NEW YORK — Adam Frye got the news when he arrived at the Javits Center on Friday to pick up his packet of material for the New York City Marathon.

The race was canceled. Blame it on Sandy.

“I just flew out today,” said Frye, who lives in St. Paul, Minn. “I think I’m a little bit shocked. I never really thought they would cancel it. I kind of feel like they waited to cancel it until people like me had already come so we could spend our money.”

He was out $255 for the race fee and $300 for the flight.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg bowed to pressure and called off Sunday’s race after promising repeatedly all week that it would be held.

“This race is a very special one for me and millions of people around the world, but I understand why it cannot be held under the current circumstances,” said Meb Keflezighi, the 2009 men’s champion. “Any inconveniences the cancellation causes me or the thousands of runners who trained and traveled for this race pales in comparison to the challenges faced by people in NYC and its vicinity in the aftermath of Sandy.”

As for the amateur runners, Nikki Davies of London arrived Friday looking forward to the race.

“I can understand not wanting to run through devastated parts of the city,” she said. “I thought if they cancel it, they’d cancel it earlier.”