2013 - A lifetime's worth of tragedy in the span of 20 minutes.

Brian Carroll

Accompanied by cooler temperatures, race day started with promise and enthusiasm. The starting line was abuzz with talk of PR's and possible personal Boston bests. A trend of new PR's was also evidenced by the too-many-to-count runners who scanned their wristwatches while covering the last five miles. I crossed the finish line at 2:45 pm with a face smiling and a 3:57:33 time.

Taking a picture with my wife next to the medical tent is a tradition unlike any other in my family. Joy, love, sweat, and then "BANG!" Only five minutes after the finish, the heaven turned to hell. “Maybe a cannon,” I first thought...but I know I would have noticed one next to the finish line, and I thought the sound was odd. No, this was bad. The second "BOOM" confirmed bad had gone to worse.