Marathon runners make emotional return home

Two women who completed the Boston Marathon minutes before two bombs exploded on Monday, experienced an emotional return home to St. John's on Tuesday.

Wearing their blue and yellow official marathon jackets, and their medals, Josee Hotton and Beth Ellen Brown were greeted by family members and friends at St. John's International Airport with hugs and tears.

"There's no joy to wear this medal today," said Hotton.

Hotton said she wore her jacket and her medal to show them to her family members, and also to show solidarity with the people of Boston as they continue to cope with the tragedy.

Brown, a Memorial University medical student originally from Prince Edward Island, said she was in a meeting area one street away from the finish line when she heard the explosions.

Then, said Brown, she saw people crying, several police cars, then multiple ambulances rush to the area.

"I was just absolutely terrified," she said.

Local runners show support

Meanwhile, Colin Howse and his running buddies will wear their Boston Marathon jackets when they go on their evening run in St. John's on Tuesday.

Howse said after the initial shock of the event, and the relief in finding out that his friends at the event were OK, he felt sadness for the victims and anger at the people behind the bombing.

"Twenty-seven thousand individuals just showed up from all over the world [to run], not just the United States, so it's an attack on everyone, from all over the world," said Howse.

"And that's what offends me and upsets me the most."

Howse, who has run the Boston Marathon once before, has qualified for a entry spot in the 2014 event.

He said Monday's tragic events have made him more determined than ever to run the 42.2 km course next year.

"We can't let this [the bombing] deter us from what our ambitions are, and our attempts to make the world a better place," said Howse.   

Brown also said the bombing would not stop her from trying to earn a spot in a future Boston Marathon.

"Hopefully I can qualify again and get back there," she said.