Ann Arbor school board member OK after deadly blasts at Boston Marathon

Vice-president of Ann Arbor Schools' Board of Education Christine Stead was walking back to her hotel with her husband and two children when she heard the blasts.

Just three blocks away.

"Right now we're feeling like we're really lucky," said Stead at about 6 p.m. Monday several hours after finishing Monday's Boston Marathon where deadly explosions killed two and injured at least 80.

Stead said it wasn't until they went back to the hotel and spoke to another runner in the elevator that they learned they were explosions in possibly a planned attack.

"We were far enough away (from the blasts) that we still weren't sure what it was, and we talked to another runner who wasn't able to finish," Stead said. "That was when we first heard about it."

Looking out from the hotel window, Stead said there was a helicopter right outside as well as FBI and other law enforcement personnel closing off different areas. She said that she has not had any contact with law enforcement, and she has been hearing information about today's bombings from the news and from other people in the hotel.

Stead described how she was feeling as "sad," but said her feelings don't amount to much compared to families who lost loved ones today.

"My feelings are less important than other people who got hurt today, we were out of the area by the time the bombings happened," she said. "The runners I've been speaking with that weren't able to fininsh were just very sad -- every one here is just really sad.

"This is an inspiring and amazing event, and it draws people from all over the's just awful that people were hurt and some people killed at an event like this."

A veteran runner, today's race marked Stead's 11th marathon and her third Boston Marathon. When asked whether today's events will affect her participating in future races, she said that she wasn't sure.

"We'll certainly be thinking about that," Stead said. "This is always a big family event for us. I hope we can continue but we'll have to see."

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