Besides testing their physical limits, thousands of runners took part in the Toronto Marathon to pay tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.
The tragedy in Boston, which killed three people and injured over 260 others last month, set the tone for the 35th annual run - a qualifier for the Boston Marathon - here Sunday, reports Xinhua.
Besides a moment of silence before the 42-kilometre race, there were many small visual reminders throughout the event. Marathoners donned blue-and-yellow outfits, had small 'Remember Boston' ribbons printed on their bibs, and special T-shirts that read 'Boston, we run with you', to show their support.
Instead of deterring participants from coming out to take part in the run this year, the event's race director Jay Glassman said it has brought out even more people than usual.
"There was a bit of a spike with people that weren't necessarily going to run or hadn't trained to run but decided to run because of what happened just to show their solidarity with the running community," he said.
The event drew out runners from 50 different countries and regions and roughly 60,000 spectators, who came out to cheer for friends, family and strangers.
Immediately after the bombings in Boston, the Toronto Marathon posted a statement on their website to inform the public they're working closely with the police to ensure the safety and security of all participants and spectators.
