Chatsworth Runner Recalls Chaos in Boston

Phil Kent was close to clinching a personal hat trick by completing his third Boston Marathon, but tragedy struck as he neared the end.

"We were 20 yards in front of the bomb blast, right by the finish line," the 56-year-old Chatsworth resident said, adding: "The second bomb went off behind us about 10 seconds later...We could see fragments of stone falling off the building."

The race abruptly fell into chaos as runners strayed off-course and spectators knocked over street barriers as they fled.

Kent was with two fellow members of the L.A. Leggers running club who accompanied him as they found a safe passage through a side street.

It wasn't long before police and other security arrived and temporarily quarantined many people.

Kent said he couldn't leave his hotel at one point.

"There were armed guards in flak jackets with automatic weapons and helmets," he said. "They were limiting access to the whole city, encouraging people to stay put and avoid public areas."

Kent's fear soon turned into sorrow for the injured and the three people's lives the act of terror claimed.

As he tried to process what he had just witnessed, one of his first thoughts was to cancel his attempt at next year's Boston Marathon.

But as a dedicated runner with 35 marathons on his odometer, it didn't take long for Kent to be inspired by the close-knitedness of the running community.

"I eventually realized, 'Why give in? You can't give into these cowards,'" he said. "We have to rise above and marathon runners are exactly the type of of people that will do that."

While reporting in Boston on the day of the bombing, the Kansas City Star wrote that Kent is battling pancreatic cancer, but he did not want to comment on the matter.

Instead, he says he looks forward to next year.

"The Boston Marathon is one of the most difficult to qualify for," Kent said. "I'll be back next year, if I can qualify."