Organizers of yesterday's Asics L.A. Marathon "hailed the race as one of the most successful ever, with near-record crowds," despite temperatures being the "highest ever recorded" since the event began its "Stadium to the Sea" course from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica five years ago, according to Teresa Watanabe of the L.A. TIMES. The event "drew 21,829 runners," and all but 348 "crossed the finish line." Santa Monica Fire Department Battalion Chief Jeff Furrows said that as many as 75,000 spectators "lined the course in Santa Monica alone, the city's largest annual one-day event." Race-day temperatures "climbed to 81 degrees at the finish line." Furrows said that firefighters at the finish line "aided 95 runners, sending 16 to area hospitals, for such problems as dehydration, cramps, chest pains and exhaustion." The higher number of calls for aid "prompted Santa Monica to request extra help, including L.A. County paramedics, L.A. city bike teams and other transport vehicles and private ambulances" (L.A. TIMES, 3/10). LAPD Sgt. Brian Cook said there were "no problems" at the start-line at Dodger Stadium, and "everything went as expected and planned." In L.A., Brenda Gazzar notes runners "passed through a security checkpoint where guards checked their bags." Several said that they "felt safe" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 3/10).
BIGGER IN BOSTON: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Levitz & Grossman note next month's Boston Marathon is "expected to draw bigger crowds -- and unprecedented security measures" following last year's bombings. Plans call for "thousands of uniformed and plainclothes police officers and federal agents along the 26.2-mile route, double the number of security personnel who usually man the race." Massachusetts Undersecretary for Homeland Security & Emergency Management Kurt Schwartz said, "We didn't want this thing to be an armed camp or anything that intimidates runners or spectators." He added that uniformed officers "won't be wearing tactical gear or carrying long guns." Schwartz said that one million spectators "are expected at the race this time, up from between 500,000 and 750,000 in past years." This year, 36,000 "are slated to run, more than the 27,000 who participate in typical years" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/10).
