2013 - "Residents came out of their houses with food and water, offering any kind of aid they could."

Tim Zuelke

I am not sure I can put into words what we are feeling and what yesterday, April 15th, 2013, was like, but I will try.

I was at the front of the group of runners police stopped within half a mile of the finish line soon after the bombs went off.

Officials held us there for about 40 minutes. We did not know what was happening and many of the runners started to suffer from the effects of stopping without water or medical aid, myself included.

Finally the officers realized that 2,000 people standing in such a small area was also a possible target. We were told to disperse, which was not easy to do. Where were we to go, anyway? A nurse who was running the marathon was standing next to me. I was so cold and shaking. She said my lips were turning blue and I should find some first aid as soon as possible. I tried to make my way back to our hotel, but the streets were all blocked off as a crime scene.