You will no doubt recall that a 5k event last fall in seaside Heights New Jersey was the subject of a terrorist bombing attempt. Had the race director not delayed the start of the race for 30 minutes to accommodate the large number of day of registrations there would no doubt have been casualties.
I have been in touch with the race director and the event will take place this year, however they have changed the course. No longer with the course incorporate local streets in this oceanfront boardwalk town. Rather the race will take place almost entirely on the Seaside Heights Boardwalk. Essentially, the course consists of 2 out and back loops on a 3/4 mile stretch of boardwalk. The off boardwalk portion of the course onto a side street is minimal.
I asked the race director how many participants he was expecting. Because of the national notoriety this event has received the registration numbers have swelled to say the least. In 2014 there were approximately 700 participants. This year they are expecting between 3,000 and 4,000 participants.
The race director, the borough and other local officials made their decision soon after the cancelled 2016 event to have the race on the boardwalk. A recent article in the Asbury Park Press also refers to the venue of the race as taking place on the boardwalk. The event website also refers to a boardwalk course.
Am I out of line for telling the race director that he is making a huge mistake by holding a 3,000 to 4,000 person 5k on a 3/4 mile track? Do I have an obligation to say something. I think the race committee (probably all non-runners) is clueless. Or should I just shut-up, measure the race, send it in for certification and call it a day. Maybe you think that there is no problem here, that you've seen more people jammed into a smaller area than this and those events went off without a hitch. That's why I'm posing these questions to this obviously knowledgeable and experienced community.
Your thoughts please.
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