The 13th Annual Aquaphor New York City triathlon is expected to draw over 3,000 participants on Sunday. Most have been training for the race for months; registration for the event began in November.
According to the Wall Street Journal, this year’s race will see some heightened security following the events of the Boston Marathon bombings. Bomb-sniffing dogs will be patrolling the race and added NYPD officers and security guards will be stationed along the route. Police will be keeping an eye out for unattended bags as well.
There will also be some new rules as to what the triathlon participants can use in the event. This year, athletes can only use clear plastic bags to carry their gear. This brought up some concern that participants would not be allowed to carry hydration packs such as Camelbaks, however race organizers later stated that hydration packs will be allowed.
While some racers are concerned about how much gear they will be able to fit in the 24-inch-by-28-inch bag issued to them, others said they have enough room to fit all of their necessary gear.
John Korff, the triathlon’s race director, said that they worked in conjunction with the NYPD as well as the New York City Parks Department to add the security measures. The precautions will cost race organizers about $10,000 to $15,000.
The NYPD also issued a warning to racers and spectators that if any bag is found unattended, the triathlon will be shut down.
The event begins at 5:50 a.m. on Sunday, and will consist of a 1,500-meter (one mile) swim in the Hudson River, followed by a 40-kilometer (25 mile) bike ride down the West Side Highway and will end with a 10-kilometer (six mile) run in Central Park.
Last year, 31-year-old Jordan Jones won the race with a time of 1:45:04.
[Source: Wall Street Journal]
