Greenberg also ran the New York Marathon after 9/11. “There was a lot of controversy when they were deciding whether to hold it or not, because the city was still so sensitive and raw,” he said. “There were a lot more helicopters and police cars. I can’t tell you that I wasn’t nervous and ultra-observant of things going on around me, but I’m not giving in.”

Aaron Freilich, a 17-year Lawrence resident, was also in Boston, running in his fifth Boston Marathon, and said his wife and two children were there to support him. “There’s a bond among all the runners, and to have it end like that is nothing short of a tragedy,” he said. “It could have been any of us.”

Lawrence High School boys’ track coach Bud McQuillan said he would be discussing the importance of safety with his team. “They need to understand safety concerns,” he said. “I don’t know exactly what to tell them because they have to live their lives, but they also have to keep their eyes peeled and their heads up in order to understand what’s going on. They have to observe everything.”

McQuillan said he anticipates a lot more security at the Long Island Marathon, scheduled for May 5. “I think it’s going to mean that a ton of money will be spent on safety,” he said. “… I don’t know what the world is coming to.”

For marathoners like Greenberg and Brodsky, giving up something they are so passionate about isn’t an option. “I’m a pretty tough guy, and when I want to do something, not much will stop me,” Greenberg said. “I’m not going to let these sick people stop my lifestyle.”

“I’m going to keep running,” Brodsky said. “I won’t let it affect my running.”

Freilich agrees with Greenberg and Brodsky. “I definitely want to do another one; I don’t want to be marred by this,” he said. “Marathons are a wonderful thing that bring together families and communities, and it’s such a privilege to participate in that.”