Jim Morelli has the full story, coming up on Boston 25 News at 6
HOPKINTON, Mass. - For many marathon runners it was heartbreak before heartbreak hill.
After less than ideal weather conditions derailed their original attempt at the Boston Marathon, some runners laced up their running shoes for another round.
Nearly 3,000 of over 30,000 runners did not finish the 2018 Boston Marathon due to medical issues from low temperatures, gusting winds and a downpour of rain.
"I ended up in a medical tent near Newton-Wellesley Hospital and wasn't able to finish," said Katie Diaz.
Despite the bad weather, 95 percent of runners did finish this year's marathon - a greater proportion than in recent years where the problem was excessive heat.
After the race finished, one runner started a Facebook group, asking others if they wanted to join her as she re-ran the race.
"At first I said, 'I'm going to finish this at some point' and then within the running community got word of this whole group doing it so I decided to jump in," said Patricia Wasiolek.
With a large response from the group, the Boston Marathon 2.0 was created. The event started early Sunday morning, with volunteers working a medical supply tent along the route in Wellesley so runners could finish what they had started.
"This wasn't my individual effort, this was a family that came together," said Ally Wagner, the event organizer.
Runners used sidewalks for safety reasons, and couldn't run the exact Boston Marathon route since roads weren't closed off.
While there was rain in the forecast for the event, the temperatures weren't be as cold as this year's Boston Marathon, and there weren't any gusting winds for the runners to deal with.
Some participants had entered the marathon with promises to keep for charities.
"I had people who donated to my cause, and I really wanted to finish it," said Diaz.
>>PREVIOUS: Thousands drop out of marathon due to cold, but inspiring moments prevail
Thirteen days later, Marathon 2.0 was a way for many to clean up unfinished business from Patriot's Day.
"I was completely frozen, I was disoriented, I knew somebody was going to meet me at Mile 13 and I finally found my best friend Sully and I just collapsed and said 'I can't physically go on anymore' - I was frozen," said Phyllis Heatley.
"It was truly the most beautiful thing I've ever experienced, to have so many people strangers but friends I knew already be there to get me through this," said Wagner.
The race has no affiliation with the Boston Athletic Association.