Borough prepares for the Thanksgiving Day races

GLEN RIDGE, NJ — Security measures for the Ashenfelter 8K and Tom Fleming Mile races on Thanksgiving Day will be increased in the aftermath of the New York City incident earlier this month when a truck was purposely driven onto a bicycle path along the Hudson River, killing eight cyclists. The driver, who is suspected of terrorism, emerged from the vehicle shouting “God is great” in Arabic before being shot and taken into custody.

Race organizer Councilman Dan Murphy said last week that he had met several times with Glen Ridge Police Chief Sheila Byron-Lagattuta and Capt. Sean Quinn to go over plans to make the course and event secure.

The Essex County Sheriff’s Department plus the Bloomfield and Montclair police departments will provide assistance.
“The police will be at strategic places for a first line of defence,” Murphy said during a telephone interview.
The extra precautions are being taken because the Glen Ridge event presents a “soft target, during a holiday, in a populated area near New York City,” where the truck incident happened, Murphy said.

“We’re looking to keep a simple, 5-mile race secure,” he said.
The 8K and mile races attracted 4,000 runners last year.
“We think the real threat is somebody with a big vehicle coming along,” Murphy said. “The most important thing is for people to be aware if something seems odd.”

He figured only a small percentage of spectators, out of caution, would not attend the annual borough.
“The whole idea behind the beefed-up security is that people know we’re doing what we can,” he said.
Police will be stationed on roofs, bomb-sniffing dogs will be at work and roads will be closed to traffic. Regarding security, Murphy said the organizers were not doing anything new.

“We’re just adding to it,” he said.
Murphy became race organizer in 2000. The previous year there was only one race: a 10K named the Turkey Trot with 150 runners participating. Murphy shortened the race by two kilometers and renamed it after Horace Ashenfelter, a steeplechase gold medalist in the 1952 Olympics and Glen Ridge resident.

The Tom Fleming Mile was added in 2012. Fleming, a two-time NYC Marathon winner and Bloomfield resident, died earlier this year at the age of 65. Ashenfelter, 94, is still living.

In a Friday, Nov. 17 email to this newspaper, Byron-Lagattuta said her entire police department of 23 officers will be on-duty for the race. Equipment from the Essex County Sheriff’s Department and the N.J. Transit Police Department personnel will also be used.
“We will have uniformed officers, plain clothes officers and canine units prior to and during the race,” she said. “We have also purchased additional security equipment for this year’s race.”

At the time of her email, she said her department and the local Office of Emergency Management were in the final planning stages for the race.

“We are working with the assistance of the Glen Ridge Volunteer Ambulance Squad, our local Department of Public Works and the race coordinator to ensure that the security and the safety of our participants and spectators are paramount,” she said. “The race route will be closed to vehicular traffic during the hours of 8 a.m. until approximately noon. A zero tolerance policy will be adhered to by the police department for any vehicle attempting to enter a closed roadway. We urge all residents along the route to park on an adjacent street if you anticipate the need of using your vehicle while the race is in progress. Should you experience an emergency, call 9-1-1 and officers will respond to assist you. Participants and spectators should use the secure area for bags, as a no-bag policy will be in effect.”

As of this past Monday morning, 2,700 runners had registered for the 8K race. The mile event had attracted 400 racers.
“Registrations are up for the mile but are the same for the 8K,” Murphy said.
Roberta Groaner, of Randolph, the top-woman finisher in the 8K last year, was registered to compete although the top male finisher, Steven Flynn, of Edison, had not yet stated his plans.

Murphy said day-of-race registration begins at 4 p.m. today, Wednesday, Nov. 22, at the Glen Ridge High School gym. Race-day packets can also be picked up at this time.

“Clear plastic bags will be allowed in the gym,” Murphy said. “The Glen Ridge police are aware of the potential of a drive-on-the-course issue. They are doing their best to keep the race course safe for the participants.”
The mile race will begin at 8:15 a.m. followed by the 8K event.

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