Bedford Runner Home Safe

Robert Laitman of Bedford crossed the marathon finish about 20 minutes before the blasts that killed three and injured 130 exploded in Boston.

But the person he planned to run with finished two minutes before the attacks went off—too close for comfort, but safely across the line, he said.

"My heart goes out to those people. I was high-fiving everyone at the finish line and I am thinking about them," he said. "I think it's a horrible, tragic event and I definitely could have been back there. The the timing of attack is terrible, it targeted all charity runners, groups finishing around the four-hour mark."

Another Katonah runner, Jeffrey Welch, safely crossed the finish line, according to the Lewisboro Ledger. He completed the marathon about 15 minutes before the explosions, his wife, Carroll, told the paper Monday evening.

Click here for a list of local runners who were registered for the marathon. If you participated, were a spectator or have heard from runners, post your comments in the thread below.

Laitman said he was already at work on a project for his charity, Team Daniel—his runner's group which raises money for mental health research—when he heard about the bombs.

"This tragedy is horrific but it wouldn't stop me from running Boston again, you have to live your life. I hope they find out who did this. It's sad this is the world we live in," he said.

Cross Sport Woman owner herself a veteran marathoner, said she was stunned watching the videos from today.  

"I was horrified—then angry that a person or persons would commit such a despicable act. As a fellow marathoner, my thoughts are with all the families and runners affected and finally to all the marathoners who worked so hard to get to Boston and were not able to finish," she said, adding that she felt fortunate that her friends running the race were safe.  

Leatherman's Loop founder Tony Godino said hearing the news was "worse than horrible." He said though there would be a police presence at this year's race, slated for Sunday, he didn't anticipate having to increase security there as a result of the events in Boston.

At Walnut Creek Patch in California, longtime marathoner and a Boston finisher David Mills said this in a blog posted Monday afternoon: "I can't imagine the sudden turn of emotions for those runners who were striding down that avenue when the bombs blew. From euphoria to fright to devastation."

If you want to share your thoughts or show your support for the Boston community, click here.