Thousands Finish Boston Marathon A Year After Bombing
BOSTON (CBS) - At least 5,000 runners who were not able to finish the race last year came out more determined than ever to finish this year. "It's an accomplishment, it's unfinished business that's taken care of," said Susan Mahoney who made it as far as the Massachusetts Avenue bridge when the bombs went off near the finish line last year.
Some were within miles, some within feet like Joseph Keiser of Germany. "You should not have tried to stop me, either in the run, in the plane, in the train to the plane," Keiser said. "No, I come back."
Six plus hours later it was mission accomplished for Mo Landry, who struggled over the finish. "They took it away from us and we brought it back to the streets of Boston. It felt good."
On Monday, they received their medals in person, not by mail. Last year was supposed to be the last marathon for Karen Shanley but she had to come back one more time. "It was closure, just closure, and no one gave up," she said.
It seems there was no giving up as runners pushed each other to the finish, and then paused to take in the moment like Frank Scolaro. "To get back to that line. Let people know you can come and do this without incident and we did."
Whatever motivation it took to return this year, it was a race to the finish for these runners. "I had a marathon and I had to prove this is our city, that's all it is," said Suzanne Webster.
MORE LOCAL NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON
