THE FIRETIDE BLOG

Top considerations for marathon security

May 16, 2016

NYC Marathon.jpgSpring marks the true beginning of marathon season in the Northern Hemisphere, with dozens of marathons set to take place throughout the year between April and October. There will be approximately 1,137 marathons in North America alone in 2016, and this is not counting all the half-marathons, 10Ks, 5Ks and other major organized races set to occur this year.

Ensuring security through video surveillance and other methods at a marathon is no easy feat. Not only do officials have a lot of ground to cover, but they need to protect a lot of people as well. Some of the most popular marathons, such as the Chicago Marathon and the New York City Marathon can have between 40,000 and 55,000 runners, plus the hundreds of others who are watching. By keeping these points in mind, race officials can better ensure security on race day:

1) Security needs to be a priority

There are dozens if not hundreds of little things that all must line up just right for a marathon to go off without a hitch. Everything from runner registration and finish line tracking to volunteer placement and bib printing needs to go smoothly before and during race day.

With so much going on, it can be too easy for race administrators to lose sight of security concerns. But, as events from the past few years have shown, what should be a triumphant day for runners can easily become a tragedy. By making security and safety a day one concern, officials can be sure that a calamitous situation does not ruin the race.

2) Consider the full scope of the race

As the University of Southern Mississippi's National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) has noted, marathons are unique in the sports world when it comes to security. Compared to basketball games or football contests that occur within the generally confined area of a stadium's grounds, marathons cover a lot more territory. In addition, the 26.2 miles of a marathon's route often cut through areas that are not normally designated for a sporting event. This means that not only do marathons cover a lot of ground, but they often occur in locales not specifically designed for large events.

For race day security officials, this sprawling nature of marathons can present unique challenges. But, by premeditating their security and safety plans with this kind of scope in mind, administrators have a much better chance of instituting a strategy capable of protecting both runners and spectators.

"Unlike fixed venue sporting events, securing miles of open roadway in a dense urban environment presents unique vulnerabilities that prevent complete risk mitigation," NCS4's 2015 marathon security guide noted. "With spectators lining the route, there is no viable way to ensure sterilization of the entire course."

3) Time is of the essence, and not just for runners

Compared to other sporting events, marathons are unique in that they are one-time events that have infrastructure that needs to go up and be taken down as quickly as possible. A permanent security apparatus likely won't work here, as marathons often use otherwise busy thoroughfares for their routes that can't be taken offline all year.

In addition, on the security front, the odds are good that those living along a marathon route may object to a strict year-round security presence. Thus, race officials will probably only want to look into robust security and oversight systems that, while still proven effective, can be set up and taken down over the course of a few days in conjunction with other racecourse setup efforts.

4) Security shouldn't impede race or atmosphere

For some, the aesthetics of the race are just as important, if not more so, than the distance itself. Marathon veteran Dane Rauschenberg, who once ran 52 marathons in one calendar year, put being able to see and really experience new locations among his top reasons to run a marathon.

"Once you are on the course, even if it is in a small town in the middle of nowhere, there is no better way to learn an area than on foot," Rauschenberg wrote in Runner's World. "Seeing 26.2 miles of it without worrying about turn signals is the best way possible."

As such, many marathon participants may be put off from running a race if security apparatuses and protocols infringed upon the marathon's overall atmosphere. To ensure continued race signups and participation year after year, it's important for marathon administrators to optimize the aesthetic appeal of a race route.

5) Take terrain into consideration

Most marathons take place in cities, where officials have crowds, busy streets, tall buildings and other similar surroundings to keep in mind. But, as Fox Sports has noted, marathons also occur in small towns, inside secluded forests, next to large bodies of water and even on cliffsides. Race administrators must be sure that the security solutions they choose are optimized for the terrain and won't be encumbered by it.

"It's 26.2 miles of not only open road, but in Chicago you've got mass transit systems, train systems and subway systems. Even a lake," said Steve Georges, the deputy chief of special functions for the Chicago Police Department, according to Fox News. "There are a number of unique security challenges that we deal with."

6) Plan for everything

After the tragedy at the 2013 Boston Marathon, it's understandable that many marathon organizers are now focused on terrorism and other similar large disruptions. But, according to a separate Runner's World article, this is far from the only threat that race officials need to think about. Other issues like heart attacks, fires, severe weather and even mudslides can derail events. By forming strong partners with local first responders and developing a contingency plan for all possible outcomes, however, race administrators can ensure runner and spectator safety no matter what happens on race day.

"I've sometimes said that a marathon is a series of potential disasters," said Doug Thurston, director of the Big Sur International Marathon in California, according to Runner's World.

Consider video surveillance to better ensure marathon security

For marathon personnel, making sure that all six points are adequately addressed is far easier said than done. But, a video surveillance solution underpinned by Firetide technology can help. With video surveillance cameras placed at strategic locations throughout the course, first responders and race administrators will be able to effectively oversee the marathon without needing an overabundance of personnel to do so. Plus, since it's a wireless solution, Firetide nodes can be put up and taken down far more quickly than a wired option.

But, just because it's wireless doesn't mean it's not proven effective. In fact, New York City Marathon officials have for years turned to Firetide technology to help guarantee security and safety on race day. For more information about video surveillance and marathon security best practices, be sure to contact a Firetide representative today.


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Category: Public Safety

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