New England Patriots

Boston Marathon bombing survivors return to run as amputees

Published Apr. 18, 2016 4:39 p.m. ET

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Sometimes it's not about how fast you run; it's about how you run. Adrianne Haslet was proof of that at Monday's Boston Marathon. After losing a leg in the 2013 marathon bombings, Haslet returned to the course this year as a runner. 

With the city of Boston and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady cheering her on, Haslet started the day by dancing her way out of Hopkinton, the starting point of the marathon. 

Nearly 10 hours later, an exhausted, emotional and yet triumphant Haslet finally crossed the finish line, steps away from the spot where her life was changed just three years ago. 

Haslet encountered problems with her leg during the race and very easily could have dropped out. After all, it's hard enough to run a marathon on two functioning legs. Attempting to run with a prosthetic leg which isn't working properly sounds like an impossible task.

But Haslet did not give up. She was Boston Strong in every sense of that phrase, and she earned the applause of every person left at the marathon's finish line when she finally completed the race. 

Haslet was not the only survivor or marathon amputee running Monday. Patrick Downes, who lost his left leg in the Boston Marathon bombings three years ago, also returned to the finish line this year as a runner. He completed the race in 05:56:46 on a prosthetic leg. In a weird coincidence, Downes finished the marathon at 2:49 p.m., the exact time the first bomb went off at the marathon three years ago.

Downes' wife, Jessica Kensky, lost both of her legs in the bombings and was there Monday to greet Downes when he crossed the finish line. The pair's embrace at the finish line was an emotional moment for many bystanders.

Downes also met with the family of Martin Richard, the 8-year-old boy who lost his life in the marathon bombings three years ago.

Both Haslet and Downes were honored in Boston in various ways ahead of the race. In what is a true honor for any Bostonian, both also had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at Fenway Park in separate games over the weekend.

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