Two Mahwah Runners 'OK' After Boston Marathon Explosions

The families and friends of at least two Mahwah runners were comforted to learn Monday afternoon that they were not harmed in a bombing at the Boston Marathon.

One runner from Mahwah, Ellen Davis, told friends on Facebook she was “OK” after two explosions reportedly went off near the race’s finish line.

“I am ok ...unfortunately because of situation pulled from course at Boston line,” Davis posted on Facebook. Dozens of residents commented on her post.

Township resident Ann Ariemma confirmed that her son, Fred, “is OK. He is on his way home [to Mahwah] now,” she told Patch shortly after 4:30 p.m.

A total of six runners from Mahwah were registered to run the Marathon Monday, according to the Boston Marathon’s website. The other registered runners are listed as Todd Dedfosses, Gildardo Quintero, Terence Reilly, and Julie Santos.

One township woman said she felt lucky that her family, who was scheduled to be in Boston for the marathon Monday, decided not to go at the last minute.

Caroline DeMaria said her son-in-law, Todd Desfosses, was registered to run the race, but decided a few days ago not to do it.

“He runs it every year, and he just decided that he didn’t want to this year,” she told Patch in a phone interview Monday evening. “It is unreal, our whole family would have been there.” Desfosses was not home Monday night to comment.

According to Patch reports from the Boston area, two people have been confirmed dead and dozens injured in the aftermath of the explosions. Reports say as many as four homemade bombs were found near the race’s course.

Local running clubs have expressed concern for the nearly 23,000 people in the race – over 500 of whom are from New Jersey.

“We weren’t training people for this race, but a lot of our customers were training for it on their own,” Joe Glotzbier, the owner of Fleet Feet in Mahwah, said Monday afternoon. “People have been checking in on Facebook, saying they are OK. We’ve actually had people in and out of here since the news broke. It’s been very busy with people wanting to know more about this. It’s just a horrible thing.”

The other three township runners registered for the marathon could not be immediately reached. But, according to the Boston Marathon website, Quintero finished the marathon at 1:09 p.m., after running for just over three hours and 6 minutes; Reilly finished at 2:20 p.m., and Santos finished at 2:28 p.m.

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