Boston Marathon Bombing 'Heartbreaking,' Madison Qualifier Says

Madison resident Marcia Postallian has dreamed of running the Boston Marathon and qualified for the race this year, but did not go Monday because of an injury.

Instead, she tracked the progress of a Rose City Runners Club friend, Cande Olsen of Chatham, on the Boston Athletic Club website as Olsen's time was updated at checkpoints every 5 kilometers throughout the course.

With only the finish line left for Olsen to cross, Postallian eventually wondered if something was wrong with the timing system.

Then, she heard about the explosions near the finish line and started calling friends to be sure she was all right. A friend confirmed Olsen and other members of their running club were unharmed, she said.

The blasts reportedly killed three people and injured dozens.

"It's just heartbreaking," Postallian said. "A day that should be pure joy was destroyed by just senseless violence."

She said she's grateful the people she knew running were OK.

"At the same time, really sad for the people who can't say the same thing," she said.

Postallian, who has completed the New York, Marine Corps and Run for the Red marathons, was the only Madison resident on a list of participants for Monday's Boston Marathon. She decided not to run because she broke her foot last year and could not get her running up to speed in time for the race.