No matter how many races one runs, there's nothing like that euphoric moment of pushing through the pain to complete 26.2 miles. Willits soaked in the atmosphere along Boylston Street. People lining the road cleared a path when they saw she was a runner. They congratulated her and made her feel like a celebrity.
She texted a friend waiting down the street at the bar at the Mandarin Oriental hotel. "I'm on my way," Willits said.
Her friend, Stephanie Douglas, prepared to celebrate.
Terror attack disrupts Boston Marathon
Witness: 'Blood everywhere' in Boston
An injured man is loaded into an ambulance on Monday, April 15, after two bombs went off near the finish line of the fabled Boston Marathon. Read our developing news story and follow up-to-the-minute reports on CNN.com's This Just In blog.
Photos: Deadly attack at Boston Marathon
Watch Boston Marathon explosions
First responder: Flashback to Iraq
Doctor: 'We were ready for this'
Police: 'I have multiple people down'
Is it possible to secure major events?
Terror attack disrupts Boston MarathonWitness: 'Blood everywhere' in BostonAn injured man is loaded into an ambulance on Monday, April 15, after two bombs went off near the finish line of the fabled Boston Marathon. Read our developing news story and follow up-to-the-minute reports on CNN.com's This Just In blog.
A man comforts a victim on the sidewalk at the scene of the first of two apparent bombings near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
A man comforts a victim on the sidewalk at the scene of the first of two apparent bombings near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
A second explosion goes off near the finish line.
A second explosion goes off near the finish line.
Police officers with their guns drawn hear the second explosion down the street. The first explosion knocked down 78-year-old runner Bill Iffrig at the finish line. He got up a few minutes later and finished the race.
Police officers with their guns drawn hear the second explosion down the street. The first explosion knocked down 78-year-old runner Bill Iffrig at the finish line. He got up a few minutes later and finished the race.
A runner embraces another woman on the marathon route near Kenmore Square.
A runner embraces another woman on the marathon route near Kenmore Square.
Former New England Patriots offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi carries a woman from the scene.
Former New England Patriots offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi carries a woman from the scene.
A victim of the first explosion is helped on the sidewalk of Boylston Street.
A victim of the first explosion is helped on the sidewalk of Boylston Street.
An injured person is taken away from the scene in a wheelchair.
An injured person is taken away from the scene in a wheelchair.
A woman kneels and prays at near the finish line.
A woman kneels and prays at near the finish line.
People run down Exeter Street after the blasts.
People run down Exeter Street after the blasts.
The explosions occurred around 2:45 p.m., about an hour after the first of the race's nearly 27,000 runners had crossed the finish line.
The explosions occurred around 2:45 p.m., about an hour after the first of the race's nearly 27,000 runners had crossed the finish line.
Victims lie on the ground at the scene of the first explosion.
Victims lie on the ground at the scene of the first explosion.
A couple runs from the scene pushing a stroller.
A couple runs from the scene pushing a stroller.
A runner reacts near Kenmore Square after the explosions.
A runner reacts near Kenmore Square after the explosions.
A man's blood-stained feet hang outside an ambulance.
A man's blood-stained feet hang outside an ambulance.
A bystander who was injured in the first explosion is wheeled across the finish line while receiving medical attention from rescue workers.
A bystander who was injured in the first explosion is wheeled across the finish line while receiving medical attention from rescue workers.
The second explosion goes off near the finish line.
The second explosion goes off near the finish line.
Boston police look at blown-out windows. The bombs shook buildings, sending people to seek shelter under tables, witnesses said.
Boston police look at blown-out windows. The bombs shook buildings, sending people to seek shelter under tables, witnesses said.
Unclaimed runners' bags fill an area near the marathon finish.
Unclaimed runners' bags fill an area near the marathon finish.
Women desperate to hear from loved ones are unable to get close to the site of the attack.
Women desperate to hear from loved ones are unable to get close to the site of the attack.
Police and runners stand near Kenmore Square after the attack.
Police and runners stand near Kenmore Square after the attack.
Runners gather near Kenmore Square after the explosions.
Runners gather near Kenmore Square after the explosions.
An EMT worker is transferred to an ambulance outside a medical tent in Copley Square.
An EMT worker is transferred to an ambulance outside a medical tent in Copley Square.
A SWAT team arrives on the scene.
A SWAT team arrives on the scene.
A runner sits near Kenmore Square after the attack.
A runner sits near Kenmore Square after the attack.
Runners who had not yet finished the race are stopped after the explosions.
Runners who had not yet finished the race are stopped after the explosions.
Victims are helped at the scene of the first explosion.
Victims are helped at the scene of the first explosion.
A man in tears is helped at the scene on Boylston Street in Boston.
A man in tears is helped at the scene on Boylston Street in Boston.
Passersby put pressure on a victim's leg to try to stop the bleeding at the scene of the first explosion.
Passersby put pressure on a victim's leg to try to stop the bleeding at the scene of the first explosion.
Massachusetts State Police guard an area near Kenmore Square.
Massachusetts State Police guard an area near Kenmore Square.
Bystanders embrace near the finish line.
Bystanders embrace near the finish line.
Police officers gather on Newbury Street.
Police officers gather on Newbury Street.
Women and children are evacuated from the scene.
Women and children are evacuated from the scene.
Bomb squad officials check a possible suspicious device near the scene of the blasts.
Bomb squad officials check a possible suspicious device near the scene of the blasts.
A woman is comforted after the blasts.
A woman is comforted after the blasts.
Two injured women are taken away on stretchers.
Two injured women are taken away on stretchers.
An injured woman is loaded into an ambulance.
An injured woman is loaded into an ambulance.
First responders load injured people into an ambulance.
First responders load injured people into an ambulance.
An injured man is prepared to be moved from a stretcher to an ambulance.
An injured man is prepared to be moved from a stretcher to an ambulance.
An injured woman is placed on a stretcher.
An injured woman is placed on a stretcher.
A runner is comforted following the attack.
A runner is comforted following the attack.
The Cambridge Police Department's bomb squad investigates unattended personal items left behind after the explosions.
The Cambridge Police Department's bomb squad investigates unattended personal items left behind after the explosions.
Bystanders check their mobile devices for news of the explosions.
Bystanders check their mobile devices for news of the explosions.
Carlos Arredondo, who was near the finish line when the bombs detonated, leaves the scene.
Carlos Arredondo, who was near the finish line when the bombs detonated, leaves the scene.
A member of the bomb squad investigates a suspicious item on the road near Kenmore Square.
A member of the bomb squad investigates a suspicious item on the road near Kenmore Square.
A runner in a wheelchair is taken from a triage tent after the explosions went off.
A runner in a wheelchair is taken from a triage tent after the explosions went off.
People comfort each near the site of the blasts.
People comfort each near the site of the blasts.
Racers and race officials stand by after multiple explosions near the finish line.
Racers and race officials stand by after multiple explosions near the finish line.
Emergency personnel respond to the scene.
Emergency personnel respond to the scene.
Police and emergency crews tend to victims.
Police and emergency crews tend to victims.
An injured woman is carried away on a stretcher.
An injured woman is carried away on a stretcher.
A man lays on the ground after the incident.
A man lays on the ground after the incident.
Officials watch as the first explosion goes off on Boylston Street in Boston.
Officials watch as the first explosion goes off on Boylston Street in Boston.
Spectators leave the bleachers after the explosions.
Spectators leave the bleachers after the explosions.
Police inspect one of the blast sites.
Police inspect one of the blast sites.
Deadly attack at Boston Marathon
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Photos: Deadly attack at Boston MarathonWatch Boston Marathon explosions
Then, a small explosion went off, followed seconds later by a thunderous boom that tore through the area.
"It was so strong the bar filled up with smoke and chairs tipped over," Douglas said. "I saw people -- it was like they were on a trampoline literally flying through the air."
Bedlam ensued. Smoke poured into the bar. People began shouting that another bomb had been found, and everyone scrambled to escape.
Outside, one man's legs were blown off, and he kept trying to stand up.
Douglas fled, unable to contact Willits. Panic for her friend sunk in.
Rushing to the scene
Boston.com sports producer Steve Silva was covering the much-heralded Boston Marathon. He was shooting what should have been joyous finish-line scenes when in a few seconds, everything changed. His camera kept rolling amid screams of shock and horror.
"It was just immediately (evident) there were injuries, right in the middle of the spectator crowds. I saw dismemberment, I saw blood everywhere," Silva said.
"I saw someone lose their leg, people are crying, people are confused."
Rescuers rushed to the victims with stretchers and wheelchairs. Ambulances quickly lined up for blocks and blocks. In between the screams of pain and panic were phone calls. "Mom, I'm safe."
They were words Boston Globe reporter Billy Baker heard many times as he kept passing people on the scene. He posted what he heard and saw on Twitter: "Finish line volunteers told to run. Describe fear 'like 9/11 or the tsunami.'"
He described a nervous calm energy as people either tried to figure out what was happening or had no idea where to go.
Then his tweets got considerably more grim:
First responder: Flashback to IraqDoctor: 'We were ready for this'Police: 'I have multiple people down'Is it possible to secure major events?
"Now getting gruesome first-hand accounts of hair on fire, severed limbs, battlefield scene in front of Charlesmark Hotel."
Confusion. Bewilderment. Rumors everywhere.
"It's not safe to be here," said a Boston police officer evacuating Commonwealth Avenue, Baker reported.
Jim Bardin works in an office building between the locations of the two blasts.
"I heard the first blast and it shook the building a bit, and went to see what was going on and the second one went off a couple of seconds after," Bardin said.
What he saw from above was harrowing.
"People were pretty panicked down there -- the crowd was trying to get away as fast as possible. From up above, it looked like mayhem."
Will Ritter was about a block away, near Copley Square. He was trying to arrange a press conference for a runner who had just finished the race.
He said the blasts felt and sounded like the concussion bursts at the end of a Fourth of July fireworks show. Then he saw the white smoke billowing. Then emergency vehicles -- and pandemonium.
"Let's go, Let's go," shouted rescue workers.
Mark Gordon had just moved to his high-rise apartment on Boylston Street a month and a half ago. He had a perfect view of the marathon from his balcony and throughout the day, he had looked out and snapped photos.
It was a glorious day in Boston, the city he'd lived in for 12 years.
He was doing household chores when the first bomb went off. "I'll never look out my window the same way again even though it's been six short weeks," Gordon said.
Brittany Smith, a physical therapy student at Northwestern University in Boston, was volunteering at Medical Tent B, two blocks away from the finish line. She was treating runners for common ailments like muscle cramps when she heard the first loud bang.
"Everyone's like, 'What's going on?' You could just sense something was wrong, that things were definitely not right," Smith said.
"We didn't rush to the scene, I was trying to (help) a marathoner locate her family members ... and I'm freaking out. It was really hard to focus on helping out the marathon runner. I was just panicking," she said.
She and other volunteers were desperate for information. They turned on the news and saw the footage from helicopters whirring above.
The sidewalks had turned crimson.
Running for a cause
Willits was en route to meet her friend at the Mandarin Hotel when excitement from finishing the race turned into terror. "The whole ground shook, and I knew right away it was a bomb," she said.
Crying, she added, "I saw people who had lost their limbs."
Douglas worried about the fate of her friend. They could not reach each other by cell phone.
Douglas had come up from Virginia to cheer on her friend. She couldn't help but think of 2008 when she was in Mumbai when deadly shooting and bombing attacks broke out there. "This is twice I've been in two cities when this kind of thing has been happening," she said.
Douglas knew Willits was somewhere in the vicinity when the blasts went off. After all, she'd gotten the text from her. "Everything that could go wrong was gong through my head," she said.
Minutes seemed like hours. Finally, Willits' daughter managed to get hold of both of them by phone and coordinated their reunion. Willits waited at a street corner for nearly an hour.
"We were both already crying and just embraced each other," she said.
Added Douglas, "It was a meltdown."
About that time, another blast went off and they trembled again. They would later learn it was a controlled explosion by police. Strangers offered them shelter and gave them water.
"I'm kinda numb right now," Willits said. "Having seen what I saw, it really breaks my heart."
She had begun running marathons a decade ago for her daughter after she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. She and Douglas had pledged Sunday to run the Twin Cities Marathon together later this year.
They were even more determined now.
"This has been a traumatic event," Willits said between tears. "But I just feel like we can't stop doing things that we enjoy doing, because then the terrorists win."
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