Bombing leaves people incredulous in Boston and at home Continued from p.1 "It's just about as disturbing and frustrating to be here than be there, because all of my buddies are there," Rob Kent, a three-time Boston Marathon competitor who did not participate in this year's event, said Monday afternoon. "You try to figure out what emotions are coming over you. It's just very disturbing and upsetting. I don't know whether it's the right emotion to feel, but it just makes me very angry." Steve Connor, a local chiropractor who heads a marathon training group called `Connor's Runners', spent Monday afternoon checking emails and Facebook messages between appointments. "Everything's been chaos, but everyone's accounted for. Anyone who had a spouse or family there watching has checked in as well," said Connor, who knew 19 participants in the race. There were certainly some close calls. According to results posted on the Boston Marathon website, eight of the 42 Oakville runners completed the 42-kilometre course less than 15 minutes before the first bomb exploded near the finish line approximately four hours and 10 minutes into the race. Chris Kavanagh was the closest, finishing in a time of 4:08:13. "I crossed the finish line and within seconds, I turned with the blast and then the second blast," said the 62-year-old Kavanagh, a self-employed sales consultant. "There was so much grey smoke, you really couldn't see much of anything. That's how much smoke there was. I truly thought it was a gas main that had gone off... it didn't even occur to me that it would be a terrorist act." Connor's Runners teammate Mariellen Glover, a Burlington resident, crossed the line shortly after Kavanagh. 3 | Wednesday, April 17, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com There was so much grey smoke, you really couldn't see much of anything. That's how much smoke there was. I truly thought it was a gas main that had gone off... it didn't even occur to me that it would be a terrorist act. Chris Kavanagh; Oakville runner; explosion. They flattened the metal fences and advised the runners just to move," Glover said in an e-mail Connor forwarded to the Beaver. "It was a little surreal. People were crying. I had one guy beside me as we got our water and medal who was praying. But everyone is safe and sound." Kavanagh's wife, Mary Jo, was approximately a kilometre from the finish line. It took her nearly an hour and a half to get to the family waiting area and discover that Chris was okay. Cellphone networks in the area had been shut down, as had the airport and subway. See Monday p.15 submitted photo Helene Desrosiers was one of the Oakville runners competing in Monday's Boston Marathon. Her husband confirmed Monday Desrosiers was safe. She is a member of the IRONDames, a group of women raising money for Wellspring Halton-Peel. THE PROBLEM WITH INVESTMENT FEES DATES Thurs, April 25th 10:00am, 2:00pm, 7:00pm Fri, April 26th 10:00am, 2:00pm Sat, April 27th 10:00am, 2:00pm SEMINAR "I had just passed the pad and was under the John Hancock (sign) when the first explosion happened. I turned around and saw the second LOCATION Peter Watson Investments 220 Randall Street, Downtown Oakville inside today's Editorial Sports Beaver www.insideHALTON.com Full Delivery: Listen UP Canada, Metroland West Real Estate, Queen's Pharmacy, The Optician, Streetsville Tire, Kingsway Snowblowing, Kitchener Record-Agency, Rona, National Sports, Home Depot, Staples/Business Depot, Golf Town, Henry's Cameras, Sears Partial Delivery: 6 26 Artscene Classified 24 29 MBA, CFP, R.F.P., CIM, FCSI Certified Financial Planner Peter Watson Free Parking For home delivery & customer service call 905-631-6095, 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington New subscriptions call 905-631-6095 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com To reserve your seats email us at info@peterwatsoninvestments.com or call us at (905) 842-2100 Ext: 2 (24 hours) www.peterwatsoninvestments.com Don't Compromise on Driver Training UPCOMING COURSES · 20 hours in class · 10 hours online · 10 hours in car (automatic) OR · 12 hours in car (manual) · MTO Approved Beginner Driver Education Program Provider April 27, 28 May 4, 5 Sat & Sun 2 Weekends 9:30am to 3:30pm May 11, 12, 25, 25 (skips Victoria Day) Sat & Sun 2 Weekends 9:30am to 3:30pm Jun 1, 2, 8, 9 Sat & Sun 2 Weekends 9:30am to 3:30pm www.drivewiseoakville.com 905-845-7200