Enhanced Security Will Accompany Marathon Runners to the Finish Line

As New York City gears up for one of its most exciting celebrations, one of the hottest topics is how far to go to insure the safety of participants and bystanders to the Marathon, due to take place next month.

It has been seven months since the tragic events of April 15, 2013 when two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing 3 people and wounding over 260, some seriously.

On November 3rd New Yorkers and visitors will fill the streets of all five boroughs, creating a security challenge hard to match, but the police and anti-terrorist forces will be out in force and extremely visible. Central Park will be surrounded by barriers, and entry will be limited to only a few points, where bags will be checked before entry is granted.

The organizer of the marathon, New York Road Runners, made the decision to allow bags into the park, saying it would not be practical to ban bags entirely from the gathering place. However police and the Road Runners are asking that visitors please limit the number of bags they carry in to only one small bag per person, if possible not larger than an ordinary purse.