And They're Off! The 2014 Boston Marathon Begins (PHOTOS)

And they're off!

The 118th running of the Boston Marathon began when the mobility impaired entrants departed Hopkinton, Mass., at 8:50 a.m. on Monday morning. A moment of silence was observed at the starting line for the victims of the bombings at the 2013 Boston Marathon before that group began the race.

At 9:18 a.m., the wheelchair division crossed the starting line and began the 26.2-mile trek to downtown Boston. Just minutes later, the handcycles were on the marathon course.

With nearly 36,000 runners entered in the 2014 Boston Marathon, the competitors kept coming. The Elite Women dashed across the starting line at 9:35 a.m., followed by the Elite Men about 25 minutes later.

The first wave of runners began with the Elite Men, with three additional waves to follow. The fourth wave of runners is scheduled to cross the starting line at 11:25 a.m., according to the official website of the Boston Marathon.