Cartersville Man Safely Finishes Boston Marathon, Wife Was Near Bombing

A Cartersville man who safely finished Monday's Boston Marathon, and his wife are safe,, despite two explosions that occurred near the finish line almost four hours into the race.

At least three people are dead and hundreds injured as a result. Visit this website to check up on loved ones who ran the Boston Marathon, or call 617-635-4500.

Steven R. Archer, 46, was the only Cartersville resident registered to run in the world’s oldest annual marathon.

"As far as the race went it was the most incredible marathon I have ever ran," Archer told Cartersville Patch. "The crowds along the way are awesome and the people of Mass are incredible friendly. Walking around Boston before the race random people just stop and wish you luck.

"I set a personal record for the marathon of 3 hours 18 minutes and 27 seconds. It honestly feels like now that it was only a few laps around the trail at Dellinger Park," Archer wrote about 8:30 p.m., hours after finishing the 26-mile run.

It was a bittersweet new personal best, as Archer said he won't forget the close call he and his wife experienced win what federal authorities are classifying as a terrorist attack, although they can't say if its origin is domestic or foreign, CNN reports.

"As far as the explosions, I will never forget my wife, Jill, and I were eating lunch after the finish when our waitress told us there was an explosion at the finish," Archer said. "Jill's phone immediately started buzzing with friends and family checking to see if we were OK.

"I had finished about 45 minutes prior to the bombing and we were fine. However, the location where Jill was watching the finish was only about 50 feet from where the bomb[s] went off.

"Tonight our thoughts and prayers are with the victims," Archer said. "We are looking forward to a safe return to Cartersville tomorrow."

Check out Patch coverage from our counterparts in the Boston area.

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