Mike Peter
BBC Sport journalist, running the Marathon

Image source, Mike Peter

Meet some of the people gathering around the 3:45 pacer in red wave 3. Jess is our fearless leader sporting the flag. Not long us for us now, see you in a few hours...

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
Six-time London Marathon wheelchair champion on BBC TV

It's a hugely tactical race at the moment. Tomoki Suzuki keeps leading and dropping off. It feels very much about who's going to win today rather than the time they're going to set.

David Weir is being very smart, he's just sitting on Marcel Hug's wheel and preserving energy.

Steve Cram
Athletics commentator on BBC TV

The women are clicking along at a pace. All of the top names are in there. They haven't slowed down and this is very, very quick.

This women's-only London Marathon record is well and truly on in the elite race.

Paula Radcliffe's record time by a woman - a 2:15:25 in a mixed race - is also under threat.

There's a bunch at the front, including Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa and Kenyan trio Brigid Kosgei, Ruth Chepngetich and Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir.

Image source, Getty Images

A Dr Who, various comedians, Princess Anne (kind of), Olympians and TV presenters are among the famous faces running the London Marathon today.

Here are a few people to watch out for:

• Christopher Eccleston - actor. The ninth Doctor.
• Ruth Wilson - Luther actor
• James Cracknell - Olympic rowing champion
• Erin Doherty - The Crown actor
• Romesh Ranganathan - comedian
• Tom Grennan - singer/songwriter
• Joel Dommett - comedian and TV presenter

Kelly Holmes gets the men's elite race under way!.

They charge off down the road and thousands and thousands follow behind.

There's the club runners, those in fancy dress and everything in between.

Good luck everyone!

Steve Cram
Athletics commentator on BBC TV

Callum Hawkins dreams of going to Paris, he probably knows it's not on the cards but he's so pleased to be back here after so many injuries.

Mike Peter
BBC Sport journalist, running the Marathon

Image source, Mike Peter

The next test for today's competitions is the queue for the portaloos. Masses line one side of the park, but no-one wants to get caught short on the course so the lines wind back a fair distance, packed with runners hoping they still fit a warm-up in (and then maybe a second trip to the loo).

But before the start of the race, tributes are being paid on the start line for last year's winner Kelvin Kiptum - the marathon world record holder- who died in a car crash earlier this year.

There's a lovely period of applause for the Kenyan.

This is the five-minute warning for the start of the men's elite race and the masses which will follow behind them.

Steve Cram
Athletics commentator on BBC TV

It's been quick but we expected that for the first three miles. It has settled down a bit now.

If you are just interested in the elite races today you can watch an uninterrupted feed by clicking the watch & listen tab above.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
Six-time London Marathon wheelchair champion on BBC TV

There's a lot of cat and mouse going on at the moment. No one is particularly wanting to do too much at the front.

At the moment, my money is on Marcel Hug.

David Weir, chasing a ninth win on the streets of London, has caught the leaders Marcel Hug and Daniel Romanchuk in the men's wheelchair race. They've just breezed over Tower Bridge.

Catherine Debrunner is still in a race of her own in the women's event.

Mike Peter
BBC Sport journalist, running the Marathon

Image source, Mike Peter

There's a test for runners before they even get started as they face the hill leading up to the starting pens.

We're feeling the first warmth of the sun today, it's beginning to balance out a bitter wind - I was shivering uncontrollably amid the tall buildings at Canary Wharf while changing trains.

Hopefully conditions improve further - some of us are wearing vest tops!

Image source, Getty Images

Another subplot today is qualification for this summer's Olympics.

Charlotte Purdue, Calli Hauger-Thackery and Phil Sesemann have already secured their places for Team GB and there is space for two more men and one woman.

Emile Cairess was sixth on his London Marathon debut last year, producing the best finish among the home athletes and also recording a third-fastest British men's time.

The men's qualification standard is time two hours eight minutes and 8.04 seconds. The women's time is 2:26:50.

Last year Cairess ran a 2:08:07 so that time is well within reach.

He trains with Sesemann and is hoping to join him on the train to Paris.

Cairess is joined in the men's race by fellow Briton Callum Hawkins, who finished fourth at the World Championships.

Compatriot Marc Scott, a 3,000m bronze medallist at the 2022 World Indoor Championships - will make his marathon debut, as will Mahamed Mahamed.