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Survivor: Last Year’s Marathon Was for Boston. This Year’s Is for Me.

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Lee Ann Yanni is a physical therapist living in Orlando, Fla.

During the Boston Marathon in 2013, I was with my husband at the finish line, watching for my physical-therapy patient to finish the race. Four or five minutes after she ran by, the first explosion happened.

I’m originally from Florida, and I’ve lived in Orlando, so my first thought was, “Fireworks.” I felt something warm brush my leg, and I saw my bone sticking out. Ten seconds later the second explosion happened. I remember trying to put weight on my foot, but I couldn’t, so I hopped into Marathon Sports. It felt like there was a hose attached to the back of my leg, and blood was poring into my shoe.

I had never run a marathon before, but while I was sitting there, I was thinking about my plans to do the Chicago Marathon that October in honor of my father, who had passed away the previous October. I thought to myself, “It’s just my fibula, I’ll be fine. I’ll make it through.” I came to find out that I had to have two muscles removed and a skin graft.

As a physical therapist, recovery was miserable. It was hard because I knew what I had to do. To know what I was up against, and the rehab, and how long it was going to take was definitely frustrating. Now I tell my patients, “You have to take it day by day, because if you look at the end game, it’s going to be a longer road.”

I only had about five and a half weeks of training before the Chicago marathon. I like to say, “I put Duct tape on it and just made it happen.” I pushed through and did the marathon. As a physical therapist, I would never recommend doing that. But I did it because I’m stubborn. It wasn’t just a race. It was for my dad.

Afterwards, I went right back into training for the Boston Marathon. I was a lot stronger for the 2014 race, but it was still a struggle. That day, I was anxious with all the military presence. Before the race I remember that I had to go to Marathon Sports to buy something, and I hadn’t expected to see the bleachers, and all of a sudden I saw them and almost had a panic attack. It was the first time I’d seen it look like the scene of the crime.

My goal for running last year was to say thank you to Boston, thank you to all the supports and the caretakers and the city as a whole. We were able to get our finish line back. This year, I’m looking forward to getting back to Boston after moving back to Florida last August. I’m very excited to go see my other family, the members of the 4.15 Strong running group.

I worked really hard. I feel stronger. I feel better than I did last year. And I’m really going to go all out. Last year was for them; this year is for me.

The Boston Marathon Throughout History

Winner of 1916 Boston Marathon, Arthur Roth.
Arthur Roth, winner of the 1916 Boston Marathon.Bettmann—Corbis
Johnny Miles Crossing Tape in Race
Johnny Miles, winner of the 1926 Boston Marathon.Underwood & Underwood—Corbis
Ellison M. "Tarzan" Brown, from Alton, R.I., crosses the finish line in the 43rd Boston Marathon, 1939.
Ellison M. "Tarzan" Brown, from Alton, R.I., crosses the finish line in the 43rd Boston Marathon, in 1939. Brown finished the 26 miles, 385 yards in 2 hours, 28 minutes and 51.8 seconds, breaking the marathon world record. AP Photo
Gerard B. Cote, winner of the Boston Marathon in 1940.
Gerard B. Cote, winner of the Boston Marathon in 1940. Paul J. Maguire—The Boston Globe/Getty Images
Joe Smith, 1942 winner of the Boston Marathon
Joe Smith. 36 year old Medford, Mass., milkman, crosses the final line to win the 46th renewal of the Boston A. A. Marathon, setting a new world mark of 2 hours 26 minutes 51 1/5 seconds, in 1941.© Bettmann—Corbis
Boston Marathon View In 1946
Boston Marathon, 1946. The race was won by Stylianos Kyriakides from Athens, Greece. Corbis
Gerard Cote running the 1946 Boston Marathon.
Gerard Cote running the 1946 Boston Marathon.Bill O'Connor—The Boston Globe/Getty Images
Suh Yun-bok, 24, of South Korea, crosses the finish line, setting a new record in the Boston Marathon, 1947.
Suh Yun-bok, 24, of South Korea, crosses the finish line, setting a new record in the Boston Marathon, 1947.Charles McCormick—The Boston Globe/Getty Images)
Keizo Yamada, 25-year-old Japanese mining engineer, crosses finish line to win 57th Boston Marathon, 1953.
Keizo Yamada, 25-year-old Japanese mining engineer, crosses the finish line to win the 57th Boston Marathon, in 1953. AP Photo
237 runners competing in annual Boston Marathon crossing the starting line, 1963.
237 runners competing in the annual Boston Marathon crossing the starting line, in 1963. Ted Russel—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Jack Semple Entering Racing Formation
The rule that no women shall run in the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) Marathon is being put to a very real test in this photo. Trainer Jack Semple (in street clothes) enters the field of runners to try to pull Kathy Switzer (261) out of the race. Male runners move in to form protective curtain around the female track hopeful, until the protesting trainer is finally wedged out of the race, and Switzer is allowed to finish the marathon.Bettmann—Corbis
Ambrose Burfoot #17 of Wesleyan University crosses the finish line of 72nd running of the Boston Marathon, 1968.
Ambrose Burfoot of Wesleyan University crosses the finish line of the 72nd running of the Boston Marathon, in 1968.Bettmann—Corbis
Amby Burfoot, right, and Jock Semple at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, April 19, 1968.
Amby Burfoot, right, and Jock Semple at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, April 19, 1968. Joe Dennehy—The Boston Globe/Getty Images)
Kathy Switzer runs in the Boston Marathon on April 19, 1971.
Kathy Switzer runs in the Boston Marathon on April 19, 1971. Frank O'Brien—The Boston Globe/ Getty Images)
Kathy Switzer Runs In The 1972 Boston Marathon
Kathy Switzer Miller running the Boston Marathon on April 17, 1972. Frank O'Brien—The Boston Globe/Getty Images
Bill Rodgers, winner of the 1978 Boston Marathon
Bill Rodgers, of Melrose, Mass., crosses the finish line to win the Boston Marathon in Boston on April 17, 1978. Rodgers finished with an unofficial time of two hours, 10 minutes and 13 seconds. This was Rodgers' second marathon win.AP Photo
Joan Benoit, the women's winner of the Boston Marathon, April 16, 1979.
Joan Benoit, the women's winner of the Boston Marathon, April 16, 1979. Janet Knott—The Boston Globe/Getty Images
Patti Catalano Finishes The 1981 Boston Marathon
Patti (Lyons) Catalano in the Boston Marathon in 1981.Bill Brett—The Boston Globe/Getty Images
Boston Marathon winner Alberto Salazar, 1982
Alberto Salazar looks over his shoulder to check on Dick Beardsley, rear, as they neared the finish line April 19, 1982 in the 86th annual Boston Marathon. Salazar went on to win the 26-mile, 385-yard distance in 2:08.51. Beardsley followed by two seconds. AP Photo
The start of the Boston Marathon, 1983
The pack at the start of the 1983 race in Hopkinton. Grey Meyer, the eventual winner, led wearing number 3. The top five finishers were all Americans: Ron Tabb was second, Benji Durden, third, Ed Mendoza, fourth and Chris Bunyan finished fifth. David L Ryan—The Boston Globe/Getty Images
Joan Benoit wins the 1983 Women's Boston marathon
Joan Benoit crosses the finish line Apr. 18, 1983 in Boston to win the women's division of the Boston Marathon in 2:22:42, shattering the world women's marathon mark by nearly three minutes.AP Photo
Dave Reinhart at the Boston marathon, 1983
Dave Reinhart falls for a second time just short of the finish line of the Boston Marathon, 1983. Reinhart was able to stand and cross the finish line ahead of record setter Joan Benoit, who finished with a time of 2 hours 22 minutes 42 seconds.Mike F. Kullen—AP Photo
Greg Meyer, winner of the 1983 Boston Marathon
Greg Meyer raises his arms in victory as Boston Mayor Kevin White places laurel wreath on his head on Monday, April 18, 1983 in Boston.AP Photo
An unidentified man attired in business suit and black hat, jumped into the Boston Marathon pack Monday, April 17, 1984.
An unidentified man, attired in business suit and black hat, jumped into the Boston Marathon pack Monday, April 17, 1984.AP Photo
John A. Kelley, 78, smiles as he approaches the finish line at the 90th running of the Boston Marathon, April 21, 1986. Kelley's finish marked his 55th Boston Marathon.
John A. Kelley, 78, smiles as he approaches the finish line at the 90th running of the Boston Marathon, April 21, 1986. Kelley's finish marked his 55th Boston Marathon. Mike Kullen—AP Photo

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