On Monday, two years after the Boston City Marathon Bombings, runners from across the country will once again lace up their shoes, and run the iconic race.
Security measures for large sporting events since then have increased significantly, and that's no different here in the Quad Cities, where a bomb squad is on site at most major events.
The Quad City Bomb Squad was established in 1999, four years after the Oklahoma City bombings.
"Before, you may have had a police officer picking up [a bomb] with their bare hands, not knowing what it was," said Sgt. Randy Heisch, the Quad City Bomb Squad Commander. "Now, we are able to take those things, diffuse them, and take them to a safe location."
Heisch said one of the pieces of equipment they use is a specialized robot that can pick up the bomb and put it in a safe container, that the bomb squad then transports to another location.
They also wear Kevlar suits, that weigh 85-90 pounds, to protect them if the robot can't get to the explosive material.
The Quad City Bomb Squad is now used at many of the major events around the Quad Cities, like the Quad City Marathon.
"I think we're seeing this across the board with every event," said Joe Moreno, the Race Director for the Quad City Marathon. "There's a lot of things to consider when you're considering the safety of all the participants."
Moreno said since the Boston Marathon Bombings, security measures have been increased for the Quad City Marathon.
Some of those security measures include mandatory clear, plastic bags the contestants and spectators must use at the start/finish line, police officers scattered throughout the route (both in uniform and undercover,) and the use of the Quad City Bomb Squad.
"You have to change with the times, you have to prepare for the unexpected. As a race director, your number one priority is the safety of all the participants, the spectators, the volunteers, everybody," said Moreno.