Two Groups Walk Boston Marathon Route One Month After Bombings

BOSTON (CBS) – They walked across the Boston Marathon finish line and into the arms of J.P. and Paul Norden.

Their family members completed a 26.2 mile journey in their honor.

It is one month to the day since the bombings and the Norden brothers were waiting at the finish line.

"Does this day have any significance for you?," asked WBZ. "I'm back to where it started and I feel safe, so yes."

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mark Katic reports

It's their first time back since the day the bombs injured them. Each brother lost a leg in the blasts. But though they were nervous at first, they both said the supporters made them feel more comfortable re-visiting the spot.

"It's nice with all my friends and family," J.P. said.

For their mom, Liz, it was a different emotion.

"I felt physically sick when I came here. So I was worried about how the boys are going to feel," she said. Of her son's strength she says "that's what kept me going."

The urge to keep going, fueled the Norden sisters Caitlin and Colleen and their uncle Peter Brown.

Starting early in Hopkinton, they arrived on Boylston street 8 hours later.

"I got about 42 blisters to show you," Brown joked.

Each step was a message about strength and resilience.

"To feel safe and and re-visit this place and let people know that we're out there. This is our city," Brown said.

The city shut down Boylston Street during rush hour for this moment, something that amazed Paul.

"We were never big deals and now we are," he said.

As two brothers and their family prove how far they've come, they're now 26.2 miles closer to healing.

"This is all for Boston, what Boston's doing for us, it feels good to give back in a strange way," he said.

Online: Norden Brothers' GoFundMe page

The other group that left early this morning included Carolina Chasin, who was a volunteer on April 15.  Chasin walked with a group of six friends. She says at the time she felt anger, but now she focuses on the support given to everyone.

"See how the city's healing. The walk is part of that healing," she said.

Both groups were encouraging people to join them for a portion of the walk.

Online: One Fund Boston