Saline man: Boston Marathon explosion was 'unlike anything I've ever heard'
- Related coverage: Boston Marathon explosion: List of Ann Arbor participants with updates
- Reports from Ann Arbor area runners at the Boston Marathon
- Boston Marathon explosions: At least 2 dead, more than 120 injured
Half a mile from the finish line at the Boston Marathon, Saline resident Paul Renberg was waiting to meet up with his wife, Kathy, after her successful completion of the race. Paul and his daughters Elise, 12, and Karissa, 16, had snapped a picture of Kathy at the 26-mile mark and were waiting to congratulate her on her first Boston Marathon Monday.
Excitement quickly turned to fear when the Renbergs heard an explosion in the distance. Smoke rose from the area of Kathy’s last known whereabouts and Paul feared the worst.
Saline resident Kathy Renberg, far right, at the 26-mile point of the 2013 Boston Marathon. Renberg finished 20 minutes before an explosion killed at least two and injured at least 132 at the finish line on Monday, April 15.
Photo courtesy of Paul Renberg
About five minutes later, a frightened Kathy came around the corner and the Renbergs made their way back to their downtown hotel room. Kathy is one of 60 Washtenaw County residents registered for the race, including two others from Saline and 50 from Ann Arbor. None of the 60 have been reported among those killed or injured by the explosions.
Paul Renberg said the explosion was startling.
“It was unlike anything I’ve ever heard,” Paul said. “It was loud, and we could see the cloud of smoke."
The Renbergs made their way back to their room at Westin Copley Place, just 161 meters from the explosion that according to the Associated Press killed at least two people and injured at least 132.
Back in Ann Arbor, Kathy and Paul's son, Nick Renberg, a Saline High School alumnus and current member of the University of Michigan men’s track and field team, scrambled to get an update from his parents.
Nick’s teammates asked him if he had reached out to his family when they ran into him on campus and that was the first he heard of the tragedy. Nick quickly scrambled to get ahold of his family. Just as there was for his father and sisters, Nick had some tense moments of uncertainty as his calls to his mother and father wouldn’t go through. He said he called about 20 times before finally finding out from his father that everyone was all right.
The Associated Press reported earlier that cellphone service was shut down in the Boston area to prevent any possible remote detonations of explosives, citing a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing. That report has since been refuted.
Paul said he’s been flooded with texts and emails checking on Kathy since news of the tragedy broke.
Kathy, 50, has competed in two Detroit Marathons, but this was her first time ever running in Boston. Kathy crossed the finish line at the three hour, 49 minute point of the race, 20 minutes before the explosions.
Kathy declined to comment for the story.
“She ran a very good race but is very shaken up by what happened,” Paul said.
The Renbergs are scheduled to return home on Tuesday and have yet to hear if their flight will be delayed. The Federal Aviation Administration put a temporary ground stop on inbound flights to Logan International Airport, but lifted the ban around 6 p.m. on Monday.
-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
AlwaysLate
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 1:25 p.m.
In the photo of Mrs. Renberg, a large, black bag...similar to the ones the FBI is asking about, can be clearly seen across the street. Was this location near either of the explosions?
Pete Cunningham
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 6:19 p.m.
This photo was taken in front of Staples at the corner of Boylston Street and Gloucester Street, which is .3 miles (about five blocks) from the Boston Marathon finish line, which is where the first explosion happened and about two blocks from where the second explosion occurred. Here is a map to help you if you want to get a better idea of the location: http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/04/map-key-locations-news-boston-marathon-bombing/64254/
DannnyA
Tue, Apr 16, 2013 : 10:28 p.m.
I think writing a story about a guy from Saline who happened to be Boston but otherwise had absolutely nothing what-so-ever to do with the bombing is very poor judgement by annarbor.com
music to my ear
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 12:14 a.m.
so what about the tv news anchors they are telling more than one story from people all over . you just want negative attention ok you got it bad bad.
Ann English
Tue, Apr 16, 2013 : 9:30 p.m.
I didn't read about any people from Saline yesterday running in Boston, only from Chelsea, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. But the description you give below (a man sees smoke rising from where he last saw his wife) reminds me of the man from Perth, Scotland who lost his wife in a hot air balloon fire over Egypt. Sure, I've read it over, and it has a much better ending than Michael's (the Scot's) story does.
BhavanaJagat
Wed, Apr 17, 2013 : 5:55 p.m.
This family of Renbergs are known to a friend of mine and this account is a very accurate description of the events. My friend has reported this story to us even before this story got published here.
BhavanaJagat
Tue, Apr 16, 2013 : 5:02 p.m.
Human Spirit and Human Fear: I thank AnnArbor.com for reporting on this story and sharing the experience of our community residents of this tragic event. This act of exploding a device in a crowded area is intended to generate a response of fear and the person/s involved may desire to accomplish some unknown objective by using fear as a tool. But, by nature, human spirit seeks to be free and this act of terror will not subdue man's quest to be free and find peace, harmony, and tranquility in his living human experience.
shutthefrtdoor
Tue, Apr 16, 2013 : 5:06 p.m.
Great post!
Paula Gardner
Tue, Apr 16, 2013 : 1:45 a.m.
I'm stunned to see the comment above telling the reporter of this story to 'get a clue.' Yes, we do think that local readers would like to hear stories from people in our community who were at the Boston Marathon. If you'd like to tell me that I'm wrong, email me at PaulaGardner@annarbor.com. But please don't litter this comment thread with further insults. The rest of your comment is 100 percent truth: I'm grateful, too, that Paul shared his story and that he and his family are OK.
tdw
Tue, Apr 16, 2013 : 5:06 p.m.
noyfb...Why do you feel the need to insult ? What I've learned in my 50 years on this planet is that you have to speak to people in a way they speak and understand.If I speak to a child I have to speak to them in a matter they understand.If I speak to a adult I have to speak to them like a adult.I did not insult you, I made in a comment on the same level as yours.You can take it whatever way you please.
shutthefrtdoor
Tue, Apr 16, 2013 : 4:47 p.m.
Dear Paula, truthfully, I'm stunned that your staff would put up with that type of abuse. You folk's do a nice job and deserve better treatment. How someone could be so callous when our Nation has incurred another terrorist attack is eons beyond me!
tdw
Tue, Apr 16, 2013 : 3:13 p.m.
noyfb.....It's a good thing as you seem to be able to read it
tdw
Tue, Apr 16, 2013 : 12:21 p.m.
Paula...again good reply
noyfb
Tue, Apr 16, 2013 : 1:27 a.m.
This guy was a half mile from the site but he happens to be from Saline and therefore annarbor.com thinks we should all be interested? Thanks for sharing your story Paul and thank God you're okay... but get a clue Pete Cunningham!
tdw
Tue, Apr 16, 2013 : 4:58 p.m.
Pete....I was just going to same thing as Shutte( ???? ) above me said
shutthefrtdoor
Tue, Apr 16, 2013 : 4:50 p.m.
Pete! Stop giving that poster gratification with a response. You folk's deserve better...personally...their comments are offensive to me and I think they should be removed.
Pete Cunningham
Tue, Apr 16, 2013 : 4:22 p.m.
Here's a glimpse into the news gathering process that we as an organization went through in the wake of this tragedy. The first thing we did was look at the list of runners from Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities. Some of the names on the list we immediately recognized, such as Christine Stead (school board member) and Kathy Renberg (her son was an All-State runner for Saline and currently runs for UM). We have ways of getting ahold of these people so we utilized them immediately so we could report on their safety. No one person is more important than the other, but some are easier to get in contact with. After that, we worked our way down the list in an effort to get in contact with everybody from the area to report on their safety. That effort continues today, here's the list: http://annarbor.com/news/boston-marathon-explosion-list-of-ann-arbor-participants-with-updates/ After contacting all of these people, some had stories to tell that we found provided a glimpse as to what was going on in the area during this tragedy and are telling those stories.
Pete Cunningham
Tue, Apr 16, 2013 : 1:16 p.m.
If you don't think the account of a man who was blocks away from an act of terrorism - a man who heard an explosion and saw smoke rise from the last known whereabouts of his wife, the mother of his children - if you don't think that is news, then my articles are likely to forever disappoint you.
tdw
Tue, Apr 16, 2013 : 12:49 p.m.
I guess my reply was a little too harsh.I'll tone it down and say it looks like more than one person needs to get a clue
music to my ear
Tue, Apr 16, 2013 : 12:04 p.m.
so noyfb why not stay true to your a2 .com display name, none of your what business ? if you dont care dont comment, I thank god for all who were spared ,and pray for those who have a long recovery . imagine healthy people trying to stay healthy with exercise, their lively hood robbed from them, god help us all. we are one.
brian
Tue, Apr 16, 2013 : 12:20 a.m.
What is wrong with people? Rest in peace little one.