Berlin Man Mike Crowe Never Got To Finish Marathon

Berlin native Mike Crowe was luckily behind the pace of those who were nearing the finish line when the bombs went off and killed three people and injured more than 100. 

"I was a half mile behind it," Crowe said late Monday night. "They ended up stopping all the runners and we all piled up on the street. Some runners had their phones so word of mouth was spreading. Emotions were high and a lot of people were scared.

"There was still a lot of confusion. We kept piling up on the street as more runners tried to finish. Once they figured out what to do with the runners. We were diverted out and away from the finish line and the baggage busses were moved so that people were able to get their belongings. By the time we got there, a lot of the volunteers were gone and everyone was pretty much fending for themselves."

Crowe was not allowed to finish the race.

"Nope. We just got our things and had to leave. No official times, no metals. Not arguing it. Obviously much bigger things going on. Running is not important now." 

Crowe said he didn't hear the explosions or see much of anything.

"No, didn't get anywhere near it," he said. "Everything was blocked off by the time we were able to move from where they had us held on the street."

Georgia Panagopoulos of Berlin has run in the last three Boston Marathons but did not run it this year. She usually runs marathons in about 4 hours or 4 hours and 10 minutes. If she ran in that time frame this year it would have put her right around the finish line at the time the bombs went off.

"I have been doing more half marathons but I did the Chicago Marathon," Panagopoulos said. "I have such marvelous memories of the Boston Marathon. You always have your friends and families there and there are so many people there. I can't imagine what the panic and chaos was like at that time.

"The last 1/4 mile or half mile there are so many people that just lift you to the finish line. It's only in Boston. I've done other marathons but there is no other race like Boston."

Panagopoulos said she was shocked when she heard the news.

"I was pretty shocked," she said. "It is such a happy occasion. It is a great day in Boston and the atmosphere is so happy. There are runners who have been working for years to be able to run the Boston Marathon. I can't imagine the ones that were not allowed to finish. I hope they have a chance to go back and finish. It is beyond awful to be one of those people. I'm very sad about it."