Silent run honors Boston explosion victims

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — More than 100 runners met across metro Atlanta to honor people hurt and killed in the Boston Marathon on Tuesday.

Nearly 60 people held a moment of silence at the Fleet Feet store in Lawrenceville before starting the dedicated run. They wore bibs with the words "Boston Runners United to Remember."

Former Gwinnett County Commissioner Mike Beaudreau finished the marathon and flew back in time for the commemorative run.

Beaudreau told Channel 2's Amy Napier Viteri, "It's just very raw so I'm still emotional about it. It just rips your heart out."

Beaudreau said he couldn't stop thinking of the countless volunteers who celebrated with him as he set a personal record in the race.

"People doing such a humane thing had such an inhumane act occur to them," Beaudreau said.

He said he was a block away from the finish line walking to public transportation when he heard the blast.

The marathon runner said, "Five minutes later, boom, everybody stopped in the middle of the street."

Runner Erin Barbely led the run at the Lawrenceville Fleet Feet store. She participates each year in Atlanta's Peachtree Road Race.

Barbely said, "Now you go in with that thought in the back of your mind. Hey, something may happen. I just need to be aware."

She told Viteri when she runs this year what happened in Boston will be in the back of her mind.

"When they play that national anthem and they have the fly by, I'm still going to be thinking about Boston", Barbely said.

Atlanta police and the mayor's office said in a statement "no stone will be left unturned when it comes to security" for this year's race.

The chairman of the board of the Atlanta Track Club told Viteri they are already looking at security plans, but for now their thoughts remain with the people in Boston

WSBTV