n the spring sunshine they gathered in their thousands, black ribbons pinned to their running vests.
And before they took their first step, they stood in silence with their heads bowed in honour of those killed and injured in the Boston marathon bombings last week.
This was the moving scene at the start of the London marathon yesterday as Prince Harry praised the defiant British spirit that saw 37,000 runners take part in the race amid heightened security.
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Capital weather: Spectators enjoy the sunshine and watch as runners cross Tower Bridge in the 33rd London Marathon
And they're off: The 36,000 runners get underway this morning. The Metropolitan Police drafted in extra officers after the Boston attacks
Carnival atmosphere: Crowds turned out in their thousands to support the runners
Paying tribute to the victims of the Boston bombings, Harry applauded the way everyone had come together to run and raise money for good causes.
‘It’s fantastic, it’s typically British,’ he said. ‘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.’
The prince’s words came as the three who died and the 180 who were injured in the Boston attack were remembered with a half-minute silence.
Event commentator Geoff Wightman urged runners to ‘show our respect and support for the victims of the tragedy in Boston’.
He added: ‘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.’
More than 800 police officers – a 40 per cent increase on last year – lined the 26.2-mile course, which starts in Greenwich and finishes at Buckingham Palace.
Victor: Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia poses for the cameras after winning the Men's Elite section
Britain's Mo Farah does the crowd-pleasing 'Mobot' (left) as he prepares to start and (right) setting off with the Men's Elite
Prince Harry presented medals to the winners, including Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede who came first in the men’s race with a time of 2:06:03, and Kenya’s Priscah Jeptoo, first home in the women’s race with a time of 2:20:15.
Harry, who said it was ‘never an option’ for him not to attend, added: ‘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.
‘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 immensely grateful to them so I will continue to show my support where I can.’
Runaway bride: Runner James Carvel and crossed the finish line and promptly proposed to girlfriend Lorraine Humphries. Both were running for Great Ormond Street
Running rings: Lorraine was overwhelmed when James dropped to one knee in front of hundreds of other delighted runners
Road runner: A competitor runs wearing an Emu costume
FA Cup run: A competitor dressed as one of football's most iconic trophies (left) and a runner dressed as a Smurf (right)
Superhuman: Runners dressed as Batman (left) and Spider-Man (right)
Support: A faltering runner in the London Marathon is helped towards the finish line by fellow competitors
Drench: Runners find ways to cool off in the glorious spring sunshine
In a further mark of respect to those affected by the Boston bombings, Virgin London Marathon pledged to donate £2 for every finisher in yesterday’s event to The One Fund Boston, set up for victims of the explosions.
US charge d’affaires Barbara Stephenson said the show of support by London runners underlined the ‘special relationship’ between the two countries.
She said: ‘We’ve had responses from the Queen, from the British people, and now we have got tens of thousands of London marathon runners wearing a black ribbon in solidarity with the people of Boston. It’s moments like this when you know what the special relationship’s really all about.’
Among the competitors yesterday was Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, who revealed he had an unlikely sponsor in political rival George Osborne. The Chancellor donated £25 to each of Mr Balls’s chosen charities, Action For Stammering Children and WhizzKidz. Mr Balls completed the race in five hours and 14 minutes.
Paralympic and six-time London marathon champion David ‘Weirwolf’ Weir failed to recreate the magic that saw him take four gold medals at the 2012 Games, coming fifth.
Other celebrities who ran in glorious sunny temperatures of 57F (14C) included model Sophie Anderton, Bucks Fizz singer Cheryl Baker and chef Michel Roux junior.
Among the fun-runners was former paratrooper Pete Digby, who took part with a bright pink 70lb cooker on his back. Mr Digby, 41, of Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, had planned to pull a 40-stone Aga but was stopped for health and safety reasons.
One soldier completed his own marathon on a treadmill in the sweltering heat of Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Paul Chamberlain, 36, of the Royal Corps of Signals, completed the race in Helmand in a time of three hours and 33 minutes and raised £1,000 for Help For Heroes and SSAFA Forces Help.
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.
Podium: (Left to right) Prince Harry, women's winner Priscah Jeptoo, men's winner Tsegaye Kebede and Sir Richard Branson
Royal presence: Prince Harry meets helpers at the finish line. He praised both runners and supporters for making a success of the event
The Prince said: 'It's fantastic, it's typically British. People have been saying they haven't seen crowds like this for eight years'
Brush with royalty: Delighted bystanders are greeted by the Prince
Military: Prince Harry passes a soldier in a bearskin hat at the finish line
Prize: The Prince presents Kurt Fearnley, winner of the Men's Wheelchair race, with his trophy
VIDEO Prince Harry was joined by a host of celebrity runners for the Virgin London Marathon
Prince Harry joins a host of celebrities at Virgin London...
'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.'
WE ARE NOT AFRAID: MARATHON RUNNERS AND CROWDS SHOW DEFIANCE AND BRAVERY AMID TERRORISM FEARS
Most runners in London said they weren't worried by the Boston bombings, and the impressive turnout of enthusiastic fans lining the routes showed the same spirit.
David Wilson, 45, said there was no question of canceling the marathon. He noted that Londoners had come back onto the streets the day after the lethal July 7, 2005, transit system bombings and weren't easily cowed.
'You can't not do anything, because otherwise you'd stay on the outs all the time,' he said.
But Chris Denton, a 44-year-old engineer stretching his legs by the start line, acknowledged an undercurrent of anxiety. He'd asked that his family not come out to support him because of a possible copycat attack. 'I left them at home,' he said. 'If only for my peace of mind.'
Among the participants in London was Tomasz Hamerlak of Poland, who finished fourth in the men's wheelchair race and had competed in Boston last week. He said he was determined to race in London.
'It is terrible what happened in Boston, but we can't look back, we must look forward," an out-of-breath Hamerlak told The Associated Press moments after crossing the finish line. 'The show must go on,' he said.
Shirley Gillard, a 63-year-old retiree sitting on a bench at the edge of the starting area, seemed pleased with her decision to come out and watch the race. She described herself as the type of person who was always worried when spotting an unattended bag on public transport, but said people shouldn't change their habits because of what happened in Boston.
'That would be letting them win, the terrorists and lunatics,' she said.
Mo Farah (centre) ran just under half of the course, claiming training concerns prohibit him from competing
Tribute: Mo Farah reacts during the silent tribute
VIDEO Marathon runners pay silent tribute to victims of the Boston bombing
London Marathon's solemn moment to mark Boston bomb victims
Katherine Jenkins, the Welsh singer, said she was running in memory of her father and to show solidarity to people affected by the bombings in the US.
'Like everyone else, it was just so devastating to see that on the news," she said.
'But I think we all feel more than ever that we want to do this and show our support for Boston.'
The 32-year-old said she has raised over £22,000 for cancer care charity Macmillan Cancer Support. She said: 'My father passed away from cancer when I was 15 and the Macmillan nurses came and they were wonderful.'
She added: 'I really don't think of myself as an athletic person at all. I never in a million years thought I would do this.'
The day will be especially memorable for one runner who crossed the line with her partner, only for him to drop to one knee and proposed. The couple, James Carvel and Lorraine Humphries, were both were running for Great Ormond Street and judging from the joyful reaction in the pictures, she said yes.
Respect: Runners stand in a silent tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings before the start of the London Marathon from Greenwich Park earlier today
Geoff Wightman, the event commentator, announced over loudspeakers before the half-minute silence: 'We will join together in silence to remember our friends and colleagues for whom a day of joy turned into a day of sadness'
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.
Virgin London Marathon has also pledged to donate £2 for every finisher in today's event to The One Fund Boston set up to raise money for victims of the explosions.
Meanwhile, Mo Farah's preparation for the London Marathon did not go quite as well as he might have hoped this morning, after the London 2012 double champion overslept.
Winner: Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya crosses the finish line to win the Women's Elite section
Kenya's Priscah Jeptoo (left) prays after her win. The Men's Wheelchair Elite (right) approach the finish line
Accolade: Participant medals await the finishers in today's event
Tribute: A member of staff wears a black ribbon in memory of Boston Marathon bombings. Right, a girl poses for a snapshot with a police officer
VIDEO Runners wore black ribbons in tribute to victims of the Boston Marathon bombing
London Marathon runners dedicate race to Boston victims
The 30-year-old Londoner - who ran just under half of today's race - revealed he was running late live on the radio.
He shouted to a waiting BBC presenter: 'Radio 5, gotta go! Gotta run, run, run, run!'
Asked how he was feeling, he said as he ran down the street: 'Yeah, feeling good.' And has he warmed up? 'Not yet!' he replied.
'I'm late! I woke up late! I'm going to miss the bus!' he laughed.
The Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion added: 'It should be good weather as well, so I'm quite excited.'
The build-up to Farah's participation in this year's London Marathon has been shrouded in controversy as he will be paid a reported £425,000 for taking part in the 2013 and 2014 events.
Singer Katherine Jenkins, who ran in memory of her father, and Paralympian Richard Whitehead
Tired but happy: Opera singer Katherine Jenkins and Ed Balls MP cross the finish line
Sporting icon: Mo Farah greets excited fans after he pulled out of the London Marathon
There has been talk of murky motives and money-grabbing, with critics of his plan to run to halfway, as practice for making his full 26.2 mile debut next year, accusing him of cashing in on his status and going against the spirit of the mass-participation event.
He later said he was training for the World Championships this year and was not prepared for a 26 mile race. he added: 'I'm not there to destroy the race, I'm just there to learn. Next year I will do the full marathon.'
After the race he spoke of how he found the distance, and admitted: 'I think the biggest challenge really is picking up the right drinks - I think I made a mess up.'
Paralympic champion David Weir failed to recreate the magic that saw him take four gold medals at the 2012 Olympics in today's London Marathon.
The 33-year-old was disappointed with his fifth place, but the Londoner said he gave it his best shot.
Famous faces: Former England cricketer Andrew Strauss and BBC Newsreader Sophie Raworth
Speaking near the finish line, the six-time London Marathon champion said: 'It was a tough race, but I knew it was going to be tough after four months out.
'I just had to do my best, and that's what I did today.'
Weir, who wore a werewolf logo on his helmet in homage to his nickname of the 'Weirwolf' said he was up against a strong field.
'Everyone in that race wants to win. That's the mindset I have. I want to win every race that I do, and at the end of the day, it was one of them days.
Weir, who has won a total of six Olympic gold medals, said an extended break and the cold winter affected his preparation.
A former paratrooper was today running the London Marathon carrying a bright pink 70lbs cooker to raise money for wounded soldiers.
Pete Digby, of Godmanchester, near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, originally planned to pull an AGA cooker weighing a staggering 40 stone (250kg) but was stopped for health and safety reasons.
Tough: Former paratrooper Pete Digby is running the London Marathon carrying a bright pink 70lbs AGA to raise money for wounded soldiers
Mr Digby, now a detective chief inspector with the City of London Police, trained to pull the cast iron stove, strapped to him with a four point harness.
But a week before the event officials told the 41 year old he would not be allowed.
Mr Digby, who has previously run the marathon with an 80lb washing machine strapped to his back and carrying a 50lb fridge, instead decided to carry the smaller, pink cooker.
He hopes to raise £10,000. The divorced father of two said: 'My aim has been to do the marathon with each of the three main white goods, hence the cooker this year.
'The London Marathon race directors said it was against their health and safety guidelines to pull something on wheels.
'So I decided to strap a three quarter size AGA to my back. The washing machine was very hard work and the AGA isn't much smaller so it's going to hurt.'
Organisers are stressing that as well as showing defiance and spirit in the showpiece event, the participants will have fun around the famous 26.2 mile course.
Ski run: One runner adopts an alpine theme, while competitors Sophie McCorry Day and Toby McCorry (right), ran in wedding dresses
TRIBUTE UNDERLINES SPECIAL TIES
The senior US diplomat in the UK said the show of respect by London Marathon runners for the victims of the Boston terror attack underlined the 'special relationship' between the two countries.
Charge d'Affaires Barbara Stephenson thanked Britons for their show of support in the wake of the attack at the finish of the Boston Marathon last Monday.
Ms Stephenson told Sky News' Murnaghan programme: 'We've had responses from Her Majesty the Queen, all through Twitter from the British people, and now we have got tens of thousands of London Marathon runners wearing a black ribbon in solidarity with the people of Boston.
'As my senior law enforcement person said on Friday afternoon, it's moments like this when you know what the special relationship's really all about.'
Chief Supt Julia Pendry, who has headed marathon security for five years, has said this year's police operation is 'about making sure that people who come to London on Sunday feel safe when they are in the city'.
She said more search dogs would be deployed and urged marathon spectators to keep their belongings with them to avoid sparking security alerts.
But she added: 'There is no link between the Boston Marathon and the London Marathon and there is no change to the threat level at this time to London.'
Extra security has been in put in place around the bags of the runners, the race's baggage manager said this morning.
Phil Keith said that 34 articulated lorries would take the rucksacks of the thousands of runners from the start in Blackheath in south east London to the finish on the Mall near Buckingham Palace in the centre of the capital.
The bombs which went off in Boston are believed to have been placed in rucksacks placed on the route.
'It (security) is a problem but we have taken a lot of advice from the Metropolitan Police," he told the BBC.
'We have increased the security around the baggage.
'It is all very safe. Everyone will be incredibly safe at the finish and at the start.'
One of the runners will be former England cricket captain Andrew Strauss, who said he wanted to represent the people of Boston and prove that 'terrorism doesn't work'.
The 36-year-old will represent the Lord's Taverners charity in the race.
It is not the first time Mr Strauss has had to stand firm in the face of terror fears, as he was part of the England team which toured India in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks in 2008.
Reassurance: A security officer with an explosive-detecting dog at the Mall, the finishing line of the London Marathon, earlier today. An extra 800 officers have been drafted in to protect runners and spectators
Security personnel work at the Mall, the finishing line of the London Marathon. Runners will observe 30 seconds silence before the start of today's race
Celebrity runners: The Only Way is Essex star Amy Childs and Michelin star Michel Roux
Fame: Singer Katherine Jenkins and Coronation Street star Nikki Sanderson are running
Model Sophie Anderton and Strictly Come Dancing champ and McFly drummer Harry Judd
'It's a horrendous tragedy and I think this is an opportunity for all of us that are involved in the London Marathon to come out and do our bit and show a bit of solidarity and also show that we're not going to cower with fear,' he said.
London marathon runners are being urged to race on Sunday 'for Boston' and cross the finish line with their hands on their hearts in memory of those killed and injured in Tuesday's attacks.
Running organisation Spat, or Social Purpose And Time, which uses running to try and help young homeless people, started a Twitter campaign using the hashtag #handsoverhearts.
Events in Massachusetts reached a dramatic climax as Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was apprehended following an exchange of gunfire with police after being found hiding in a boat in a back yard in the Boston suburb of Watertown.
Andrew Strauss (left) says London must not bow to terror threats. Extra sniffer dogs (right) have been deployed
He was taken away on a stretcher and has been admitted to hospital in a serious condition. His brother Tamerlan, 26, was killed on Friday in a shootout with officers.
Scotland Yard is in close contact with the FBI and Boston Police and there is nothing to suggest any resulting threat to the London Marathon following the bomb attacks.
'The bombings in Boston are shocking, cowardly and horrific, and the thoughts of all Londoners this morning will be with the victims,' London Mayor Boris Johnson said in a statement Tuesday.
'Boston is a proud city built on history, tradition and a real sense of community. These attacks were aimed at its core, at innocent men, women and children enjoying a spring day out at a major sporting event.
'We do have robust security measures in place for Sunday's London Marathon, but given events in Boston it's only prudent for the police and the organisers of Sunday's race to reexamine those security arrangements.'
Attendees faced a long wait to get home after London's Paddington station saw delays after someone fell under a train, the station's Twitter account said.
National Rail said a person was hit by a train at Hanwell, and due to this journeys to and from Paddington 'may be extended by up to 90 minutes'.
These delays will continue until further notice, the company said.
Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect services are suspended, and trains between London Paddington and Slough are suspended, National Rail said.