Foxborough Woman Runs Marathon on Wedding Anniversary; Crosses Finish Line Just Before Explosion

OUTSIDE BOSTON, MA -- Foxborough’s Andrea Ambs was feeling good heading into her second run of the Boston Marathon Monday—but by day’s end she was simply thankful.

Just 20 seconds after Ambs, 48, crossed the marathon’s finish line at 2:49:40 p.m., the first of two explosions rocked Copley Square at 2:50 p.m., killing at least three people and injuring over 140 more.

“I looked back and saw the smoke of the blast," Ambs told The Sun Chronicle. … “You can't really make sense of [the tragedy].”

Ambs, a fitness trainer at the Invensys Foxboro YMCA, was planning to celebrate her 13th wedding anniversary with her husband, Jeff, following the marathon, according to The Sun Chronicle, but everything changed once the bombs went off on Boylston Street.

“"I just [needed] to find Jeff," Ambs told The Chronicle.

Ambs was able to locate her husband in a nearby waiting area, and recalled telling Jeff, "I'm so glad you are tall and easy to see,” she told The Chronicle. “Then I just started praying. That's all I could do. I have a strong faith."

To read the Sun Chronicle’s article in its entirety, click here.

The Ambs returned home to Foxborough just after 5 p.m. and began informing family and friends they were safe. Andrea posted the following message on her Facebook page:

“Millions of thank yous to all of you for your thoughts and prayers! We've had so many calls, texts, and visiting neighbors! We are home safe and were thankful to get out of the city so quickly. Thankful too that my many running buddies are all ok!”

Ambs was the last Foxborough resident of four to cross the marathon’s finish line before the tragic explosions went off.