Sports

Tragedy Mars My First Boston Marathon

Patch editor gives a first-hand report from the Boston Marathon.

Monday, April 15 was my first time running the Boston Marathon. It was suppose to be a fun day focused on overcoming a strenuous 26.2-mile race, but once I reached the end, I was greeted with panic, caution and tears rather than high fives and celebrations.

Monday was a perfect day for a runner and spectator, it was sunny and warm with a cool breeze. It would be hard to find an excuse why anyone with the day off from work wouldn’t be in town to either watch the race, the Sox game or to grab a bite at a restaurant.

I was running this marathon as a bandit. I had no official number and was nervous security or someone from the Boston Athletic Association would kick me out.

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Once I reached the start line, it was smooth sailing. I was full of excitement and joy. I enjoyed seeing the fans from Hopkinton to Boston cheer me on and give me high fives. Strangers offered me orange slices, freeze pops, water and ice. The energy at Wellesley College and Boston College was indescribable. I even saw residents from Hingham and one spectator was even wearing a Wahlburger's hat.

At mile 19, I was greeted by family members in Newton. At mile 24, I had friends on Beacon Street cheering for me. My girlfriend even jumped over the gate to kiss me.

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I was running with my iPhone and listening to music when I received a call from my mom at 2:51 p.m., while I was on mile 24 on Beacon Street. She was concerned and informed me about the explosion at the finish line. My mother received the news from my sister's boyfriend while she was driving to the finish line.

I ignored her, as Mom likes to worry, and told her I wanted to continue the race. No one around me seemed alarmed either: none of the cops, none of the spectators and none of the runners.

At mile 25.5, just after I passed Fenway Park, with less than one mile to go, I was being stopped by people who told me the race was finished. Many of the runners were in disbelief. One veteran runner, who looked to be about 65 years old, didn’t even want to stop. 

They told us to start walking back, away from the finish line. Police cars then started coming down the center of the race route. Once more runners received the news, many of them started to panic. Many runners were in tears as they knew people were waiting for them at the finish line. The Patriots' Day party was ruined as the word was spreading that there were even more explosions throughout the city. I never finished the race. Hundreds of runners did not finish, too.

I then began to panic, as I knew my roommate's dad was ahead of me and feared he may be hurt. I later found out he had finished 10 minutes before the explosion and was safe.

When I tried to call my parents to tell them I was all right, I could not get a connection. No one in the area was able to make outgoing calls. Two minutes later, my phone battery lost power and I was stranded in Boston without money, a phone or a place to go. The MBTA was also suspended, so I had no way of getting home.

I saw two Boston University students outside of their Beacon Street apartment and asked to use their phone charger. They took me in, gave me water and let me stay for 20 minutes while my phone charged. 

I was still unable to call anyone and tried responding to the dozens of texts. Many of my friends thought I was hurt.

Luckily, I was able to get in touch with my girlfriend and her roommates and met up with them in Kenmore Square. My girlfriend was in tears as she feared I was injured.

For others, they were not so lucky and were stranded in Boston and had to find a way to meet up with their families.

Having lived in the Boston area my entire life, this has been the most tragic thing that has happened in our city.

My prayers go out to all the victims and their families and to the runners who happen to be finishing at the time of the explosions.


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