FishHawk Runner Describes Chaotic Scene at Boston Marathon

A marathon runner for nine years, Freddie Valdes, 45, of FishHawk Ranch was excited about the prospect of running the Boston Marathon for the second time.

Not only was Boston celebrating its 117th marathon but Monday, April 15, was Patriot's Day in the city. All the downtown shops were closed for the day and a half million people lined the 26.2-mile race course to cheer on the more than 2,000 runners.

"It was very exciting," said Valdes, "a big day in Boston."

Valdes has just finished the race with a time of 3 hours 30 minutes and had reunited with his father at the post-race area at Copley Square.

"Our hotel is located a block from the finish line and we were walking back to the hotel when we heard two loud, thundering explosions," said Valdes. "I knew immediately that this wasn't normal. A couple of minutes later, we saw people running away from the finish line, crying hysterically."

Valdes stopped one of the runners and asked what was going on.

"He told me two bombs had gone off," said Valdes.

Two and a half hours later, speaking from his hotel room on the 22nd floor of the Marriott Copley, Valdes said the scene below him in Copley Square is surrealistic.

"It's very scary. There are police and bomb squad people everywhere," he said. "All the streets are cleared of civilians, and they've told us not to leave our hotel room."

Valdes did have some good news to report. His four fellow members of the FishHawk Road Runners Club and six members of the Brandon Running Association participating in today's marathon are all safe.

See related content: FishHawk Runners at Boston Maraton All OK