CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine (AP) — Undertones of the Boston Marathon bombings will be evident when thousands of runners take to the course for the TD Beach to Beacon 10-kilometer race in Maine.
The starting horn for Saturday's race in Cape Elizabeth will be sounded by Karen Rand, a former Westbrook resident who now lives in Somerville, Mass., and lost her left leg in the two bombings at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15.
A moment of silence will be observed in memory of the three people killed in the Boston attack and a blue-and-gold ribbon with the words "Boston Strong" has been painted at the finish line.
Two organizers of the Maine race have ties to Boston's.
Dave McGillivray is the director of both the Beach to Beacon and the Boston Marathon, while Beach to Beacon founder Joan Benoit Samuelson won the women's division in two Boston Marathons, in 1979 and 1983.
"I don't think any of us in the sport of running will ever forget what happened in Boston," Samuelson told the Portland Press Herald. "But at the same time, our sport is very strong and resilient, and I think through the tragedy that took place this year in Boston, our sport has found newfound strength."
More than 6,000 runners are registered for the race, which is in its 16th year and draws runners from across the U.S. and elite athletes from around the world.
The police presence at the race will be beefed up this year, but Cape Elizabeth police Chief Neil Williams said runners and spectators shouldn't even notice.