LifeTime Fitness Running Club Coordinator Connects with Friends at Boston Marathon

Karie Stringer got word from a friend attending the Boston Marathon asking her to find out what was happening. The friend, Linda Petry, had heard an explosion but did not know what was going on Monday afternoon.

Stringer immediately did a Google search to gather information. She found a site with a live feed from Boston detailing the chaos that broke out following two explosions at the finish line.

Petry was watching a friend run the marathon, at mile 25, when she heard something go off, Stringer said. According to reports, mile 25 is close to the finish line and there were a lot of people watching.

Stringer sent Petry the link so she could learn what was happening.  Petry’s found her friend and both are safe. Stringer was able to call the friend’s mom to let her know.

The marathon was immediately stopped to keep runners safe, Stringer said.

“They were scared ,” Stringer said of her friend. “They wanted to get out of Boston as soon as possible but they were not sure they would be able to fly out.”

Stringer was also able to connect with a friend, Mark Windsor, who was running his first Boston Marathon. Windsor is a member of the LifeTime Fitness Run Club, which Stringer coordinates. He has also participated in the club’s indoor triathlon.

She called him and left a message asking Windsor contact her to let her know he was ok.

Windsor had crossed the finish line at 3:21 mark; the explosions went off at the 4:09 mark. He and his wife were in their hotel room when they heard about the attack.

Stringer was able to post on her Facebook page that Windsor was safe.

“He’s good, he’s a little shaken and scared about it,” Stringer said.

Stringer, herself, ran the Boston Marathon in 2011. She felt safe the whole time she was there.

“It was a fabulous race,” she said. “I loved it. There was a ton of spectators everywhere you ran. I recommend it to everyone. I can’t believe something like this happened to such a huge event, a world-wide event.”