The percentage of finishers was actually slightly higher than in 2006, when 97.8 percent of the runners made it to the finish line on a warm day, race organizers said today.

Organizers said they were surprised there weren't more no-shows and dropouts along the course. A total of 2,449 runners opted not to pick up their bib numbers before registration closed on Sunday _ about 10 percent of the total and within the usual range of no-shows.

The weather was milder than forecasters had feared — 52 degrees with a moderate rain at the start. But wind picked up as the runners turned onto Beacon Street in Cleveland Circle for the last, long homestretch to Copley Square.

The marathon's medical staff also said they saw no more problems than in an ordinary year. Guy Morse, executive director of the Boston Athletic Association, has said organizers spent unprecedented amounts of money to provide heating tents, emergency services and other facilities.

Race director Dave McGillivray said the final decision not to cancel wasn't made until 4 a.m., about six hours before the field of more than 20,000 runners was to leave Hopkinton.