Winchester Runner Has 'Great Doubt' Running Boston Marathon Again

Winchester resident Ann Olmsted completed her second Boston Marathon before the bombings Monday afternoon.

"I ran the marathon (Monday) and finished before the blasts," Olmsted said. "I had already retrieved my bag from the bus and found my family when we heard the blasts.

"We were blocks away so I didn't see anything but we heard the blasts very clearly and knew right away it wasn't good."

Three people died and more than 100 injured when two bombs detonated near the finish line shortly before 3 p.m. Monday during the race.

While Olmsted was running, three of her friends from Winchester—Bill Goodwin and J.D. and Cindy Hale—were volunteering at a VIP tent, she said. Olmsted was one of 27 runners from Winchester.

When asked if she would run the Boston Marathon again, Olmsted was uncertain she would be able to do it a third time given what took place on Monday.

"I feel great doubt about whether I will want to run Boston again or any other major marathon," she said. "It was just so scary and sad. 

"This was my second Boston (Marathon) and my fifth marathon. I set a new personal record but my feelings of accomplishment are overshadowed by my sadness over the tragedy...What a tragic end to a beautiful day. Just awful!"