Boston Marathon Attack: `It Was Absolutely Horrific,' Alamo Runner Says

Bay City News —  An Alamo runner had just crossed the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday and was walking off his leg cramps when two bombs exploded behind him, killing three and injuring dozens in downtown Boston.

Stan Rowland, 60, an attorney, said he heard a sound like he'd never heard before a block or two away and turned and saw smoke rising from the marathon route.

"It was absolutely horrific," he said. Rowland's first reaction was anger as he concluded that the two explosions were bombs.

He said that the event's volunteers kept remarkably calm, immediately guiding people from the chaotic blast scene and clearing the area before police arrived.

Within minutes emergency responders swarmed the area, including police cars, ambulances and even military personnel who had been gathered alongside the course as a tribute to the armed services.

Reports Monday evening indicated that an 8-year-old child was among the dead, and that more than 140 people were injured.

Rowland near the finish line for about 90 minutes following the explosions, calling friends and family and returning messages from people wondering if he was OK. After that, he said, police started clearing a larger perimeter and shut down several blocks.

Many were stranded away from runners who hadn't finished yet and were left wondering if their loved ones were alright.

Rowland stopped to talk to one girl behind him, tears streaming down her face, who didn't know where her father was and couldn't call him. Police cars were flying down the streets, he said, and firefighters were investigating other suspicious packages found in the area feared to be more bombs.

Rowland said he has run 15 or 20 marathons before, but never Boston, and had always intended to as it is an old classic of marathon running.

"If you're a marathon runner you've got to do the Boston Marathon," he said.

Another Bay Area resident, Berkeley resident Lucretia Ausse, 54, witnessed the bombs as she was about to receive her medal for finishing the race in just over four hours.

She said she heard an explosion and saw a plume of smoke. About 10 seconds later, she heard a second blast. "I thought it was a water cannon," she said Monday afternoon, "I thought that was odd."

She soon realized something serious was happening.

"There was definitely fear and panic in the crowd," she said.

"It was a very terrifying and saddening experience," said Ausse, who has run five marathons. "For this to occur at this event is enormously frightening."

She said fellow runners, who come from around the world for the storied race, are shaken up.

"It's just starting to hit me what happened," she said.