio to support their daughter. "We're so proud of her. Yeah, we're very proud of her. We think it's the perfect solution to the dilemma," said her mom, Suzie Burke.

Annemarie Uebbing, a native Buffalonian now living in New Jersey also came out to Delaware Park. She says, "Ocean County was really devastated. Homes were washed away; and a lot of gas fires. When I was coming here on Friday night, I thought, 'Well this would be a great way to kind of connect.'"

An unexpected gift was sent from Governor Andrew Cuomo, who sent one of his top men in Western New York to personally tell Burke, "thank you."

Empire State Development Regional President, Sam Hoyt says, "His belief is that this represents - Julia represents - what New York State is all about. We all come together in a time of crisis."

Suzie Burke calls it "amazing, that the Governor's involved and that he heard about it. We just never thought it would be like this; we never thought it would be this big."

Burke now knows firsthand why we're known as 'The City of Good Neighbors.' She says, "This was amazing. One of the best days of my life. I couldn't believe the support out here, from the spectators to the donors to the runners. It's been an incredible day. And I just can't believe what a community we have here in Buffalo."

Inspired by what Burke is doing, a man who ran the 1985 NYC Marathon showed up and gave her his medal from the race. He wanted no recognition; he just wanted to tell her, "Nice job."