Her sister trailed her with a wheelchair, just in case. Elinor Scott had completed a chemotherapy treatment less than a week before she walked the final mile of Monday's Boston Marathon, and if she faltered, Jodi Scott would be there to wheel her across the finish line.

But Elinor felt strong and rejuvenated, just like the city itself. The St. Louis Park resident, who is being treated for stage IV pancreatic cancer, was allowed to enter the marathon course Monday at the place where she and other runners were stopped after last year's bombings.

She walked most of the distance between Kenmore Square and the finish line on Boylston Street—except for the two stretches where she ran, including the final strides to the wire.

Scott returned to Boston to reach her goal of finishing the marathon, despite being diagnosed with cancer in January. With the assistance of the police who helped her navigate to her starting point and the spectators who rooted for her, her single mile played out in memorable fashion.

"The crowd went crazy cheering,'' Scott said. "They gave so much support, you can't even believe it. It was awesome to see the responses of people.

"I felt strong, and I felt good. It was just as emotional to cross the finish line as it was to step out there. It was an amazing moment. I'm really glad I made all the effort and used all the energy it took to do it, because it lived up to my expectations.''

St. Louis Park’s Elinor Scott, right, returned a year later with daughter Martha Sutter to finish at Boston despite a serious cancer diagnosis.

Scott will resume her second course of chemotherapy next week. Though it is a more aggressive treatment, she said it has improved her quality of life. Inspired by her experience in Boston, Scott hopes to begin swimming soon and doing some running in a pool.

"It's going to be baby steps,'' Scott said. "But doing this makes me see that I can get some of that fitness back.''

RACHEL BLOUNT