In the wake of the heartbreaking deaths and injuries at the Boston Marathon, Seattle race directors find themselves addressing security concerns for their own events. Exactly how the bombings will affect local running and cycling events remains to be seen, but many event and city officials are already focusing on possible safety issues.
“The Seattle Marathon Association has always worked closely with the Seattle Police Department and Special Events committee to ensure the safety of our runners and spectators,” explained Louise Long, executive director of Seattle Marathon Association. “In the wake of the tragic incidents at this year’s Boston Marathon, we will continue to work with the mayor and city municipalities and will follow through with any heightened measures they require of us. In addition, no spectators will be allowed in the immediate finish-line area, nor will runners be permitted to linger or wait for another runner in the finish line area.”
Continued vigilance
In contrast to sporting events held in closed stadiums, volunteers at road races find it difficult to manage access, use metal detectors and check bags. Seattle’s largest races feature thousands of runners and spectators and may span miles of roads and trails.
In addition, race-day environments by nature are frenzied, with hundreds or thousands of athletes stretching and preparing for the event, vendors providing samples of their products and race teams donning costumes.
“Parks and Recreation has no plans or funding to make any changes in our security surrounding special events at parks,” explained Dewey Potter, communications manager for Seattle Parks and Recreation. “We will encourage park visitors and event participants, as other cities are doing, to be aware of their surroundings and to notify police of any unusual or suspicious behavior.”
One of the region’s largest event companies, Pro-Motion Events, is noted for high-energy races combining athletic efforts with frivolity, such as the popular Fremont Briefcase 5K relay, staged every June. Owner Brian Oster aims to maintain the whimsical fun with its preexisting high-security standards.
“We’ve been in communication with the mayor’s office and the police,” Oster said. “We don’t plan to bring in 6-foot fences and barbed wire, but we’re talking to other race directors so we can all be more vigilant.”
Pro-Motion employees and volunteers work closely with each other and with local police to maintain safety. Oster credits the races’ use of public facilities as providing additional security.
“Our staff has two-way radios and communicate with each other, Oster said. “Most of all our events are at city parks or on city streets, so local police departments are present.”
Scott Chupack, who enjoys running in 10K races and marathons, said he is unsure that outdoor events can be made completely resistant to terrorism.
“I think at really big races, more security at the start, where everyone congregates in tight quarters, is reasonable. For example, the Chicago Marathon already had a secure zone at the start area, with limited entrances, and you needed a race number for admission,” Chupack said. “I think that random bag checks would be acceptable at races like Chicago, where the security costs could be amortized over tens of thousands of racers. But there are more than a thousand marathons in the U.S., with thousands more road races of 5K or longer. They take place over tens of thousands of miles of public roads. There is no reasonable way to secure them all, and all we would succeed in doing is punishing the runners that want to race with higher costs and bigger hassles.”
Bringing people together
Other local athletes see future security changes as inevitable. Accountant Donna Reitz, who participates in local marathons and triathlons, hopes that spectators will continue to attend.
“As someone who has done many outdoor races, including marathons, I immensely enjoy the support and encouragement from spectators and am heartbroken that so many of them were injured or worse [in the bombings at the Boston Marathon],” Reitz said.
“Running has helped me get more fit, and training for running races has given me motivation to keep that fitness,” Reitz added. “It would be too bad for bombers or other angry people to ruin that momentum.”
Lacey Lybecker, who plans the Fremont Oktoberfest 5K, said that preventing crime will be a top concern.
“We have very solid safety and security plans in place for all of our events so we do not anticipate increased security,” Lybecker said. “We do feel there will be a heightened awareness, and we plan to emphasize this request we always share with our staff and volunteers: If you see something that seems out of place or just not right, tell your area manager, the event director, a security guard, someone, right away.”
Lybecker adds that medical staff has always been present at these eventsto respond to injuries, whether from overexertion, or now, from crime. She urges spectators and competitors to attend as always.
“We don’t see anyone not planning on participating in the Fremont Oktoberfest 5K,” Lybecker said. “In 2001, Fremont Oktoberfest was held just two weeks after 9/11, and there was a record attendance at the event. If anything, a disaster like what happened in Boston only brings people together.”
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