Newtown families encounter tragedy once more at Boston Marathon

(CBS News) In a tragic coincidence, this year's marathon was honoring the victims of the Newtown school massacre. There was a special marker at mile number 26, just a few hundred yards from the site of the bombings. CBS News spoke to some of the competitors who came from Newtown to be in the race.

In stark contrast to the way it ended, the Boston Marathon began in silence -- 26 seconds of quiet to remember each of the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.

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Special section: Elementary school rampage

Runners from Newtown, Conn., wore tee shirts, dedicating each mile of the marathon to a different victim -- and marked the final mile in their honor.

"We're Newtown strong," Dr. Laura Nowacki said. "We're here to run 26 miles for our 26 lives lost."

Nowacki -- whose child survived the Newtown massacre -- organized the team. Last week, Nowacki said, "When we hit Boylston Street, and we run that final 385 yards towards the finish, we're going to sprint like we ran that day to get our children."

Instead, those last yards proved deadly, taking the life of a young child. Fortunately, Nowacki posted a reassuring message on her organization's Facebook page: "Our Newtown team and family are OK."

Ed and Valerie Lucas were among the Newtown team. They told USA Today they're still in shock. And perhaps echoing what so many thought after the Newtown tragedy, Ed Lucas said he still can't believe that anyone could do something like this bombing.

Watch Terrell Brown's full "CBS This Morning" report in the video above.