Boston Marathon bombing a tragic thing: Moneghetti

A PERSONAL best time in the Boston Marathon this morning could have saved the lives of a Ballarat vet and her sister.

Dr Diane Gibney said it was her first time running the prestigious Boston event, but said she shaved more than five minutes off her previous best time over the 42 kilometres.

"(The PB) was just as well because it meant that I passed through the finish line about 15 minutes before the first bombing," she said.

"I was back on my way to my hotel room at the Westin Hotel, which is just meters away from the finish line and my sister, who is with me, had just left the spectator crowd right at the site of the second bombing."

Dr Gibney said her sister moved away from that spot just minutes before the blast.

"I have never heard a noise like these explosions ... it stopped the excited crowds in their tracks," she said.

"There was no doubting that they were explosions and close to the finish site, but there was much confusion among everyone."

Dr Gibney said the confusion soon turned to panic as the thousands of runners and spectators began to realise what had happened.

"Almost everyone started using their phones, trying to find out the news," she said.

"It took me about 15 minutes to return to my hotel room where finally the gravity of the situation was revealed."

The Ballarat woman said she managed to call her daughter soon after the explosions, but was now in lock down within her hotel room and wasn't sure if she would be able to leave Boston tomorrow.

"Tonight should have been hours of communal celebrations which we were looking forward to, instead there is a very sober tone," she said.

"Everyone is coming to terms with a very surreal situation."

Dr Gibney said many messages and wishes of support from friends and family back in Ballarat were very much appreciated in the difficult hours following the explosions.

"These messages of concern, support and love have meant a lot to my sister and myself especially when we feel so isolated by distance," she said.

"It has been such a surreal and scary situation here today in Boston but this support has been so greatly appreciated."

Earlier today, a friend of Dr Gibney said she had phoned her family to let them know she was fine.

Greencross Veterinary Clinic's Lyn Dyer said Dr Gibney's daughter called her at 6am this morning, "hysterical" after hearing from her mum just minutes before.

"She said Di had called her and said she was ok," she said.

"It's lucky she didn't run a worse time."

Ms Dyer said Dr Gibney was a close friend who founded the clinic 13 years ago.

She said she went to compete in the Boston Marathon with her sister, who had never been overseas before.

"Di convinced her to go over with her," Ms Dyer said.

"What a horrible experience - it's just awful.

"It's always worse when it's close to home."