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Boston Strong: Marathon a Race with Purpose

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Terrorists may have hijacked the meaning of the Boston Marathon for a year, but Monday the runners were back on the city's streets for one of the world's premier athletic events.

Security was much tighter and the victims of last April's attack were not forgotten.

After several days of emotional tributes and the annual blessing of the runners, it was a race with a purpose for trauma surgeon and marathon runner Dr. David King.

"It's a symbolic gesture that we're not going to cower to the specter of terrorism," King said.

King ran in last year's race and then treated many of those who were wounded in the attack near the finish line.

Illinois Pastor Joe Briseno was about a mile from the finish line when the deadly bombing took place. He joined CBN News Today, April 21, to share his first-hand account of what it was like during the chaotic moments after the bombs went off. Click play to watch.

"I can't imagine having such an intimate relationship and share in so many remarkable moments with my patients and not want to run for them to celebrate their recovery. I can't imagine not doing it," King said.

To start the race on Patriots Day in Boston, those attending participated in a moment of silence for the four who died, including a police officer, and the 260 wounded.

Then, a flood of 36,000 runners - the second largest field in history - followed. They wound their way through the streets with double the number of security cameras from last year. More than 3,000 police patrolled the course.

Among those reflecting on the race and their lives: brothers J.P. and Paul Norden, who each lost a leg in the bombing.

"I feel like we're more positive people now than we were a year ago," J.P. Norden said.

"I'm just very happy now. Before I would have said I was, maybe like, just content," Paul Norden added.

Also happy: the marathon winners. Kenya's Rita Jeptoo repeated her victory from last year, and Meb Keflezighi became the first U.S. citizen to win the marathon in more than 30 years

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About The Author

John
Waage

John Waage has covered politics and analyzed elections for CBN New since 1980, including primaries, conventions, and general elections. He also analyzes the convulsive politics of the Middle East.