A New Westminster family embraced at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday - in the very spot where one of two bombs soon exploded.
Jason Bishop, competing his first Boston Marathon, embraced his wife Liza and his three children at the finish line.
"I came and gave them a hug at the finish line," he said. "It was 25 minutes before the bomb went off."
The Bishops later realized they had been standing in the location where the second of two bombs exploded on Monday afternoon.
"We heard the bombs go off. We were literally a block away," he said, noting they were in a park across the street where a bal-loon maker was making creations for the kids. "People started saying, those were bombs. People were hysterical."
After hearing what sounded like a giant cannon, the Bishops went back to their hotel and learned about the severity of what had happened.
"Liza thinks she was probably talking to people who got blown up," Bishop said.
Three people died and more than 170 were injured after two bombs exploded near the finish line.
"When I heard an eight-year-old boy died, I started crying," said Bishop, whose kids are aged seven, nine and 11. "I spent the day hugging the kids."
After staying in Boston Monday night, the Bishops took the train to New York on Tuesday.
"The idea behind it is terror," he said about the bombs. "Everyone is on edge."
Bishop has noticed more of a police presence in New York City than he's ever seen before.
"You see this stuff on TV. To see it in real life puts it into a totally different perspective," he told The Record. "It is scary and sad."
Bishop has competed in numerous marathons and sporting events, but said nothing can compare to the Boston Marathon.
"It's electric," he said of the atmosphere. "I have raced world championship races before - nothing even comes close. It is the Super Bowl of marathons."
Bishop noted that people lined the entire 26.2-mile route of the course. In the home stretch, people were lined up 10 people deep and cheered the runners to the finish line.
Jason Haight, who is the City of New Westminster's manager of business operations, returned to work Wednesday after competing in his second Boston Marathon.
"My heart goes out to all the people affected by the explosion, the families of the deceased, the people who were hurt physically and emotionally by seeing and being part of the blast," he told The Record.
Given the events that had taken place at the end of the race he felt it was inappropriate to bring his medal to work, but he donned his race shirt.
"I am not wearing it in celebration," he said, "I am wearing it in support of the memory of the folks in the race."
The April 15 Boston Marathon was Haight's seventh marathon. Prior to heading to Boston, he had decided it would be his last time running in the storied event.
"I am quite confused on how I am feeling," said the North Vancouver resident. "It's a mix of triumph and tragedy."
Haight praised the efforts of the organizers and the thousands of volunteers who make the marathon so special for runners.
"The fans were loud, exuberant and encouraging," he said. "It was incredible experience. They were so encouraging and inspiring."
Haight remembers turning on Boylston Street, the final stretch of the 26.2-mile course.
He was exuberant as he crossed the finish line.
"I was so happy I didn't even look at the time clock," he said. "I was drinking in the moment."
Once past the finish line, volunteers and race officials ensure the runners are healthy, provide them with a blanket, drink and banana - and give them their medal.
Haight remembers stopping about 20 feet past the finish line, savouring the moment and watching other runners cross the line.
Doing the "athlete shuffle" that comes after running a marathon, Haight said he started to walk back toward the finish line to ask someone to take his photo - but then decided against it.
"I remember saying, enough is enough. I have had my moment," he recalled. "I basically turned around."
Haight turned around, shuffled down the street and was about 200 feet from the finish line when he heard an explosion. Because it was Patriots' Day in Boston, some people initially thought a cannon may have been sounded as part of the day's celebrations.
Unaware of the tragedy that had just taken place, Haight walked the short distance back to his hotel, where he sent an email to his wife to let her know he'd finished the race and clicked on the TV to see who had won the marathon. Instead, he saw the tragedy unfolding mere blocks away.
"I just sat on the edge of the bed watching the chaos. I was in so much disbelief. I couldn't believe this was just occurring - I was just there," he said. "The whole night I sat in the hotel and watched for about three hours, until I couldn't take it anymore."
On reflection, Haight concluded that if he'd gone back to the finish line to have his photo taken, he would have been in the area where one of the bombs exploded.
"I saw police along the whole route. I saw police on motorcycles going up and down the course. I felt they had done as good a job as you could possibly expect," he said. "It was first class. You had no fear for personal safety."
While he's taken part in other races, he said the Boston Marathon is something special.
"It's got the most prestige," he said. "It's like the Olympic Games for amateur athletes."
