Never Give Up: Marine Veteran Crawls Across Boston Marathon Finish Line
BOSTON (CBS) -- Micah Herndon's determination was clear as the runner crossed the Boston Marathon finish line on his hands and knees. Crawling, but still without aid, Herndon, inched his way to the end of the course.
The Marine veteran from Ohio said he was finishing this marathon, even if he had to crawl and that's just what he did.
"I'm doing this on my own," Herndon told WBZ.
His legs locked out near mile 22 forcing the Afghanistan veteran to get on his hands and knees. He wasn't giving up, drawing inspiration from three fellow comrades who didn't survive a bombing attack overseas.
"I say their last names out loud while I'm listening to my music," Herndon explains. "I just repeat: 'Ballard, Hamer, Juarez. Ballard, Hamer, Juarez.'"
At one point, he lowered to his stomach but continued to drag himself as race volunteers stood nearby.
Once Herndon crossed the finish line, he was lifted into a wheelchair to receive medical attention. This was his first marathon and even though he didn't get the time he wanted, this certainly won't be his last.
"The pain that I was going through is nothing compared to the pain that they went through," Herndon said.
Herndon finished the race is just under three hours and 40 minutes.
