Boston, runners look for a fresh start

Today, Boston steps up to reclaim its streets from the terrorists who caused such devastation last year — as hundreds of thousands of defiant runners, spectators, cops, firefighters, medics and volunteers crowd the 26.2-mile route of the 118th Boston Marathon in a jubilant celebration of athleticism, patriotism and the city’s life.

“It means we carry on, we take the city back. That’s what it’s all about,” said Michael Cohen of Marblehead, a 10-time Boston marathoner. “It’s going to be a new beginning, and it’s going to be a good beginning. As time goes on, we won’t forget, but we’ll be able to work our way through it. It’s too bad things happened the way they did, but it will be a good day. It will be a really good day.”

Crowds of athletes and their families visited the finish line over the weekend to take photos and stop by a small memorial to those killed last year. Undeterred by the terrorist bombings that marred the cherished event one year ago, they expect this first race after the tragedy will be emotional and joyous.

“Boston’s a remarkable city, best city in the world … we’re going to show our true colors,” Mayor Martin J. Walsh said. “We never lost the city.”

“Once again, the city rises from this terrible thing that happened,” said Carlos Arredondo, the finish line hero with the cowboy hat who ran into the blast zone to aid the injured when the bombs went off. “The community’s been amazing. It’s wonderful to see people from all over the world participating. It’s going to be a wonderful day.”

Today’s 26.2-mile race from Hopkinton to Boston will include 36,000 runners — 9,000 more than last year.

“I want to be part of ‘Boston Strong,’ ” said Melinda Yanuaria, 50, of Los Angeles. She was less than half a mile from finishing her first race in Boston last year before the explosions stopped her. Now, she says, “I want to come back every year if I can.”

The twin bombings near the Boylston Street finish line last year killed Martin Richard, 8, Kyrstle Campbell, 29, and Lingzi Lu, 23, injured more than 260 people and shook the city’s sense of security. It also inspired more people than ever to run again, to volunteer again and to watch the iconic race again.

“Last year was going to be our last Boston together. Then we decided we couldn’t end it that way,” said Mary Wojnowski, 46, of Rochester, N.Y. She is running with her sister, Amanda Darlak, 41, of Portland Ore.

“It’s more emotional. It’s good closure,” Darlak said of returning to Boston.

A group of friends from Ottawa said they feel safe running Boston again, though some people questioned their decision.

“It made us more determined to come back,” said Jeff Slavin, 52. “I’m a little scared I might not finish, but other than that I’m not scared. You can’t let something like that change your outlook on life, otherwise you’d just sit in your room.”

“We work hard all year. In the spring, this is our marathon,” said his running buddy, Mike Blois, 43.

Danielle Fogarty, 47, of North Bennington, Vt., a charity runner who was only feet away from touching the finish line before the bombs went off last year, said, “It was not an easy decision, but I think it was inevitable we would come back, so we’d have a different ending for our Boston Marathon story.”