Community Corner

Runners Vow Not to Let Boston Bombings Deter Them from Future Races

First-hand accounts from Illinois runners who participated in the Boston Marathon.

Update, 8 a.m.: Officials are still searching for suspects behind the two bomb blasts that went off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday. At least three people were killed, including an 8-year-old boy identified as Martin Richard, according to The Boston Globe. The tragedy injured more than 130 people, and the newspaper said the bombs left "the sidewalks of Boylston Street covered in blood."

Authorities say no credible person or group has claimed responsibility for the bombings, according to CBS News Tuesday morning. Police have reportedly searched an apartment but have not yet identified a suspect.

After the bombs exploded in Boston, New York City also went on high alert, CBS News reported this morning.

Find out what's happening in Buffalo Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Related News from the Region:

  • Highland Park Marathon Runner Shares Her Experience
  • 'The Terrorists Won't Win'
  • Many Northwest Suburban Runners Safe After Boston Marathon
  • Barrington Marathon Runner Tells of Mixed Emotions
  • Grayslake Runner Shares Boston Marathon Experience
  • Arlington Heights Mayor-Elect OK Following Boston Marathon Explosion
  • Buffalo Grove Marathon Runner is Safe in Boston
  • 19 Evanston Runners Entered Boston Marathon
  • Update: Four Local Runners Finished Marathon Before Explosion
  • Local Pastor Completed Boston Marathon Before Explosions
  • Local Boston Marathon Runners Describe 'Mad Rush' in Bombing Aftermath
  • Park Ridge Woman Was Nearing Finish Line
  • Morton Grove Marathoner: 'Nobody Knew Why We Were Stopping'

Click on the links below for information about runners from these suburbs:

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  • Barrington
  • Buffalo Grove
  • Grayslake
  • Lake Zurich
  • Libertyville
  • Niles-Morton Grove 
  • Northbrook/Glenview
  • Vernon Hills

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Connecting:

Disasters often make it difficult to stay in touch with loved ones. The American Red Cross Safe and Well website is a central location for people in disaster areas in the United States to register their current status, and for their loved ones to access that information. It helps provide displaced families with relief and comfort during a stressful time, according to theAmerican Red Cross website.

Boston City Hall: 617-635-4500 - Families members searching for people can call the Boston City Hall number. A spokesman said they are collecting information now on people in order to cross-check it later with official records of those taken to area hospitals or other locations. They cannot give updates on anyone but can take information on family members.

Visit the Boston Marathon site at http://raceday.baa.org to track where runners last checked in to search for names of friends or family members.

Update, 9:15 p.m.: The death toll has risen to at least three with more than 140 believed to be injured from the bombs in Boston, according to The Boston Globe. The newspaper reported: 

When the smoke cleared, dozens of victims lay in the street, some unconscious, some grievously injured, including some whose limbs had been torn off by the blast.

The dead included an 8-year-old boy, according to two law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation. Boston Children’s Hospital reported that those treated there included a 9-year-old girl, a 7-year-old boy, a 12-year-old, and a 2-year-old.

Police have questioned many people but no suspects have been arrested, Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis told The Boston Globe.

Update, 7:52 p.m.: Boston Police Chief Ed Davis said that a third incident took place today at the JFK Library in Boston but it was uncertain if it was related to the two explosions at the Boston Marathon.

"We are not sure if these incidents are related, but we are treating them as if they are," Davis told the Huffington Post. Later, it was reported that the incident at JFK Library was fire related, not another bomb.

Officials were not taking any chances as an unexploded device was also recovered, Davis said to the Huffington Post.

In total, more than 27,000 runners participated in this year's Marathon. The event takes place every year on Patriot's Day, a state holiday in Massachusetts.

Update, 5:46 p.m.: Two other unexploded devices were reported to be found in Boston as authorities work to secure the area in and around the finish line of the Boston Marathon, according to CNN.

The network is confirming that two people have died and six others are in critical condition. One victim is believed to be 8 years old, according to CNN.

Update, 5:12 p.m.: President Barack Obama said they still do not know who set off the explosions in Boston, or why, but he made a promise: "We will find out who did this, and we will hold them accountable."

He spoke for about three minutes and expressed sympathy for anyone who was injured or impacted by the event. See a video of his remarks here on cnn.com.

Update, 4:05 p.m.: Two explosions left at least two dead and at least 100 injured at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, reports NBC News.

Boston officials are searching for more information and photos from race participants and spectators.

A White House official was quoted as saying the President Barack Obama is addressing the situation: "The President has been notified of the incident in Boston. His administration is in contact with state and local authorities. He directed his administration to provide whatever assistance is necessary in the investigation and response."

Boston authorities are telling people to avoid crowds and stay home.

Update, 3:50 p.m.: David Abel of the Boston Globe said that he saw a "pile of bodies" near the explosion site at the end of the Boston Marathon today.

Update, 3:11 p.m.:  ABC News is reporting that small portable explosive devices were the cause of the tragic devastation at the end of the Boston Marathon.

The event has been designated as a terrorist incident, according to ABC News. It is reported to become a federal investigation.

Time Magazine reported that two people have been killed and 22 are injured as a result of the explosions.

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Boston authorities are searching for more information about the explosive devices.

Original story:

Two explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon had people carrying bloody spectators into the medical tent set up for runners, according to an Associated Press report on the Pocono Record website.

"There are a lot of people down," the AP quoted one man saying. The explosions happened about three hours after the winners crossed the finish line. 

The Boston Marathon headquarters is on lockdown, according to Reuters.

Check back to Patch for updates on this breaking story.


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