Before embarking on their annual Run for Rural Medicine on Sunday, the Prince George Road Runners Club took 26 seconds of silence to remember the victims in last week's Boston Marathon bombing.
Three people were killed and more than 170 people injured in the two explosions at the historic marathon's finish line.
Kevin Grigg, president of the P.G. Road Runners Club, said everyone was happy with the 26-seconds of silence - one for each mile of a marathon.
"The runners were looking for that community spirit because it was pretty unreal what happened," said Grigg.
There were more than 140 participants taking part in the annual Hart Half/Run for Rural Medicine. It's the third year that the first and second year medical students have partnered up with the Road Runners to raise funds.
Once the Hart half marathon began from the Hart Community Centre it took Jim Van Bakel an hour, 23 minutes and eight seconds (1:23:08) to finish the 21.1 kilometre run, edging out Shar Balogh (formerly Jackson), who finished in 1:24:26. Donald Williams was third with a time of 1:25:32.
In the 10 km run, Zachary Matyas crossed the finish line first in 36:09 with Chris Pendray (38:23) and Austin Bartell (38:26) following in second and third. Jacqui Benson (40:06) was the first woman to cross the line and placed fifth overall.
Tony Prazma was the lone entrant in the 10 km walk and finished his stroll in 1:09:20.
In the five kilometre run, the top three finishers were Josh Hewitt (17:43), Paul Mulligan (19:30) and Jacqui Petterson (20:28).
In the one-kilometre mini run for tots Max Cross (6:28) was first to finish followed by Elizabeth Hillhouse (7:00) and Grace Cross (7:41).
"It's really fun to watch the tots motor along," said Grigg.
In another tribute to the Boston Marathon participants, volunteers, emergency personnel and medical professionals, several members of the P.G. Road Runners Club will wear a running T-shirt - club, race or marathon - around Prince George on Friday and invite others to join them in support.
At the club's next event, the Miworth Run on Sunday, 9 a.m. start at the community hall, club members will be collecting donations to send to the Boston Children's Hospital.
