"I was at mile 25 cheering on some friends. We heard the two explosions and were trying to figure out what had happened. This was quickly followed by sirens and emergency vehicles speeding toward the explosions. Soon the race route was closed. We were stopping runners and telling them as much as we could based on the limited information available to us. We offered runners the jackets off our backs, use of our cellphones and whatever we could do based on what we had since there were no medical tents, food, water, thermal blankets, etc available. People along the route were bringing out food, clothing and opening their homes to help out. Once all our friends and family were accounted for, we headed back to NH."
—Daryle Lamoureux, via Facebook
"I saw a few police cars and ambulances go by and was at mile 25.56 and suddenly the line of runners in front of us stopped. It was the first Boston I qualified for, I thought it was a T crossing or something. Someone said it was a bomb at the finish and immediately I thought of my fianc?, his mom and best friend at the finish waiting for me. My muscles started to seize and I got very cold. Strangers gave me their coats and offered me water. An older runner collapsed after waiting for 45 minutes. I am shaken and in disbelief."
—Emily Donaldson, via web form
"My mother and I exited the mall on the opposite side of Boylston from where the explosions took place about two minutes before the explosions. We did not see either explosion, but I heard a large 'boom' that sounded like a cannon being fired. I looked up and saw a large plume of smoke. At first the people around us seemed to be stunned, and they stopped moving. A few seconds after, we heard the second explosion. I turned back in the direction of the noise...I turned to my mother and told her we should get out of there. People were very well behaved. There was little panic, and I'm not aware of anyone being injured from the rush of the crowd....My thoughts and prayers are with the victims."
—Matthew Lavine, via web form
More: The Future of Marathons, Post-Boston Bombings
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