Local Boston Marathon runner says this year, they'll take back Boston again after Tsarnaev guilty verdict

BOSTON (WITI) -- Wednesday, April 15th is the second anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings. A local marathoner remembers that day well, because he was there. He's going back to Boston, and not just to run.

 

For Richard Dodd, running is a gift. He says often, like when he runs trails in southeastern Wisconsin, it gives him peace. That peace was drastically disrupted in 2013. This year, he says it will be different for him and many other runners. That's because of the guilty verdict handed down for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

Tsarnaev was found guilty on 30 counts related to the 2013 bombings at the Boston Marathon. That's what Dodd was hoping for.

"You just didn`t know how it was going to turn out and when it would end. As far as the sentencing goes, wherever the chips fall there it's not mine to judge, but I think it's safe to say the young man is not going to see freedom for a very long time if ever in his lifetime which I think is fair and appropriate," Dodd said.

Dodd was there on the day of the bombings -- finding the race just 50 minutes prior to the first explosion.

"People were running around screaming about explosions and maiming and things of that nature," Dodd said.

The guilty verdict means he and countless others can move forward. Dodd has qualified for this year's Boston Marathon.

"We`re glad that the trial, at least the initial phase of the trial is over with now save for the sentencing so that the specter of the trial going on while we`re running and preparing and going to the exposition and being in Boston dining and what have you -- that`s not the first thing on TV every day is the fact that this young man is still at trial. It has ended. so I think there`s a little bit of relief there," Dodd said.

The last few days before the big race, Dodd will be running shorter distances, like 5Ks, and while his body prepares, so will his mind.

"This year it's almost going to be taking it back again now that that trial phase is over," Dodd said.

The Boston Marathon is run on Patriots' Day -- the third Monday in April. This year, it's set for April 20th.