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Boston Marathon expects large field and tight security a year after bombing 36,000 Boston marathoners set out from starting line amid tight security
(about 3 hours later)
A year after a pair of homemade pressure-cooker bombs killed three people and wounded more than 260 at the Boston Marathon, runners and spectators began filtering in Monday morning at the starting line in Hopkinton, amid tight security. With security tight along the 26.2-mile route, tens of thousands of runners set out from the starting line at the Boston Marathon on Monday in a "Boston Strong" show of resilience a year after the deadly bombing.
About 36,000 runners have registered for the race – the second-largest field in its history, many coming to show support for the event and the city that was shocked by the attack. "I showed up, I'm back, and I am going to finish what I didn't finish last year," said Mary Cunningham, 50, of St Petersburg, Florida, who was stopped a mile short of the finish line by the explosions last year.
"I can't imagine the number of emotions that are going to be there," said Katie O'Donnell, who was running the marathon last year and made it 25½ miles before she was stopped less than a mile from the finish line, after the bombs exploded. "I think I'm going to start crying at the starting line and I'm not sure I'll stop until I cross the finish line." The two pressure-cooker bombs that went off near the finish line killed three people and wounded more than 260.
The most obvious change for the 118th edition of the world's oldest annual marathon was the heavy security presence. State and local police officers were everywhere, even on the rooftops of some buildings. But rather than creating a tense situation, everyone appeared relaxed. Some runners even thanked the police officers for making them feel safe. Police were deployed in force along the course, with helicopters circling above and bomb-sniffing dogs checking through trash cans. Officers were posted on roofs.
Buses bearing the message "Boston Strong" dropped off runners. A banner on one building read: "You are Boston Strong. You Earned This." Boston Marathon race director Dave McGillivray said it had been a long and difficult year.
Spectators went through tight security checkpoints before being allowed near the common. "We're taking back our race," he said. "We're taking back the finish line."
"There'll be considerably more police presence," Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick said onSunday on CBS. “But we also don't want to have it, you know, kind of a race through a militarised zone. So it's about striking a balance, and I think we have struck that balance.” A total of 35,755 athletes were registered to run – the second-largest field in its history, with many coming to show support for the event and the city that was traumatized by the attack on its signature sporting event.
Runners attending the event will have to use clear plastic bags for their belongings, and fans hoping to watch near the finish line are encouraged to leave strollers and backpacks behind. More than 100 cameras have been installed along the route in Boston and 50 or so "observation points" will be set up around the finish line "to monitor the crowd", the Boston Athletic Association said. "I can't imagine the number of emotions that are going to be there," said Katie O'Donnell, who was stopped less than a mile from the end last year. "I think I'm going to start crying at the starting line, and I'm not sure I'll stop until I cross the finish line."
Patrick said there had been no specific threats against the race or the city for the Massachusetts holiday of Patriots' Day. Buses bearing the message "Boston Strong" dropped off runners at the starting line in the town of Hopkinton. A banner on one building read: "You are Boston Strong. You Earned This."
"We're not taking that as a sign to sort of stand down," he said. "We're very prepared, and we're assuring people as much as we can that it'll be a fun day and a safe one." The most obvious change for the 118th running of the world's oldest annual marathon was the heavy security. Nevertheless, many found the atmosphere to be calm and friendly.
Race organisers expanded the field from its recent cap of 27,000 to 36,000 make room for more than 5,000 runners who were still on the course at the time of the explosions, for friends and relatives of the victims and for those who made the case that they were "profoundly impacted" by the attack. "I think everybody is being very pleasant," said Jean Bertschman, a Hopkinton resident who comes to watch the start of the marathon most years and had never seen anything close to this level of security.
Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia and Kenya's Rita Jeptoo, who crossed the finish line on Boylston Street about three hours before the explosions, will return to defend their championships. Desisa returned to Boston last fall to donate his first-place medal to the city as a gesture of support. Spectators went through tight security checkpoints before being allowed near Hopkinton Common.
Runners had to use clear plastic bags for their belongings, and fans hoping to watch near the finish line were encouraged to leave strollers and backpacks behind.
More than 100 cameras were installed along the route in Boston, and race organizers said 50 or so observation points would be set up around the finish line to monitor the crowd.
Runner Scott Weisberg, 44, from Birmingham, Alabama, said he had trouble sleeping the night before.
"With everything that happened last year, I can't stop worrying about it happening again. I know the chances are slim to none, but I can't help having a nervous pit in my stomach," Weisberg said.
Race organizers expanded the field from its recent cap of 27,000 to make room for more than 5,000 runners who were still on the course last year at the time of the explosions, for friends and relatives of the victims, and for those who made the case that they were "profoundly impacted" by the attack.
Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia and Kenya's Rita Jeptoo, who crossed the finish line on Boylston Street about three hours before the explosions, returned to defend their championships. Desisa came to Boston last fall to donate his first-place medal to the city as a gesture of support.
Jeptoo, who also won the race in 2006, said she is hoping for a third victory –and one she can enjoy.Jeptoo, who also won the race in 2006, said she is hoping for a third victory –and one she can enjoy.
"It was very difficult to be happy. People were injured and children died," she said. "If I'm going to win again, I hope I can be happier and to show people, like I was supposed to last year." "It was very difficult to be happy. People were injured and children died," she said of last year's marathon. "If I'm going to win again, I hope I can be happier and to show people, like I was supposed to last year."
Authorities say two ethnic Chechen brothers who lived in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan and the Dagestan region of Russia planned and orchestrated the marathon bombings on 15 April 2013. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 20, is awaiting trial in the April 15, 2013, attack and could get the death penalty. Prosecutors said he and his older brother – ethnic Chechens who came to the US from Russia more than a decade ago – carried out the attack in retaliation for US wars in Muslim lands.
Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, died following a shootout with police days after the bombings. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 20, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges and is awaiting a trial in which he faces a possible death sentence. Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, died in a shootout with police days after the bombings.
Prosecutors say the brothers also killed MIT police Officer Sean Collier days after the bombings in an attempt to steal his gun.