The New York City Marathon is the largest marathon in the world. It is held annually on the first Sunday of November. Organized by the New York Road Runners (NYRR), the marathon averages around 50,000 participants and over a million spectators every year.
For an event like this, preparations are daunting. And with such a huge number of runners and spectators, it’s important that planning goes without a hitch.
In addition to security, health is a top priority. With the long route, it’s only natural that participants might feel the need to “go.” If you think planning potties is as easy as 1, 2, 3, you’re wrong.
Number of People
The number of participants who joined the event should be taken into account to determine the number of portable restrooms needed. Imagine 50,000 people with only 100 Porta Potties? Not gonna happen. That’s why there are more than 2000 portable restrooms placed along the New York City Marathon route.
Location
Portable restrooms should be strategically placed for convenient access. Every second matters in a marathon this high profile, so convenient potty locations is a must.
A large quantity of portable restrooms are placed at the starting point. Runners planning to avoid pit stops during the race visit those toilets before the marathon starts.
Amenities and Cleanliness
Runners aren’t the only people who need to answer the call of nature. Even spectators need to pop a squat. And with the public using many of the potties, amenities have been increasing in these public restrooms. A flushing toilet, perhaps? Air freshener? Trash bin? Wet wipes?