Magazine to reprint front after Bath Half tribute cover upsets people in bomb tragedy city

A magazine has been recalled and its front will be reprinted after its cover saluting the commitment of Bath Half Marathon runners inadvertently upset people on the other side of the Atlantic. The Bath Magazine has recalled 18,000 copies of its February edition and will now print a fresh cover before it is redistributed early next week. The offending cover had arranged dozens of running shoes into the shape of a heart, ahead of March's race. But the design was eerily similar to the one used by the Boston Magazine after the American city's marathon was targetted by terrorist bombers last April, killing three people and injuring more than 250 more. The American cover raised more than $125,000 for the One Fund, set up to help those injured by the atrocity. Bath Magazine posted an open letter on its website this morning from publisher Steve Miklos admitting the publication knew about the Boston Magazine front page but decided to proceed anyway. Mr Miklos explained the idea behind the Bath front page image was to merge the magazine's two February themes the Bath Half and Valentine's Day. He said the magazine had searched for stock images to use but decided to create its own. Runners were invited to lend their trainers for the photograph and interviewed about their motives for running the half marathon. "Late in the process of creating our front cover we were made aware of the Boston Magazine cover, and while we were inspired by it, we realise we have made an error of judgment by not fully realising its connotations in the States. "On a personal note, I ran the half marathon last year during which time I met many runners, each with their own battle to fight and individually determined to finish. Some had suffered personal tragedies and were doing what they could to raise money and beat their own demons. "I am running the Bath Half on March 2nd and as well as supporting many of our local charities, the magazine will be making a contribution to the Boston One Fund." The magazine has now announced because of the overwhelming response it has received it will reprint the front page. Last night the US magazine asked its Bath counterpart to make a "significant donation" to the One Fund. In a web message to the Bath Magazine, editor Carly Carioli said: "Last spring, as we tried to figure out how best to honor the resilience of our city in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, we asked runners to lend us the shoes they wore in the race. In turn, their shoes, and the cover we produced, helped us to raise over $125,000 for the One Fund, the charity established here to benefit those affected by the bombing. "You liked the shoes cover so much that you borrowed (others have used less charitable phrases) the concept for your February issue on the half marathon in Bath. "We can't speak for the dozens of runners who donated their shoes to us for that image. We can't speak for the runners who are preparing to run this April. But we hope that if you were so bold as to borrow our idea, you will also borrow the spirit of that cover - and make a significant donation to the One Fund in the name of those who were unable to finish the race." Bath Magazine has been heavily criticised via social media for its front page. Last night, it tweeted: "We would like to make an unreserved apology for any upset or offence caused by our latest cover. This was clearly not our intention. "We are truly sorry and embarrassed for what has happened. We shall be looking into this immediately and post a full apology in due course."

Hey Bath, who died in your marathon? @TheBathMagazine@bathhalf

— S.I. Rosenbaum (@sirosenbaum) January 28, 2014

Super cool cover design! @TheBathMagazine h/t @lmenniespic.twitter.com/TFGAJTFDZz

— Luke O'Neil (@lukeoneil47) January 28, 2014

Organisers of the Bath Half have distanced themselves from the front cover after initially praising the design on Twitter. In a statement on the event's website Bath Half defended the Bath Magazine, which is a partner in the event, supporting its apology. "The choice of content and design for the magazine was entirely Bath Magazine's decision. We are sure that no offence was intended, and we endorse Bath Magazine's sincere apology for any distress caused. Out of respect to the comments raised we have removed reference to the magazine cover from our own social media. "The Bath Half Marathon management team, alongside everyone within the sport of road running across the world was shocked by the tragedy at last year's Boston Marathon, and our sincere condolences go out to all those affected, and their families."

Loving the Bath Half front cover of the Feb edition of @TheBathMagazinepic.twitter.com/gPhFNGxCAo

— Bath Half Marathon (@bathhalf) January 28, 2014