Insider's guide to today's Blue Ridge Marathon 

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Runners race down Jefferson Street at the start of the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Roanoke City detective Josh Chandler checks the bag of relay runner Lauren Maxwell at a security checkpoint before the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Men's marathon winner Jeff Powers climbs Mill Mountain during the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday. “This was tough,” said Powers, a 30-year-old Ph.D. student at Temple University.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Heather Wesolovski of Astoria, N.Y., won the women’s full marathon Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Before the race, a moment of silence was observed for victims of the recent Boston Marathon attacks.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Half marathon runners make their way up Mill Mountain during the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Runners make their way down Mill Mountain during the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Runners wearing commemorative Boston racing bibs run down Jefferson Street during the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Assistant race director Molly Bullington (left) and race chair Pete Eshelman hang a city of Boston flag on the starting line of the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Jessica Shell of Roanoke stretches on the floor of the City Market before the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Danny Keatley of White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., keeps warm with a cup of coffee before the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Brynn Scozzari of Roanoke performs the national anthem before the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Runners stand for the national anthem on Saturday. Many paid respect to those who lost their lives in the Boston Marathon bombing. Hundreds wore blue bracelets with the phrase, “Running for Boston”.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Runners take off from the starting line down Jefferson Street in Roanoke on Saturday. Nearly 1,700 runners participated in the half and full marathons, and the full marathon relay. “It was very difficult and very cold,” said men’s runner-up Abu Diriba of Ethiopia.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Runners make their way through a tunnel at Rivers Edge Park during the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Volunteers hand out sport drinks and water to runners in front of the Roanoke Star at the top of Mill Mountain during the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Runners are a blur as the field heads down Jefferson Street at the beginning of the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Runners cross the intersection of Campbell Avenue and Jefferson Street at the start of the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Runners make their way across the Walnut Avenue bridge at the beginning of the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Liewen Huang of Roanoke runs backwards alongside his son Harrison, 11, in the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday. Huang ran the race in support of the Childen's Miracle Network.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Volunteers hand refreshments to runners at the top of Mill Mountain during the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday. “All the runners, the volunteers and their encouragement was amazing,” said women’s runner-up Natalie St. John.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Greg Zitelli embraces his girlfriend Christine Fortner along the route during the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

A runner makes his way down Rosalind Avenue.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Local band Starfish Prime entertains runners at the intersection of Stanley Avenue and 24th Street during the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Runners make their way along the Roanoke River Greenway during the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke on Saturday.

JOEL HAWKSLEY | The Roanoke Times

Tom Mantey of Roanoke displays a badge he made himself in remembrance of the Boston Marathon attacks.