Chicago Runners Gather To Honor Boston Marathon

(CBS) -- A week after the Boston bombings, Chicago's running community gathered to run and remember.

"Tonight is no only a reflection on what happened last week, it's also a celebration of moving forward," event organizer and Fleet Feet Owner Dave Zimmer said Monday.

He says he's overwhelmed by the hundreds that showed up, some wearing Boston's iconic blue and yellow gear, others sporting their "Runners for Boston" T-shirts.

"The amount of people here tonight was just staggering," he said.

Bobby Weil was in corral three and wasn't able to finish the Boston Marathon. He says he wasn't about to miss Monday's special run.

"It's heartwarming. I have friends here and teammates. It's beyond words," he said.

Mark Busiak and his wife, Barrie Brejcha Busiak, were both stopped short of finishing last Monday.

"Monday was my 34th consecutive Boston Marathon and it was my wife's 9th Boston, unlike all of our previous ones. I was stopped by the police at 25.6," Busiak said.

"It was such a profound experience, something I will never forget," Brejcha said. "It was like being in a bad dream last week. We got back early Thursday morning and got back to the office, but it made it so difficult to resume daily life."

Busiak says everyone will be running again next year.

"Virtually every runner I talked to in my training program, everyone is coming back with more vigor and support. The world hasn't seen anything yet. Wait for next April, Patriot's Day in the Commonwealth."

Fleet Feet, which hosts regular group runs, had 90 runners participate in the Boston Marathon through its "Boston Bound" program. None of the runners were injured in the attack.

Fleet Feet is selling "Runners for Boston" shirts to benefit One Fund Boston, which will raise money for families most affected by the bombings at last Monday's marathon.

Running stores across America held similar events last night.