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Magazine behind controversial cover learned of Marathon photo 'late in the process'

(MyFoxBoston.com) -- A U.K. magazine is apologizing for using a cover similar to the one run by Boston Magazine shortly after the Boston Marathon bombings to promote a half marathon.

The Bath Magazine cover featured running shoes arranged in a heart along with the headline, "Love the Bath Half."

Boston Magazine ran a cover in April 2013 that also included running shoes arranged in a heart along with the words, "We Will Finish the Race."

The British publication's cover caused a firestorm on Twitter, with one Boston Magazine employee even asking, "Hey Bath, who died in your marathon?"

The magazine replied via Twitter, saying they don't mean to bring up bad memories and are just supporting their runners in Bath.

The response was followed by two more apologetic tweets.

Bath Magazine posted an open letter to Boston Magazine on their website Wednesday, extending their publisher's "sincere apologies" to anyone who found the similarities "in any way upsetting."

"We are proud to be supporters of the Bath Half marathon, and indeed members of our staff are running in this year's race," read the letter in-part. "Our intention was to create a front cover that reflected the twin themes of the inclusive nature of the Bath Half marathon and Valentine, this being our February issue. So  we had the idea to feature a heart on the cover but with a running theme coupled with the message on loving the Bath Half. We started to search for an image from the usual stock libraries, then we decided to create our own."

Publisher Steve Miklos goes on to say they were made aware of the Boston Magazine cover "late in the process" of creating their own cover.

FOX 25 interviewed Liz Noftle of Boston Magazine shortly after their cover's release in April 2013. She said the cover was intended to honor everyone involved in the Marathon. She estimated the magazine collected nearly 120 pairs of shoes from runners to create the photo.

While Bath Magazine says they collected stories from the half marathon runners about their motives for running, Boston Magazine featured the emotional stories of Boston Marathon runners. Noftle told FOX 25 about one runner who had just passed the finish line and turned around to help those injured when twin bombs went off along Boylston Street.