In a marathon for the ages, a rush of volunteers
Emotions overcome runners training for Marathon
Looking back, running ahead
Visually impaired runner to be guided by NPR radio host
Even tutus have a place in the race
Along Marathon route, trauma runs its course
Through history, the Boston Marathon as a race against fear
It's why we run.
"New Boston Marathon security rules issued" by Maria Cramer | Globe Staff, February 26, 2014
The idea behind the security plan is to ease the crowds that are expected to amass around Copley Square on April 21, when police are expecting record numbers of spectators to watch the Marathon one year after a terrorist attack....
Lighter crowds will make it easier for bomb-sniffing dogs to scour the sidewalks and undercover officers to monitor the crowds....
The main event is the race, but in the days leading up to it, the neighborhood is jammed with workers setting up bleachers and a grandstand. Shorter races are run, and tourists and runners from around the world begin to congregate.
More than 36,000 runners are registered to run the race, and police are expecting at least 1 million people to line the route to watch the race from Hopkinton to Boston.
Police Commissioner William Evans said people carrying large bags and backpacks will be searched. Still, he said, there would be no metal wands used to scan spectators.
One woman asked Evans whether police planned to use drones to spy on the streets.
“No, absolutely not,” he said.
“I appreciate that,” she responded. “I didn’t want to close my curtains for three days.”
Runners were sent a mass e-mail Wednesday afternoon, a few hours before the public meeting, detailing the new restrictions they will face this year. Among the forbidden items will be containers that carry more than 1 liter, water packs worn on the back like Camelbacks, and heavy sports or military equipment.
They will have to keep their personal belongings in clear plastic bags that they will check under one of four large tents at Boston Common, said Eddie Jacobs, technical producer for the event.
Officials have designated a second area for families and friends of those who finish the race to meet after the runners reach the finish line, said Boston Police Superintendent Bernard O’Rourke.
In the past, runners and their loved ones mingled around Stuart Street near Boylston.
This year, O’Rourke said, the family meeting area has been spread to Boston Common, another strategy to help police thin the crowds.
Still, many of the residents who came to the meeting Wednesday night seemed more concerned with traffic and potential damage to grassy walkways than they did about security.
Margaret Pokorny, chairwoman of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall Committee, implored Evans to keep emergency vehicles and news trucks off the grassy paths, which have taken a beating during large events.
Evans assured her he would.
After the meeting, Pokorny chuckled at her request.
“These guys aren’t worried about the grass,” she said. “They’ve got other issues.”
Yeah, tyranny based on false flags and scripted crisis drills is funny.
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They are “just going to shoo people away.”
"Police will double their presence for Marathon; Spectators are asked to restrict their gear" by Maria Cramer | Globe Staff, March 10, 2014
FRAMINGHAM — More than 3,500 police officers from at least 10 agencies, twice as many officers as last year, will line the Boston Marathon route next month as part of an intensive security operation that will employ more surveillance cameras, bomb-sniffing dogs, and limitations on spectators’ interactions with runners than ever before.
With at least 1 million people expected along the route, twice the number of spectators as in the past, police are discouraging spectators from wearing backpacks, hauling coolers, or carrying containers that hold more than a liter of liquid, state officials announced Monday.
“In this world, you never eliminate risk; you never bring it down to zero,” State Police Colonel Timothy Alben said in the bunker of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Monday while flanked by officers from the eight cities and towns included in the Marathon route. “But we are working very hard at reducing the risk.”
FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kiernan Ramsey said his agency has no indication that there will be another attack at this year’s race.
They said the same thing last year!
“At this time, we have no special intelligence that there is a threat,” Ramsey said.
Law enforcement anticipated no threat before last year’s bombings on Boylston Street that killed three and injured more than 260 people. In the days following the bombings, Boston police learned that one of the suspects, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, had been on a government watchlist, creating tension between local authorities and the FBI.
Pfffft!
Ramsey said Monday that the level of information sharing between the FBI and local police departments is “second to none.”
“There is constant communication,” Ramsey said. “We have to get this right 110 percent of the time. Sadly, the bad guys only have to get it right once.”
What crap!
Police said they will rely heavily on spectators to act as a second set of eyes on the streets and report anything that seems suspicious....
Here is your guide:
"Boston police saw a major increase in 2013 in confidential tips that poured into a department call and texting program, spurred in large part by the response to the Marathon bombings, authorities said this week. “It shows that we’re getting a lot more cooperation from the public,” said Acting Police Commissioner William Evans said in a telephone interview. “It’s helped us on some significant cases over the past year, especially since the Marathon. The Marathon was a clear illustration” of the usefulness of tips, Evans said.”
I'm sorry, but I see agenda-pushing at every corner.
"About 3,500 uniformed and plainclothes police and National Guard soldiers will be stationed along the course, said Kurt N. Schwartz, the state’s undersecretary for homeland security and emergency management. Evans said officers have been trained to identify suspicious behavior by people carrying packages, and more cameras are expected to be set up at the finish line."
Not there yet, and I can't see anything!
State officials said they are strongly discouraging spectators from bringing the following items: backpacks; suitcases and rolling bags; coolers; glass containers or cans; any container capable of carrying more than 1 liter of liquid; handbags, packages, or bulky items more than 12 inches wide and 12 inches long; large blankets or comforters, duvets, sleeping bags; and any costumes that cover the face or bulky clothes.
Why not just skip it?
Officials said they are discouraging those items because they could be used to conceal weapons.
To avoid being searched, spectators should bring their belongings in clear, plastic bags, officials said.
Boston police have already said they plan to stop anyone with a backpack or heavy bag....
Police Commissioner William Evans, speaking to a group of Back Bay business owners, last week, said it makes no sense to prohibit spectators from bringing large bags to the race. If police turn away people carrying such items, the bags could be abandoned on the street or in an alley, which could create panic and divert officers, Evans said.
Boston police do not plan to use metal-detection wands or force spectators to file through security lines, he said.
The plan is to have a more laid-back approach....
Just ignore the increased militarization and presence of security.
In all, the marathon route goes through eight cities and towns. It is unclear what security checkpoints will look like on other parts of the route. Officials declined to say how many there will be.
Spectators will see more barriers separating them from the runners, from ropes to metal gates, and police have said they plan to flood the route with uniformed and plainclothes officers.
Looks really laid back.
Bomb-sniffing dogs will patrol towns such as Brookline, where the canines have not been used in the past.
Kurt Schwartz, director of MEMA, said that in the smaller towns where the route winds through neighborhoods, people can still bring coolers out to their front lawns and watch the runners as they always have.
The goal, Schwartz said, is to keep the Marathon a “fun, festive, family-oriented day.”
And go $hopping!
To that end, police officers will also be told to be reasonable, officials said.
Local officers have been trained to watch for strange people acting furtively, officials said, not bother neighbors they are used to seeing every year on their front stoop, watching the race and drinking soda from a cooler.
“We are urging common sense,” Schwartz said.
The cost of beefing up security has not yet been tallied, he said. Typically, costs for state resources alone, such as State Police and fire services, are several hundred thousand dollars, Schwartz said.
“I can tell you that the state costs [this year] are much greater than that,” Schwartz said.
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"Marathon will be a high-tech affair; Marathon will have real-time links for runners, officials, fans" by Michael B. Farrell | Globe Staff March 31, 2014
Technology will be even more of a factor this year because of the heightened security around the race after last year’s bombing attacks. There will be dozens more video cameras along the course, as well as sophisticated hazardous materials sensors.
Who is getting those contracts, 'eh?
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency will use multiple Web tools to follow and record all incidents along the route — from suspicious packages to fallen runners — and will be sending alerts to the smartphones that organizers and emergency officials will be carrying.
Because of the strong emotional connection and symbolism associated with the race, organizers anticipate that nearly 1 million people will visit the course. And to handle the influx of spectators anxious to quickly post photos on Instagram or Facebook, telecom providers are boosting cellular capacity.
************
All the added attention to this year’s Boston Marathon is bound to make it a major social media and Web happening....
That means NO ATTACK THIS YEAR!
So for runners like Preston, who has been blogging about the race and using apps to connect with other runners, being able to share that experience online is all that more important.
Thanks for running this far with me, readers.
After all, it was a Twitter contest conducted by iFit.com, the fitness app company, that scored her one of the hard-to-get bib numbers in the first place. She was selected after retweeting a contest post by iFit.com.
See: Marathon bib pickup tinged with memories
With several marathons under her belt, Preston had always wanted to run in Boston but figured it would be out of the question this year. Even though the Twitter contest was a long shot, she gave it a try. Within minutes, iFit responded that she had won.
“I kind of freaked out,” she said. “I was screaming and crying and freaking out all at the same time.”
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And off we go....
Proud host Hopkinton prepares for Marathon like no other
"Emotions run high for Marathon; On Marathon eve, a day of blessings, memories, pasta" by Joshua Miller, Marcella Bombardieri and Zachary T. Sampson | Globe Staff and Globe Correspondent April 21, 2014
On the day before the first Boston Marathon since the bombings, Boston was awash with sunshine and determination, even as memories of last year cast an occasional shadow on the city’s festive spirit.
Easter coincided with the most emotional Boston Marathon eve in the 118-year history of the celebrated event, and the Christian story of Jesus’ resurrection mirrored a sense of resilience.
***************
Governor Deval Patrick said Sunday morning that officials have had no intelligence suggesting any specific threats against Monday’s Marathon, but described elevated security while reassuring the public that the race will be “very safe.”
Speaking on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Patrick said “the intelligence folks often talk about so-called chatter in intelligence channels, and there has not been elevated chatter.
They said the same thing last year!
“We’re not taking that as a sign to sort of stand down,” the governor continued. “We’re very alert, we’re very prepared and we’re assuring people as much as we can that it will be a fun day and a safe one.”
WHAT?!!??!!
Patrick cited enhanced security measures including a larger police presence, tactical units deployed along the route, and undercover officers. He described a recent daylong practice session where 450 people from various law enforcement agencies walked through different scenarios.
There are always parallel drills that accompany a false flag. Happened on 9/11 and 7/7.
************
Indeed, the overall mood along the final stretch of the Marathon route on Boylston was upbeat....
Related:
Year since bombings proved Boston was always strong
The resilience of optimism
I predict today will pass without incident.
--more--"
Other runners in the race:
Marathon ‘bandits’ fall prey to stricter security
Marathon bandits will be missed this year
Police step up security for Patriots Day event
Marathon security will be tighter, but not ‘over the top’
Actually, it will be over the top!
Governor Patrick signs ‘Boston Strong’ license plate bill
Spurned by state, cyclists vow to hold ride on Marathon route
Midnight Marathon bike ride: Civic spirit on two wheels
Longtime Marathon director faces security, health tests
Jeff Bauman, Erin Hurley engaged and expecting first child
Past the halfway point.
“I’m mostly afraid of being afraid,”
Be afraid, be very afraid:
Discarded pressure cooker causes scare in East Boston
15-year-old charged after bomb threat
Bomb threats cause evacuations at MassBay College campuses
"The store’s proximity to the Boston Marathon bombings — right next to one of the explosions — has made it a powerful empathetic force, driving friends and strangers to connect with staff who were there at the time. Nearly a year later, people from all of the world still feel a need to stop by and visit."
Time to have some fun and get back to business:
"Nearly a year after the bombings at the Boston Marathon, many of the businesses that reported financial losses from the explosions and aftermath are still struggling to collect reimbursements from their insurance companies or have had their claims denied outright. The denials of claims have angered some business owners, who say they collectively lost millions of dollars in the days after the bombings. Insurance industry officials said there are many valid reasons for claims to be rejected."
Not very charitable of them.
Head of One Fund payouts lauds ‘collective empathy’
The fawning over the payout specialist and keep 'em quiet artist is disgusting. Feinberg involved in everything from JFK to 9/11 to BP.
Red Sox invited to White House
Should have skipped that leg. Ortiz!
Banners signal Marathon’s return
Boston Public Library wasn’t the target
Marathon memorial to open at Boston Public Library
Marathon memorial enshrined
Dookhran's was removed and forgotten.
Some affected by bombing will be at race, but others won’t
Boston’s second-stage responders
Family launches foundation in honor of Lingzi Lu
Biden to attend Marathon bombing commemoration
Marathon bombing survivors say a heartfelt thank you
Medford to honor Krystle Campbell with memorial garden
Boston Marathon survivor upset at ‘Meet the Press’
Tributes planned as Marathon bombing anniversary nears
Officials vow to make Marathon safe and enjoyable
It's now known as 4/15?
For Richard family, loss and love
For Richard family, finding strength
An emotional end at One Run race
"More than 250 people from dance studios in Boston and beyond gathered at Boylston Plaza Sunday afternoon for a flash mob to introduce a new song commemorating the strength of a city torn by the bombings at the Marathon last year."
Flash mob can al$o equal fake protests!
"It was a day marked by somber reflection and painful remembrance, one year after a pair of homemade bombs inflicted unspeakable suffering at the Boston Marathon. But when at an anniversary tribute, Patrick Downes described a year filled with love and gratitude."
Does the route go through Newton, and if so they better watch out for suiciders.
A year since Marathon attacks, many survivors still struggle
A year after Marathon bombings, stark and subtle signs of changes
Marathon victims’ families, survivors gather in Boston
Witness to a city’s grief
Marathon bombing anxiety likely to return in children
Around the city, a pause to remember and honor
One year later, Stoneham’s Norden brothers travel Marathon route
Tatyana McFadden set for Boston challenge again
To show Putin!
From Marathon calamity, newlyweds’ bond deepens
Copley churches plan array of Easter, Marathon events
Back Bay churches mark sites of sorrow
Like Israelis, Bostonians show resilence amid pain
Time to finish this post.
"Security will be high at Marathon finish line; More cameras and checkpoints" by Maria Cramer | Globe Staff April 12, 2014
With the Boston Marathon a week and a half away, Boston police and city officials are finalizing plans to secure the last 2 miles of the race, where huge crowds are expected to gather to cheer runners competing a year after the bombings.
Police will stand sentry at 40 to 50 security checkpoints along Boylston Street from Massachusetts Avenue to the finish line. The city’s Emergency Medical Services is expected to roll out larger medical tents and more beds than last year, in anticipation of one of the biggest fields of runners in Marathon history. Several streets in the Back Bay will be closed to traffic in an effort to spread the expected crush of spectators to nearby thoroughfares and make it easier for police to monitor crowds.
Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Police Commissioner William Evans will discuss plans for the April 21 Marathon at a press conference Saturday afternoon at City Hall Plaza. The city holds that press conference every year before the race, but the memory of the bombings on April 15 last year has dramatically heightened the focus and interest in securing the event.
***************
Officials have said that additional temporary surveillance cameras will be installed along the 26.2-mile route that begins in Hopkinton and winds through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, and Brookline before ending in front of the Boston Public Library in Copley Square.
Several police and state agencies, including Boston and State Police, have agreed to provide live footage from their public cameras so they can be integrated into one system so multiple agencies can monitor the crowds at the same time, said Randy Clarke, senior director of security and emergency management at the MBTA. The feeds will include images from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, which has a large network of cameras in its train stations and buses. Law enforcement officials began conceiving of the idea to combine the feeds three years ago, but last year’s attacks convinced them to go ahead with the plans.
“It changes the whole dynamic so if an incident does happen, everyone has the same awareness of what’s going on,” Clarke said. “If they have a tactical issue or question, then they can all be looking at the same thing.”
Spectators have been told not to bring backpacks or bulky bags with them near the course. In Boston, police have said people trying to get on Boylston Street with such items will have them searched.
The checkpoints will be more like “observation points,” said Sergeant Michael McCarthy, Boston police spokesman. Spectators will not have to pass through a metal detector or be scanned with a security wand, he said.
Officers will stand along Boylston Street where metal gates will be set up at the side streets that intersect with Boylston. Spectators who bring nothing or tote their belongings in clear, plastic bags should be able to get to Boylston Street without being stopped.
But if crowds on Boylston get too thick, police could start turning people away toward Newbury Street or Huntington Avenue. Newbury Street will be closed to traffic to make room for pedestrians who will spill over from Boylston. The north side of Huntington Avenue will be closed to make room for spectators.
There will be 380 cots set up in medical tents near the finish line, dozens more than last year. A bus that has been outfitted to function as an ambulance, complete with 30 cots, will be set up near Boston Common, Martin said. There will be 24 ambulances assigned to cover the city and 13 city ambulances along the route, he said. About 140 EMS personnel are expect to work that day, the same number as last year.
Maybe I'm wrong and the crisis drills will again go live.
The extra cots are meant to prepare for the larger field of runners....
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Looks like i made pretty good time.
For doctor, memories of Marathon carnage flood back
Amid chaos near finish line, bond was forged
Respects are paid at Marathon finish line
What carries them to the Marathon finish line
What will great them when they get there:
Boston Globe wins Pulitzer for Marathon bombing coverage
Globe’s John Tlumacki wins photojournalist of year award
Boston Globe staff honored for Marathon bombing coverage
Boston Globe leads local media outlets in Society of Professional Journalists awards
Now, you may call me a conspiracy theorist, a fool, or even question my state of mind; however, you need to look at the pictures more closely.
Time to head over to the ball park and catch the rest of the game.
