Thousands of runners observed a 30-second silence before the start of the London Marathon today, a show of solidarity with those affected by the bombings in Boston and a gesture of defiance to those who try to break the human spirit.
Amid heightened security, runners and spectators showed up in force for the greatest event of its type in the world.
The Metropolitan Police drafted 800 police to bolster security along the route, bringing the total to 2,000, a 40 per cent increase on last year's event.
An estimated 36,000 fun-runners, athletes and fundraisers paid their respects to those affected by the Boston terror attacks, which killed three people and injured 180, as they lined up at the start this morning.
Ethiopian Tsegeye Kebede took victory in the Men's Elite in 2:06:03. Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai came through second thirty seconds after, with Kebede's fellow Ethiopian Ayele Abshero in third.
Geoff Wightman, the event commentator, announced over loudspeakers before the half-minute silence: 'Marathon running is a global sport. It unites runners and supporters on every continent in pursuit of a common challenge and in the spirit of friendship and fellowship.
'This week the world marathon family was shocked and saddened by the events at the Boston Marathon.
'In a few moments a whistle will sound and we will join together in silence to remember our friends and colleagues for whom a day of joy turned into a day of sadness.
'Let us now show our respect and support for the victims of the tragedy in Boston.'
The silence appeared to be perfectly observed. The weather was also ideal, with sunshine followed by some cloud in the early afternoon and temperatures peaking at around 13C.
Notable competitors include last year's Elite Women's champion, Ethiopian Tiki Gelana, and UK Paralympic six-time gold medal winner David 'The Weirwolf' Weir. As a six-time London Marathon wheelchair winner, a victory today would have made him the most successful athlete in the competition, but he came in fifth place, with Australia's Kurt Fearnley the winner.
There was early drama after Gelana collided with a wheelchair at a drinks station and fell, but race fans breathed a sigh of relief as she was soon back up and running. However, she later struggled as the race unfolded. Kenya's Priscah Jeptoo went on to win the women's race.
As usual the route was filled with runners in all kinds of fancy dress, including people dressed as a Roman soldier, Batman and Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean.
Prime Minister David Cameron wrote on Twitter: 'Congratulations to the inspiring runners in the #LondonMarathon - a fantastic showcase for the city.'
Prince Harry spoke of his admiration for both the runners and those who offered their support. He said: 'It's fantastic, it's typically British. People have been saying they haven't seen crowds like this for eight years.
'The way Boston has dealt with it is remarkable and the great thing about the marathon is that no matter what colour, religion or nationality you are, everyone comes together to run and raise money for amazing causes. You can never take that away from people.
'It was never an option not to be here no one has changed any plans it has been really well run as it always is.'
The royal added the marathon raises millions of pounds for the charities that he and other members of the Royal Family are patrons of.
'It's a great opportunity for people from all walks of life to come along and raise money for their own personal charities, small or big,' he said.
'For us we're very lucky, we get a huge amount of places given to us by the marathon for all of our charities - my sister-in-law and William as well.
'We're hugely fortunate for what the marathon does for us. We're immensely grateful to them so I will continue to show my support where I can.'
The Prince also spoke of the recent announcement that he will take part in a race to the South Pole with a team of wounded British servicemen and women later this year.
'Walking with the Wounded is something that I've been involved with for some time now,' he said. 'It's an amazing opportunity.
'The only reason that I've signed up myself for this is well, firstly, because I only managed to do four days last time. I got dragged back, which was a horrible thing to do.
'But any way that I can support these guys I will, if that means walking 280 miles or whatever it is - no one told me that when I signed up for it - now I know it's a hell of a long way and I'll do my bit, get fed enough because I don't want to hold the guys back.
'It's going to be a fantastic race and a wonderful cause to raise awareness for all these remarkable people around the world that are having to continue their lies with injuries, whether they be mental or physical.'
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said it was important to show that Britain would 'carry on regardless' despite the Boston bombing.
He told LBC 97.3 that his wife, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, thinks he is 'completely mad' for running a second time, despite insisting 'never again' after last year's race.
Mr Balls, who is raising money for the charities Action for Stammering Children and Whizz-Kidz, said: 'In politics sometimes doing a U-turn is the wise thing to do.'
A total of 24 of the wheelchair racers in the London Marathon were also competing in Boston on Monday.
American Tatyana McFadden was in her hotel room after winning the women's race when the two bombs went off on the finish line. She told the BBC: 'I'll be carrying them in my heart as I am running through the course in London.
'It's important as an elite runner with a disability to be a role model for those who are newly injured and it's important for me to be an advocate for those.
'I've lived with many challenges in my life, every single day and so I know something of what it's like.'
As well as observing the 30-second silence before the start of the men's elite race and mass start, the runners are also wearing black ribbons to show their respect.
Amid heightened security, runners and spectators showed up in force for the greatest event of its type in the world.
The Metropolitan Police drafted 800 police to bolster security along the route, bringing the total to 2,000, a 40 per cent increase on last year's event.
An estimated 36,000 fun-runners, athletes and fundraisers paid their respects to those affected by the Boston terror attacks, which killed three people and injured 180, as they lined up at the start this morning.
Ethiopian Tsegeye Kebede took victory in the Men's Elite in 2:06:03. Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai came through second thirty seconds after, with Kebede's fellow Ethiopian Ayele Abshero in third.
Geoff Wightman, the event commentator, announced over loudspeakers before the half-minute silence: 'Marathon running is a global sport. It unites runners and supporters on every continent in pursuit of a common challenge and in the spirit of friendship and fellowship.
'This week the world marathon family was shocked and saddened by the events at the Boston Marathon.
'In a few moments a whistle will sound and we will join together in silence to remember our friends and colleagues for whom a day of joy turned into a day of sadness.
'Let us now show our respect and support for the victims of the tragedy in Boston.'
The silence appeared to be perfectly observed. The weather was also ideal, with sunshine followed by some cloud in the early afternoon and temperatures peaking at around 13C.
Notable competitors include last year's Elite Women's champion, Ethiopian Tiki Gelana, and UK Paralympic six-time gold medal winner David 'The Weirwolf' Weir. As a six-time London Marathon wheelchair winner, a victory today would have made him the most successful athlete in the competition, but he came in fifth place, with Australia's Kurt Fearnley the winner.
There was early drama after Gelana collided with a wheelchair at a drinks station and fell, but race fans breathed a sigh of relief as she was soon back up and running. However, she later struggled as the race unfolded. Kenya's Priscah Jeptoo went on to win the women's race.
As usual the route was filled with runners in all kinds of fancy dress, including people dressed as a Roman soldier, Batman and Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean.
Prime Minister David Cameron wrote on Twitter: 'Congratulations to the inspiring runners in the #LondonMarathon - a fantastic showcase for the city.'
Prince Harry spoke of his admiration for both the runners and those who offered their support. He said: 'It's fantastic, it's typically British. People have been saying they haven't seen crowds like this for eight years.
'The way Boston has dealt with it is remarkable and the great thing about the marathon is that no matter what colour, religion or nationality you are, everyone comes together to run and raise money for amazing causes. You can never take that away from people.
'It was never an option not to be here no one has changed any plans it has been really well run as it always is.'
The royal added the marathon raises millions of pounds for the charities that he and other members of the Royal Family are patrons of.
'It's a great opportunity for people from all walks of life to come along and raise money for their own personal charities, small or big,' he said.
'For us we're very lucky, we get a huge amount of places given to us by the marathon for all of our charities - my sister-in-law and William as well.
'We're hugely fortunate for what the marathon does for us. We're immensely grateful to them so I will continue to show my support where I can.'
The Prince also spoke of the recent announcement that he will take part in a race to the South Pole with a team of wounded British servicemen and women later this year.
'Walking with the Wounded is something that I've been involved with for some time now,' he said. 'It's an amazing opportunity.
'The only reason that I've signed up myself for this is well, firstly, because I only managed to do four days last time. I got dragged back, which was a horrible thing to do.
'But any way that I can support these guys I will, if that means walking 280 miles or whatever it is - no one told me that when I signed up for it - now I know it's a hell of a long way and I'll do my bit, get fed enough because I don't want to hold the guys back.
'It's going to be a fantastic race and a wonderful cause to raise awareness for all these remarkable people around the world that are having to continue their lies with injuries, whether they be mental or physical.'
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said it was important to show that Britain would 'carry on regardless' despite the Boston bombing.
He told LBC 97.3 that his wife, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, thinks he is 'completely mad' for running a second time, despite insisting 'never again' after last year's race.
Mr Balls, who is raising money for the charities Action for Stammering Children and Whizz-Kidz, said: 'In politics sometimes doing a U-turn is the wise thing to do.'
A total of 24 of the wheelchair racers in the London Marathon were also competing in Boston on Monday.
American Tatyana McFadden was in her hotel room after winning the women's race when the two bombs went off on the finish line. She told the BBC: 'I'll be carrying them in my heart as I am running through the course in London.
'It's important as an elite runner with a disability to be a role model for those who are newly injured and it's important for me to be an advocate for those.
'I've lived with many challenges in my life, every single day and so I know something of what it's like.'
As well as observing the 30-second silence before the start of the men's elite race and mass start, the runners are also wearing black ribbons to show their respect.
Source : DailyMail
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