BBC Sport NI

Kilkeel woman Laura Graham is showing no ill-effects from her London Marathon exertions last weekend. 

Image source, Press Eye

She’s got a lead of over a minute from Kenyan Salome Kimutai Jepkoech and Belgian Olympian Els Rens at close to the nine-mile mark. 

Just to remind you, if Laura does stay at the head of the pack until the finish line, she'll become the first Northern Ireland winner of the Belfast Marathon since Barbara Brewer’s 1999 triumph.

At sunny Ormeau Park, the fun-runners are crossing the finish line and they've been speaking to John Bennett on BBC Radio Ulster.

Well done to Barbara and James who were running the three-and-a-half-mile route for Mencap!

"Dad's watching me and he'll be saying: 'That's my boy, he can do it' - and I did it today," says James.

So, how is the BBC News NI relay team getting on?

Captain Cecilia Daly has just wrapped up the first leg and was impressed by the amount of people she encountered who are taking part for a good cause.

"You can see on the back of their tops - there's loads of people running for daddy, running for mammy," says Cee.

We had our cameras at the starting line to as thousands of competitors kicked off in this year's race...

BBC Radio Ulster

Image source, Press Eye

Remember, whether you're taking part or spectating you can hear the latest action on our special BBC Radio Ulster marathon programme!

BBC Sport NI

Pre-race favourite Dan Tanui is among a group of five who are heading the men’s race just after the six-mile mark at Bridgend.

His compatriots Hillary Chirchir, Bernard Rotich and Emmanuel Kiprotich are also in the leading group with Morocco’s Abdelhadi El Mouaziz.

Home hope Laura Graham arrived at Bridgend a few minutes later and looks comfortable despite her exertions eight days ago at the London Marathon.

Sure, it's difficult to run the Belfast City Marathon, but we're confident that our quiz on its history has just as high a degree of difficulty.

Image source, Press Eye

Let's see if you can successfully navigate the whole course... click here to have a go!

Here are a few of the competitors doing their bit for charity today...

Medbh, Gwen and Michael will be on the moo-ve for Fintan's Fund, a charity helping young adults with cancer.

And Laure Molveaux from France and Sonam Tsering from Tibet are taking part for the drop-in Belfast Friendship Club.

Want to run the Belfast City Marathon in a world-record-smashing two minutes?

We sent a reporter out along the route with a camera attached... but he may have cheated a little by using a bicycle and a fast-forward button!

Here are a few early snaps as the runners take to the streets for the 36th Belfast City Marathon!

BBC Sport NI

Last year's Belfast Marathon third-placer Dan Tanui is being tipped as the men's favourite even though his fellow Kenyan Bernard Rotich is the fastest in the field.

Image source, Press Eye

Tanui clocked 2:18.46 last year, more than a minute behind winner Joel Kositany (2:17.39), but the three-time champion is not competing today.

BBC Sport NI

So, now they're off and running, let's take a look at who's in the mix for a place on the podium...

Image source, Press Eye

Kilkeel woman Laura Graham is aiming to become the first Belfast City Marathon winner from Northern Ireland in 18 years.

The 31-year-old was the runner-up last year with a time of 2:48.55, and is taking part just eight days after competing in the London Marathon.

Ciaran McCauley
BBC News NI

Marathon - just reading the word will either make you want to grab your runners or simply run away.

Image source, Pacemaker

Either way, the annual Belfast race is here and we have everything you need to know in this handy guide, for both the participants and spectators expected on the streets.

First went the wheelchair competitors...

And then the runners!

The police have their eyes in the sky to keep a watch on those who are on the run around Belfast today!