"We're going to come back from this and find the people who are responsible," Patrick said. "I think it's rattled everybody, and more to the point, it's hurt a lot of people."
Asked if he thought the bombings would deter runners from participating in the marathon in the future, or if the event would forever be associated with the tragedy, Patrick said, "No, I think there's rebuilding that we have to do and will do."
The reputation of the race, an American tradition, is at stake.
For people like Austin, Texas, resident Nancy Dasso, an elite runner who has qualified for the Boston Marathon 14 times, the event is more than just a race.
"Boston is amazing. It's tradition, it's the spectators, it's the volunteers, it's the runners," she said. "People here in town know that there's a marathon going on and it's just amazing. They welcome us with open arms every year."
The twin bombs at the finish line killed three people and hurt more than 170 others. Authorities were searching for a culprit.
"They just took so much away from us yesterday," Dasso added.
Vincent Han, whose running club from Orange County took 10 runners to participate in the marathon, said his club will return to compete.
"To have this happen at the end, it's such a sad situation," Han said. "But at the same time, I think we've got to come back ... If not anything, it's for those people who got hurt."
