Community Chat

[Lila Belle]

35,000 runners paused for a moment of silence for today's race.

"Thousands of runners who took part in the London Marathon on Sunday paid tribute to those killed and injured in the Boston Marathon six days earlier. Participants paused for a moment of silence in the beginning, many wore black ribbons on their chests as a sign of solidarity, and two runners finished carrying a banner that read "For Boston."

The mood was festive, defiant – and the surging crowds who turned out on the glorious spring day to line the route roared enthusiastically.

"It means that runners are stronger than bombers," said Valerie Bloomfield, a 40-year-old participant from France.

Moments before the majority of runners set off on the grinding course, announcer Geoff Wightman used the loudspeakers to ask for a moment of silence. He described marathon running as a global sport that unites runners and supporters in every continent in a spirit of friendship.

Security was plentiful but not intrusive near the finish line at the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. Marathon staff, officials and journalists had their bags checked, a process not deemed necessary at the event last year. Officials said this was in response to the Boston attack.

Marathon organizers plan to donate money to a Boston fund set up to help the bombing victims. They said they did not consider canceling the London event, which is a highlight of the sporting calendar.

In a smaller event in Germany, some 15,000 runners participated Sunday in the Hamburg Marathon. They wore armbands with the slogan "Run for Boston."

Extra security was added and there was no disruption. Hamburg organizers have said that they know of only eight people who pulled out because of the Boston bombings."