Photos: 118th Boston Marathon
Some ran to honor the dead and wounded. Others were out to prove something to the world about their sport, the city or their country. And some wanted to prove something to themselves.
With the names of the victims scrawled on their bodies or their race bibs, more than 32,000 people ran in the Boston Marathon on Monday in a powerful show of defiance a year after the deadly bombing.
This year’s starting field of 32,408 included 600 people who were given special invitations for those who were “profoundly impacted” by the attacks, and almost 5,000 runners who were stopped on the course last year when the bombs went off.—AP
118th Boston Marathon
Race fans alongside a "Boston Strong" slogan, watch the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 along the race course to Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
118th Boston Marathon
Boston Police ride bicycles near the finish line of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
118th Boston Marathon
Participants in the wheelchair division of the 118th Boston Marathon start their race Monday, April 21, 2014 in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
118th Boston Marathon
Ernst Van Dyk, of South Africa, receives his victor's wreath after winning the men's wheelchair division of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
118th Boston Marathon
Race fans from left, Andrew Lembecke, of Chicago, Brandon Petrich of Fargo, N.D, Marlene Youngblood of Louisville, Ky, and Bill Januszewski cheer near the finish line at the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
118th Boston Marathon
Elite men runners leave the start line in the 118th running of the Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
118th Boston Marathon
Rob Ordman, of Calgary Alberta, wears the slogan "Boston Strong" on his head near the finish line before the start of 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. He's supporting his wife Beth, who is running in the race. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
118th Boston Marathon
Mike Poitras, of Dracut, Mass., wears the slogan "Boston Strong" on his head near the finish line before the start of 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
118th Boston Marathon
Till T. Teuber of Hamburg, Germany, prepares himself before the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
118th Boston Marathon
Shown is a makeshift memorial for the Boston Marathon bombing victims near the finish line ahead of Monday's 118th Boston Marathon, Saturday, April 19, 2014, in Boston. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
118th Boston Marathon
A man pauses at a memorial honoring the victims of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, Sunday, April 20, 2014, in Boston. The memorial is where the first explosion happened last year near the finish line. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
118th Boston Marathon
Runners hug after crossing the finish line as a worker begins to break down a cable run after the the 118th Boston Marathon concluded Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
118th Boston Marathon
Meb Keflezighi, of San Diego, Calif., runs during the 118th Boston Marathon with the names of those killed in the 2013 bombings, and the MIT officer allegedly slain by the bombing suspects, on his bib, Monday, April 21, 2014, in Boston. Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell and Lu Lingzi, were killed in the bombings, while MIT officer Sean Collier was allegedly shot to death by the bombing suspects. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
118th Boston Marathon
A Boston Red Sox fan holds a sign supporting the Boston Marathon runners before a baseball game between the Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park in Boston Monday, April 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
118th Boston Marathon
American Meb Keflezighi celebrates winning the 118th Boston Marathon in Boston, Monday, April 21, 2014. Keflezighi is the first American male to win since 1983. (Patrick Raycraft/Hartford Courant/MCT)
118th Boston Marathon
Rita Jeptoo of Kenya didn't seem to have broken a sweat following her victory in the 118th Boston Marathon in Boston, Monday, April 21, 2014. (Patrick Raycraft/Hartford Courant/MCT)
118th Boston Marathon
Devin Parker, of Hanover, N.H., kisses John T. Heineman, of Iowa City, Iowa, as they cross the finish line of the 118th Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2014, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
118th Boston Marathon
Spectators shout and display a placard along the route of the 118th Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
118th Boston Marathon
Spectators cheer along the route of the 118th Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2014, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
118th Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon bombing hero Carlos Arredondo cheers for runners near the finish line of the 118th Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2014, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
118th Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon bombing survivor Adrianne Haslet-Davis, right, and her husband, Air Force Capt. Adam Davis, center, greet runner Craig Olson who just finished the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
118th Boston Marathon
Rita Jeptoo, of Kenya, hoists the trophy after winning the women's division of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
118th Boston Marathon
Runners pass discarded cups after a water station during the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Wellesley, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
118th Boston Marathon
Race fans cheer runners at mile marker 26 of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
118th Boston Marathon
Tatyana McFadden, of the United States, receives her medal after winning the women's wheelchair division of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
118th Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon husband and wife bombing survivors Patrick Downes and Jessica Kensky, who each lost a leg in last year's bombings, roll across the finish line in the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
118th Boston Marathon
A memorial to 2013 Boston Marathon bombing victim Martin Richard, right, sits alongside those for bombing victims Lu Lingzi, Krystle Campbel and for MIT officer Sean Collier, allegedly killed by the bombing suspects, near the starting line of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
118th Boston Marathon
David Abel, left, runs as a guide with mobility-impaired runner Juli Windsor, center, as she and other mobility-impaired runners, including Scott Rigsby, right, compete in the 118th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 21, 2014 in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
118th Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon bombing hero Carlos Arredondo, left, shakes hands with Ed Deveau, right, Watertown, Mass. police chief, after Deveau finished running in the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
118th Boston Marathon
Joseph Brayton, right, proposes marriage to Kara Flaherty, both of Boston, after they crossed the finish line of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
118th Boston Marathon
Runners straggle to the finish line as a worker begins to break down a cable run after the the 118th Boston Marathon concluded Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
118th Boston Marathon
Donna Simmons, of Buzzards Bay, Mass., turns onto the home stretch in the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
118th Boston Marathon
Myungwon Cho of Seoul, South Korea, competes in the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
118th Boston Marathon
Neil Bernstein, of Swampscott, Mass., runs with a small "Pesky Pole," a replica of the right field foul pole at Fenway Park, as he approaches finish line of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
118th Boston Marathon
Runners wait to start the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
118th Boston Marathon
Jessica Kensky, of Medford, Mass., who lost a leg in last year's bombings, smiles as she rolls through the scream tunnel at Wellesley College during the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Wellesley, Mass. Kensky caught up to her husband Patrick Downes, who also lost a leg, to finish together. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
118th Boston Marathon
Timothy Haslet, left, and David Haslet, right celebrate with their sister Adrianne Haslet-Davis as she crosses the finish line of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. Haslet-Davis, a professional dancer, lost her lower left leg at last year's marathon when one of two bombs exploded as she watched runners near the finish line. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
118th Boston Marathon
Dick Hoyt and Rick Hoyt, from Holland, Mass., cross the finish line surrounded by supporters in the 118th Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. The Hoyts have said this, their 32nd Boston Marathon, will be their last. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
118th Boston Marathon
Cynthia Cirri, of Hamilton, N.J., crosses the finish line of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
118th Boston Marathon
Amputees Jeff Glasbrenner, left, Andre Slay, and Chris Madison cross the finish line of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
118th Boston Marathon
Runners head down Boylston Street to the finish line of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
118th Boston Marathon
Father and son Dick Hoyt and Rick Hoyt, from Holland, Mass., compete in their final Boston Marathon as they roll through the scream tunnel at Wellesley College Monday, April 21, 2014 in Wellesley, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
118th Boston Marathon
A security official screens Lilly Sullivan, of Southborough Mass., before the running of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
118th Boston Marathon
U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy, D-Mass., waves to race fans after completing the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
118th Boston Marathon
Edward Lychik, of Tacoma, Wash., runs past cheering Wellesley College students during the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Wellesley, Mass. Lychik ran for Team MR8, a charitable foundation in honor of Martin Richard, who died in last year's bombing. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
118th Boston Marathon
Patrick Downes, of Medford, Mass., right, who lost a leg in last year's bombings, smiles as he rolls through the scream tunnel at Wellesley College during the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Wellesley, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
118th Boston Marathon
Meb Keflezighi, of San Diego, Calif., celebrates his victory in the 118th Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2014, in Boston.(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
118th Boston Marathon
Women display placards and cheer near Wellesley College along the route of the 118th Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2014, in Wellesley, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
118th Boston Marathon
Runners run along the route of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014, in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
118th Boston Marathon
Spectators display placards and shout near Wellesley College along the route of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014, in Wellesley, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
118th Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon bombing survivors Adrianne Haslet-Davis, left, and Jeff Bauman share a hug near the finish line of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Newlyweds who each lost a leg in last year’s bombing completed the Boston Marathon together this year, riding handcycles for the 26.2-mile course.