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SoBe Run Club To "Band Together For Boston"

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Another South Florida run club held a memorial run in honor of the victims of the Boston Marathon terror attack.

Dozens of athletes with the South Beach Run Club participated in the tribute Thursday night.

Together with a police escort, Viviana Oliva and Bryan Huberty crossed Ocean Drive, just days after crossing the finish line at the Boston Marathon.

"Back then, that was the best experience of my life," Oliva told CBS 4's Lauren Pastrana. "I've been training to get to get to Boston for many, many years. It was my first one."

But the pride she felt in her accomplishment, turned to shock and heartache once Oliva learned of the deadly bombings.

She and Huberty both completed the race well before the explosions.

Huberty said he heard the blasts from his hotel room which overlooked the finish line.

"To see the people that are just in shock missing a leg, missing an arm. To think that they were right across the street from you, and they were there cheering for you, it really hurts," he said. "We're all extremely angry and trying to process the emotions."

Oliva had just left the family meeting and athlete recovery area when the bombs went off.

"Last thing you think of is something so horrifying as what happened on Monday," she said.

With their medals in hand Thursday, both vowed to keep on running.

They joined the South Beach Run Club in jogging from Lincoln Road and Washington Avenue to 5th street and back up along Ocean Drive.

"We love what we do," Oliva explained. We love the people we're with. We love other runners even if we don't know them. It's our thing."

"We feel very bonded with all runners everywhere," Matt Rosenberg said. "Locally as well as nationally."

Across the country, runners are united.

Memorial events in Chicago and L.A. drew hundreds of people.

More than 600 runners showed up to the Silent Run for Boston in Brickell Tuesday.

Those who experienced the terror firsthand say the support will help them heal.

"It's pretty touching," Huberty said. "It's emotional."

Several of the runners said they won't let the tragedy stop them from participating in future marathons, including the ING Miami Marathon in 2014.

In fact, many hope to qualify for the Boston marathon next year.

Tuesday night, the Baptist Health South Florida Brickell Run Club hosted a "Silent Run for Boston" where more than 600 people participated in the special tribute along Brickell Avenue and Biscayne Blvd.

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