NEW YORK (AP) — The bags are back for runners at this year’s New York City Marathon.
Following two weeks of criticism, marathon organizers announced Thursday they are dropping their no-bag policy and allowing runners to check a bag of clothes and other personal items to be picked up at the finish. Runners who don’t check bags will be given the earliest exit out of Central Park.
The marathon, the world’s largest with more than 47,000 finishers last year, angered many participants with its Aug. 23 announcement that personal items would no longer be transported to the finish line. Because the race begins on Staten Island and ends in Central Park, many runners pack a bag so they’ll have a change of clothes along with their cellphone and wallet at the finish.
