Hackettstown Runner Will Remember Marathon as 'Day Where People Got Killed'

Michael Leyden finished the Boston Marathon about an hour before a pair of blasts went off. But what typically would have been a happy memory of an accomplishment few achieve has now been plagued by destruction and pain, the Hackettstown runner told NJ.com.

Leyden was one of at least three Hackettstown runners who were listed as those participating in the marathon on Monday. Before everyone could complete the race, two blasts set off killing three people and injuring more than 150 others.

Other participating runners from Hackettstown were 32-year-old Ingrid Stein Garofalo and 43-year-old Billy Zaccheo. According to the Boston Athletic Association's database, Garofalo finished the race around 1:41 p.m. while Zaccheo finished at 1:19 p.m., both finishing before the bombs went off.

According to posts on the Hackettstown Facebook page, both Zaccheo and Garofalo were safe and returning home.

Despite the outcome of the day's events and the images that could stay with him for a lifetime, Leyden told NJ.com that he would participate again in the race if he qualifies.