Boston Marathon survivor plans to run again

ATLANTA — An Atlanta woman who ran last year’s Boston Marathon recounted the tragic day one year later

Channel 2’s Craig Lucie met Karen Machan shopping for her Boston Marathon running outfit at West Stride running store in Buckhead

“Remembering it now, it’s like ‘oh my gosh!’” said Machan.

When Machan finished last year’s marathon, she says she headed to the medical tent.

“My husband was at the finish line with my sister and her husband,” explained Machan.

Then the explosion.

“The first one went off, and they looked at each other and then the second one went off. He knew it was a bomb so they knew they needed to locate me and get out of there,” said Machan.

The bombs killed three people and injured 264. It was the worst mass-casualty attack on U.S. soil since September 11, 2001.

“In the medic tent you saw and could hear the police,” said Machan.

Machan says once her husband found her, they immediately left the race area.

“Once I reunited with my family, there’s a sense of peace but then my friends are still out there. At that point, I didn’t know where they were if they finished or if they had gotten hurt,” explained Machan.

She says the memory of last year may hit her as she is nearing the finish line.

“I think there’s going to be a lot of emotions this year,” Machan said.

Lucie stopped by several running stores and everyone seemed to know someone who is headed to Boston. Daniel Dietz has run 51 marathons. His 52^nd will be his fourth Boston Marathon.

“It will be special just to be part of the event and be there and take back our sport. Just to be resilient as part of the running community,” said Dietz.

WSBTV