New Lenox Runner Describes Experience After Boston Marathon Explosion

Kristin Kotara, 35, of New Lenox, finished her 26-mile race at 03:27:19, according to the Boston Marathon website. At the finish line, she met up with her "support system" and cousin, 28-year-old Alyssa Kenney, of Downers Grove. After catching her breath immediately following the race, the two moved on.

Her legs were sore, she said, "I thought about going to the medic's tent, but then I was tired and just wanted to get back to the hotel."

Had she stopped at the medic's tent, Kotara and Kenney's situation would have been far worse. Instead, the two had just gotten into the hotel when they heard the blast.

"I didn't see anything. I thought it was cannons. Then we looked out the window and saw smoke and heard siren after siren."

In an interview with Patch about 8:30 p.m., Kotara reflected on her experience. Speaking from the lobby of the Westin Hotel near Copley Square, the site of the explosions, Kotara said, "It's very surreal." The hotel was initially under lockdown. By 8:30 p.m., it was in semi-lockdown. "You can get out, but you can't get back in," said Kotara.

The hotel lobby is packed with armed FBI agents and police, she said. "It's kind of scary, but it gives you a sense of security too."

Kotara added that she's not sure why, but the hotel across the street was evacuated after the explosion. "I don't know if we're going to be evacuated too."

The wife and mother of three young children, ages 7, 5 and 3, Kotara said the cell towers were shut down in the Boston area in case a bomb would be detonated from a mobile phone. "Our phones weren't working. I got about 45 text messages, asking 'are you okay?'"

It was about 90-minutes before either she or Kenny could make a telephone call. Then it was limited. Kotara couldn't get a connection, but her cousin managed, calling a family member to spread word of their safety.

When finally Kotara got through to home, she got ahold of her sister. "I talked to my oldest son," a student at Spencer Point School. He's aware of what happened. Kotara and her husband agreed not to tell the little ones till "I'm  home, and they can see that I'm safe." 

On Tuesday Kotara and Kenny are boarding a plane for Chicago. "I'm just grateful that I'm safe and my cousin is safe. And I just want to get back home again. You never think something like this is going to happen.

"I was excited about running in the Boston Marathon. I think I'll stick to the Chicago Marathon."

Get news alerts and Facebook updates from these Patch sites:

• New Lenox newsletter and New Lenox Patch Facebook

• Frankfort newsletter and Frankfort Patch Facebook

• Mokena newsletter and Mokena Patch Facebook

• Downers Grove newsletter and Downers Grove Patch Facebook