SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. (AP) – Organizers of a Marine Corps charity race in New Jersey marred by terrorism a year ago say they were forced to move Saturday’s event to a neighboring town because of a sharp increase in registrants.
The race’s resumption a year after a bomb went off shortly before hundreds of runners were about to take off shows the region’s resiliency, organizers say. But this year’s Seaside Semper Five race will also have increased security, with trash cans removed along the race route in Seaside Heights and manhole covers sealed.
“It was a jolt at first, but then it got me angry thinking that lots of people could have been hurt,” said Tommy Leopold, 46, of Old Bridge, who was lined up to run in last year’s event before it was canceled. “We had a good crowd of runners and their families out there that day, and we will again this year. It’ll be a show of strength. We’re ready to rock.”
The increase in runners comes as both a response to the bombing and shows people’s support for the military, said race organizer Frank Costello.
The bomb was planted by Ahmad Khan Rahimi as the start of a two-day reign of terror in the region, authorities say.