Euphoria ends quickly for Geneva runner
Geneva resident Elena Shemyakina should have been celebrating Monday afternoon.
The 53-year-old had won her age division (women ages 50-54), in her sixth Boston Marathon. Shemyakina was on a bus headed back to the start line, where her car was parked, when the bus driver told the passengers about the explosions.
It had been a very good day before that, she said, with “very nice weather.” The streets were lined with “lots of people, lots of kids, everybody very happy,” Shemyakina said.
Some people were having barbecues, which Shemyakina smelled as she ran by.
“It was a good time,” she said, and she looked forward to post-race celebrations before the explosions hit.
“It would be a nice evening, celebrating on the streets, with supporters and friends,” Shemyakina said of her would-be plans in the aftermath of the tragedy.
“It’s horrible, of course,” she said.