Community Corner

Mike Beaudreau Completes Boston Marathon Safely

Former Gwinnett County District 3 commissioner Mike Beaudreau was in Boston competing in the Boston Marathon at the time of Monday's explosions.

There was a lot of relief Monday when friends were able to report that former Gwinnett County District 3 Commissioner Mike Beaudreau had finished the Boston Marathon and was safe. Beaudreau said it was actually a close call. He and a friend were about a block away, headed back to the transit station, when the explosions occurred.

"It was a crazy, crazy day," Beaudreau said from his Boston hotel room Monday night. "I had finished the race about an hour and a half, two hours ahead of that. We were headed to the transit station and were actually going toward the finish line. I stopped and asked how to get there and were told we were headed the wrong way. So we turned around -- thank God. About five minutes later -- boom."

(According to the Boston Marathon's website, more than 300 Georgians entered the race, including 29 runners who were listed as residents in Gwinnett County towns. Three Duluth runners Susan Kolbinski, Chelsa Kuzma and Steven J. Kuzma were on the entry list for the Boston Marathon.)

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Beaudreau said it sounded like something had been dropped -- first one and then the second one, but they headed to the transit station, unaware that anything was going on.

"We didn’t see anything and to be truthful, we didn't hear a lot of sirens -- thought it was a natural gas explosion or something really heavy had dropped," Beaudreau said. "It wasn't until we were in the transit station that we got word."

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That word, Beaudreau said, came from people here in Georgia.

"I was getting texted from people watching live feed, otherwise I wouldn't have known," Beaudreau said, adding it was such a sad end to what had been a really exciting day for him. "This was my first time in Boston, and I was so excited to be here. The volunteers were so supportive -- it was unreal. They were yelling for me. I finished 3:04 -- just over 3 hours. I was real excited about it and I was as tired as all get out and the volunteers there at the end - they were just so great. All my thoughts are frankly with those volunteers. My heart aches because I am afraid some of my new friends, those volunteers, would have been there -- at the finish line. I'm sure some of them would have been those who were hurt."

Beaudreau is scheduled to return to Georgia on Tuesday. He said right now he just wants to get back home to his wife and baby girl. He was able to send his wife, Tegwen, a text to let her know that he was OK, but he said that there is more damage that this has caused than anyone realizes just yet.

"The Boston Marathon is the world championship in marathons -- and it raises millions and millions for charity," Beaudreau said. "The very people who are going to be hurt by it are those who are so in need of it."

Beaudreau said the running community is very close knit and the runners on site immediately wanted to volunteer or to give blood. He said he has already been in contact with runners back home in Georgia and they are planning a charity run to help the people in Boston who were injured in the attacks. He said he is still shook up by the whole thing himself.

"I mean to be that close," he said. "If I hadn't stopped and asked for directions we would have been right there."

Another runner from Loganville, James McCollough, who was registered to run the Boston Marathon, was sidelined by an injury and didn't get to go.

"He was injured a few weeks back and unable to finish the marathon training," Beth McCollough wrote on Loganville-Grayson Facebook page. "He is home, safe and sound."

Boston Police are reporting at least three people died and more than 100 were injured after two explosions occurred around 2:50 p.m. Monday near the finish line. 

Video of the incident shows the explosion knocking runners and bystanders to the ground following the blast. 

The Boston Marathon released a statement around 4 p.m. that said, "There were two bombs that exploded near the finish line in today's Boston Marathon. We are working with law enforcement to understand what exactly has happened."

Follow breaking coverage on the incident from our Patch sites throughout the Boston area.

Visit this website to check up on loved ones who ran the Boston Marathon, or call 617-635-4500.

The American Red Cross Safe and Well site has been activated. 

~ Loganville-Grayson Patch

Does anyone know if the three Duluth runners are OK? Let us know in the comments.


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