SF Marathon Runners Face New Security, Early Start Time

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Runners in Sunday's Wipro San Francisco Marathon will be greeted by heightened security in response to the bombings at the Boston Marathon earlier this year, according to organizers.

Start and finish areas for the marathon and half marathon will be within enclosed secure areas, and all bags will be searched by security guards.

Runners and viewers are being advised to allow an extra 30 to 45 minutes prior to start time, although those who are not carrying any baggage in or out of the area will be able to bypass the search, organizers said.

In addition, no containers or carriers exceeding 8 1/2 by 11 by 4 inches will be allowed on the course. All hydration packs or carriers will be searched and checked for size limits.

View course map (PDF).

The event includes a full marathon, a 52.4-mile double marathon, a 5k run, progressive marathon and kids race.

Elite runners, including Anna Bretan, Kimberley O'Donnell, Devon Yanko, Michael Wardian, Ismail Ssenyange and Bryan Morseman, will start at 5:30 a.m., with other runners starting between 5:30 and 6:45 a.m.

The 5k race starts at 7:45 a.m. and the kids race at 9 a.m.

The race course will start at the Ferry Building and travel along the Embarcadero, over the Golden Gate Bridge, through Golden Gate Park and Haight-Ashbury and past AT&T Park before ending in front of Cupid's Arrow near the Bay Bridge.

From midnight today through Sunday at 2:45 p.m., the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency will close northbound Embarcadero between Broadway and King Street, King Street between northbound Embarcadero and Third Street, Steurt Street between Howard Street and the southerly terminus, eastbound Howard Street between Embarcadero and Spear Street, and southbound Embarcadero between Broadway and Harrison Street.

Additional street closures are expected between 5 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. throughout the race route.

All runners must finish the race by 12:45 p.m., when all roads are scheduled to reopen.

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