erika brannock, chosen to start baltimore's big race on saturday. >> it is my honor to present to you the ceremonial horn. steps last her first weekend. baltimore's marathon marks the first race she has attended since that april day in boston. it does scare me, but i will stare fear in the night and say you will not keep me from living my life. often of the person who came to her aid in boston, a fellow spectator. today, that spectator received the first metal of the 2013 marathon. [applause] she wasld see that conscious. i said, look at me. i am not going to let you go. we are going to get help to you. women, after being reunited last june, have become close friends. >> i definitely feel that. .he is there for me i tell her when i am upset about something. uick friendship.ic it is so effortless with her. -- calm. so home i don't know how she does it, honest way. has accomplished many of her goals including being at a friend's wedding and taking those first steps. she shared with us her next goal, and it is a big one. we will have that for you at 6:00. .> we will have coverage then li

we have more. >> standing tall saturday erika brannock had a defining moment she never expected. >> thereadmirers cheered on as brannock publicly learns how to walk again using a prosthetic. >> they have been waiting on it as long as i have. >> she was injured in the boston marathon bombing and her wounds were so severe doctors had to amputate part of her left leg. after fighting hard, brannock has found a reason to smile. >> it's been a lot of rehab and hard work and getting stronger so i can get to that point where it's comfortable. >> as if the walking part weren't enough. >> bye nancy. bye quinn. >> she took the memorable steps before her students where she works as a teacher. the children have followed her recovery closely and her parents have, too. they created a fund for her right after the bombling. >> we didn't know what the road ahead was going to be but we knew it was going

. >> reporter: it's been seven months since erika brannock lost her left leg in the boston marathon bombings. but now she plays a crucial role in the baltimore marathon. -- boston marathon. >> reporter: the last time erica bran -- erika brannock attended a marathon, it changed her life. the bomb went off. and erika had to have her left leg amputated. now she's headed to another race, with a very special honor. >> it's my honor to present to you the ceremonial [ inaudible ] [ applause ] >> reporter: now, branock will blow the air horn at the start of the 13th annual baltimore marathon. >> being able to be the person who starts a group of runners off is such a great honor. and for it to be in the city that has given me tremendous amount of support, make its that much better. >> reporter: branock will be in camden yards when the race begins. runners will wind their way through the city. >> reporter: she'll also be here at m&t bank stadium, holding the ribbon, when the first marathon runner crosses the finish line. >> i hope that i can be a source of support and encouragement for everyone who wi

also erika brannock will be at the start today. she will also be at the end of the baltimore marathon 22.6 miles later she will be holding the tape as the very first runner the winner crosses the finish line. reporting live from the starting line i am kate am amara. >>> one man has made the dream of winning millions a reality. why there is some intrigue about the big winner. a thousand marylanders have signed up for the affordable care act. why the governor says the issue may last for a while longer. and when you get up -- can i play? no! you don't even get football. [ male announcer ] when you've got 100% fiber optic fios, you get it. america's fastest, most reliable internet. it's the ultimate for downloading, streaming, and chatting. -- that guy all over the football field. thanks, joe. if the running backs don't start picking up the blitz, the quarterback is going to have a long night. is that your sister? look, are you trying to take my job? maybe. technology that lets you play with the big boys. call the verizon center for cu

survivorhon bombing erika brannock will serve as the official starter. we were there when she took her first steps since losing her legs. tomorrow will be the first organized race she has attended since then. she says she hopes to show she is leading by example. >> i do not want the kids i teach to see something that is scary for me i will veer away from. i want them to learn from my example. it may be scary, but you still go through it and push forward and you are a much better person for doing that. >> erika says her next goal is to participate in a race in charlotte next month. she says she will be in a wheelchair for most of it. she is working with her physical therapist so she can walk across the finish line. 27,000 runners are expected to turn out for this year's running festival. complete coverage begins saturday morning tomorrow at 5:00 with exclusive coverage of the marathon beginning at 7:55. it is being hailed as tom hank'' best performance to date. and up close look at captain phillips in this afternoon's box office preview. >> we're still se

erika brannock will blow the horn for the baltimore marathon on saturday. she said being home in baltimore bad to a race, this is the perfect way to do it. she's hoping to inspirt runners but does admit she will feel nervous. >> i'm sure this will be extremely emotional. you have to embrace the emotions with it to help you move past it. i think it's a great way, also, to help with the healing process, just dive right back into it and do it. >> some great news to tell you about erika's recovery. this mast friday she

erika brannock was last boston marathon survivor to leave the hospital. when it was announced you were starting this race you said it was important for you because you could prove to yourself that you could face the things that scare you. >> i wasn't going to stop living because something was uncomfortable or something was scary. >> has this been strange to you to all of the sudden be able to spotlight on you? >> it hadz but at the same time everyone has been so accommodating and respectful of the things i want to put on tv and the things i want to keep private. it has been so nice and it makes me want to share the journey with everyone. >> you embody what the spirit of they're monday and marathon community means. ericka said runners know more than any one else the importance of sport and encouragement. you were at the boston marathon to cheer on your mother. i think that you are a great example of how this is a race and a sport that really involves everyone. the runners need the support and encouragement from the side lines. >> i have been there for my m

everybody is waiting for the special race starter erika brannock who will have the official start.start line in just a em mo meant. the police escort is lined up for the 28 wheelchair competitors will be the first on the streets. 26.2 miles is the standard course of a marathon. covers just about every neighborhood starting downtown finishing downtown. this year the finish line moved up. it is still between camden yards and m & t bank stadium. they moved it up so the competitors have more room. last year it was such a crush of bodies they want to give the finishers a little more room as they gather or walk into the celebration village at the end of this. >> we are going to take a break now and when we come back we will update you on the wheel compare portion of the race and the start of the baltimore marathon.

. >> there was not a moment of hesitation for erika brannock start.e was asked to as you recall, she was the last survivor of the boston marathon bombing to leave the hospital. and she is surely the first to start in a race. >> it is my honor to resent to you the ceremonial -- to present to you the ceremonial born. race shes the first to the bostond since marathon. youo me this is a symbol of will not scare me. i will continue to live my life. >> she says she must read by want to -- i do not i do now my students to learn that if something scares me i will veer away from it. i want them to learn that you can go forward and be a much better person for doing that. >> today the spectator from california who came to her aid in boston received the first of the marathon. the two women, one strangers, have come close friends. >> i do not know how she does it , quite honestly, but she has this zest for life. >> erika shared her next goal, and it is a big one. to participate in a race in charlotte. while she will be in a wheelchair for most of it, she is doing physical there be so she will be

a truck event not only raised money but also did something else. >> if you want to help heal erika brannock kids running around and smiling. >> it's important for her healing and her moving forward to see that her whole community is behind her. >> a reality motivating brannock every step ahead. >> it's extremely overwhelming, but it's so great at the same time. >> and brannock still does work at that school. she has been working part-time as an administrative assistant as she continues her recovery. in the newsroom, don champion, wbal-tv 11 news. >> and while one family was celebrating, another mourning. funeral, services held for angel which he we cano killed in the fiery crash. friends and family gathered to pay their last respects. she was killed when two suspects trying to escape police crashed into the jeep she was riding in. the family is heart broken by the loss and what they are calling a lack of communication by city officials. >> we don't have any information. we are wondering just like you. the police haven't released anything yet. they have not got engine contact with us yet. th

. >> for some like preschool seecher erika brannock says it's a life changing experience. >> brannock lost her leg in the boston marathon bombings. in baltimore she was the honorary starter and held up the finish line as runners broke through. >> this week when you were starting this race you said it was important to you that you could prove to yourself you would face things that scare you. >> the first to break through and the first ever baltimore area winner was david berdan. he talked about the spirit clicking in the 5 minute journey. >> the whole entire time the people were cheering. go dave, go teach. it was just fun. >> elizabeth berry came out on top on the women's side perry from pittsburgh says her goal was to finish within three hours. she came in 2 hours 57 minutes and 57 seconds. >> elizabeth 36 years old you have three kids 7, 4 and 2 how do you find time to train? >> i get up early. my husband is very supportive through out. >> kia lot more going on behind the scenes of the festival. applesauce making in there as well. running festival sponsor muscleman's set the world r

erika brannock will serve the marathon race started.morning an exclusive live coverage of the start at 7:55 a.m. oh, please don't call me "pumpkin." no, white chocolate and pumpkin. oh! pumpkin. ha-ha! pumpkin is back at dunkin' donuts. hurry in for delicious pumpkin coffees and lattes today. america runs on dunkin'. >> we are under a flood warning until the afternoon hours. expect it rain throughout the day with high temperatures in the mid-to upper 50s to low 60s. the rain will be moderate to light, but heavy rain will be possible as well.