Bob's comment makes a lot of sense to me. Bob is too modest to mention it, but he again saved a race by being out on the course -if only virtually - on race day last year. This time it was the 2015 Army 10-miler. Police and some soldiers were carrying an old, out-of-date course map. They were about to direct runners onto a wrong turn. Bob couldn't be there that day, but his trusted associate Jude was there. Jude called Bob to confirm the correct route before the lead runners came. An argument between the police and the soldiers on site then ensued. Bob & Jude convinced the police and then got the cones and the course marshals moved mere seconds before the lead runners arrived.
For the Marine Corps Marathon, Rick Nealis distributes a photo of Bob to everyone who will be working the course on race day, including all the police. They are given strict instructions that Bob decides where the cones and barricades go if there is any question or any need to change anything. They are informed that no one but Bob can ascertain the certified route, and that no one can override Bob's orders except law enforcement in the event of an emergency. Bob tells me that, as a consequence, there have been no misdirected runners in the MC Marathon in the many years he has performed this job.