Four hundred runners from the Boston Marathon are part of an elite group that run back-to-back 26.2 mile races. A week from Sunday, they will be running the Big Sur International Marathon.
Race Director Doug Thurston was near the finish line in Boston when the devices exploded on Monday.
"Knowing where it was and how many people were there and how crowded the area was, it was kind of an immediate gut-check reaction that this is not good," he said.
The tragedy could have caused Boston runners to cancel their Big Sur plans. But that hasn't happened.
"There's more determination than ever because there are many people who are part of this special group of people -- 400 entrants -- who are part of the Boston 2 Big Sur Challenge," Thurston said. "More determination than ever to come here to Big Sur and finish their race."
Security along the scenic ocean route will be raised. High-level meetings are underway, involving local, state, and federal agencies.
Monterey runner Judy Holloway, 76, was still back in the pack when the explosions happened in Boston. But that's not going to deter her plans to run next weekend.
"I can see where you would be more concerned about the security; as a participant, I'm not worried," she said.
The same holds true for Pacific Grove High School Principal Matt Bell. He has been reviewing a video of his arrival at the finish line.
"Running is so much a part of my life that I couldn't imagine not running and in a funny sort of way, I want to run in spite of what happened, I think you have to return to normal," he said.
A successful running of the Big Sur International Marathon would not only as psychological impact also an economic one. Participants of last year's marathon pumped an estimated $18 million into the local economy.
