Tulsa Runner Home After Finishing Boston Marathon 15 Minutes Before Blasts

An Oklahoma man who finished the Boston Marathon just 15 minutes before tragedy struck arrived back in Tulsa Tuesday afternoon.

The Boston Marathon is the pinnacle of races.

"It's the dream of every runner in the United States to go to the Boston Marathon," said Ron Winn.

And at 65, Winn qualified to run the race for his first time and crossed the finish line, setting a personal record.

"I finished in three hours and 45 minutes, which is the best I've ever done," Winn said.

4/15/2013 Related Story: Oklahoma Runners Witness Explosions At Boston Marathon

He said the final mile was the greatest. That's where thousands of fans were lining street, bringing an energy all of their own.

"It's just a loud roar and you're running toward the finish line, like your going for the gold medal," Winn said.

But looking back now, he said his feat of finishing seems small, and that moment of triumph is mixed with emotion.

"Then to find out that those same people that cheered for you were killed and injured, it just broke my heart, it really did," he said.

The explosions rocked the city 15 minutes after Winn finished. He had just made it back to his hotel, not far from the blasts. He said, once he learned what had just happened, there was a feeling of helplessness.

4/16/2013 Related Story: Oklahoma Runners Return Home After Boston Marathon Bombing

Broken Arrow resident Gina Seyller, who finished the race about five minutes before Ron, said she felt the same.

"We're running everywhere and people are being carried on stretchers," Seyller said. "I was like, 'Oh my goodness.' I was just shocked, you know, you just run this race that you think is going to be so great and then all of a sudden--even today, I'm still shocked."

Both runners said they've never been so glad to be home. And they say no senseless act of violence will keep them from living life.

"I will be going back next year, but next year I won't be going for myself, I'll be going to honor the people there in the city," Winn said.