Grafton Family Near Boston Marathon Finish Line When Bombs Explode

North Grafton resident Elizabeth Spinney and her husband, Bruce, had to explain to their three young children why they couldn't meet their friend at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

At about 2:50 p.m. today, the Spinneys were near the finish line when they heard what Spinney described as "two blasts that sounded like loud gunshots."

"It was such a beautiful day. We were there watching a runner, Jason Kroot (of Maine), who was running for Dana-Farber on behalf of our son, Colin, who just a few weeks ago finished his treatment for a brain tumor," Spinney said in an email. "My husband Bruce and I were there with Colin and our other two small children when, at about 2:50 we heard two blasts that sounded like loud gunshots. They were just a few seconds apart. Then, moments, later, we saw dozens and dozens of cops and ambulances passing us toward the finish line. People started running away screaming, 'bomb, there was a bomb.'"

The Spinneys and Kroot were unharmed.

Other Grafton residents have checked in on the Grafton Patch Facebook page, notifying other readers that Grafton runners are OK. Ten Boston Marathon runners this year were registered as Grafton residents. So far, Marc Theroux and Justin Compton are accounted for. Michael Park and Elyshia J. Hankin are also listed on the Boston Marathon website as having finished the race at least an hour before the bombs went off. (Note: that does not mean that the other runners have been harmed, only that no one has emailed us yet.)

Spinney said she had to explain to Colin, 4, and her two other children why they had to leave.

"Then we had to explain to our children why we couldn't meet our runner at the finish line and we had to get out of Boston right away."

Were you at the Boston Marathon? Can you account for local runners? Please check in here in the comment section.