By Diane DiStefano

Contributing Writer

EDITOR’S NOTE: Norwich attorney Diane DiStefano was one of over 23,000 runners who competed in the Boston Marathon last week. DiStefano, who finished about half an hour before the two explosions, gives her first-person account of the events that followed the two explosions.

Last Monday, April 15, 2013, myself, my husband, and mu son were in Boston as I participated in the 117th running of the Boston Marathon. It was a picture-perfect day for a run with sunny skies and cool temperatures. I had a great run, until about 10 minutes later when so many lives would be forever altered.

When I crossed the finished line, I received my medal from one of the thousands of supportive volunteers, had my metallic heat blanket wrapped around me, and went in search of my family. After a few minutes of looking, I finally called them only to find out they were stuck on the subway or “T” as it is known in Boston. I told them to get off at the Arlington Station, two blocks away from the finish line, and that I would meet them there. I hobbled to the Arlington T station and waited for their arrival. Apparently, the trains were all delayed due to the large number of people in Boston for the marathon. They finally arrived and we prepared to get on to go back to our car, a few T stops away.