TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)--About 15 minutes after Gary Griffin finished his fourth Boston Marathon he heard the explosions.
"It sounded like cannons," said Griffin. "I thought it was a celebration of Patriots Day."
What he heard was two explosions that killed three people and injured more than 170. He says he's thankful his wife wasn't waiting near the finish line where it all happened.
"You work hard to get to that point to get to that finish line and shortly after that all that hard work should turn to joy and it wasn't too long after that there was no joy," said Griffin.
He was glad to cross the finish line but thousands didn't.
"I feel sorry for the people who were out on the course who did not get to finish who had trained every bit as hard as I did who just happened to still be out there," said Griffin. "They did not get to finish.I can't imagine."
Gulf Winds Track Club board member David Yon says he's thankful runners like Griffin and their families are coming home safe and sound.
He hopes the Boston Marathon will continue in the future.
"As runners we want to keep it going and we don't want someone to take that away from us," said Yon.
This Saturday it's the Palace Saloon 5k Run. It's being dedicated to those impacted by the explosions. Yon encourages you to wear to yellow and blue in support of the Boston Athletic Association.
