They came from across metro Atlanta.  From Lawrenceville and Marietta.  Dunwoody and Vinings.  Downtown and Midtown.  All to show support for the people of Boston.

"We need to show that we should not be afraid," says Karen Kaye, who operates the midtown store for the Big Peach Running Company.

In an effort to show solidarity for those killed and wounded at the Boston Marathon, the stores across metro Atlanta organized a moment of silence, followed by a mile long run.

"The reaction has been pretty amazing," says Kaye.  "People are just horrified, scared, upset and sad.  And yet we all seem to want to reach out to one another, so this idea became tremendous very quickly."

The runners showed up on short notice on a a Tuesday morning, simply to say to those responsible that their lives will go on and they will keep running.

Kaye says it's the message they need to send.

"Obviously I live and breathe and work in this sport," she says.  "They are still people who hesitate to get off their couch.  I'm hopeful this will be their inspiration to get themselves moving and I'm going to go for a walk today.  That would be an amazing lemonade to make from this horrible lemon."

All Big Peach Running Company stores across metro Atlanta were open early this morning to have their moment of silence and then their run.

For Kaye, and others, the bombings means not only death at the Boston marathon but heightened security at all future road races, including the Peachtree come July.

But Kaye actually welcomes that, saying it is the price runners will have to pay in order to keep running and to keep those responsible for the bombings from winning.

"We should honor the runners in Boston and the spectators for being there and cheering on their fellow runners."