Things are still close at the front of the field in the men's wheelchair race with only five seconds separating the first 14 athletes after 15km.

David Weir and defending champion Marcel Hug are among those in the pack, but there is still a long way to go.

It's a different story in the women's race with American Tatyana McFadden already 16 seconds clear of Switzerland's Manuela Schaer at the same point. They are well clear of the rest.

Image source, other

Thousands of people are limbering up in Blackheath, wrapped up in foil or bin liners, preparing for an arduous journey which will test the stamina and mind. It seems as if thousands of them are queuing for the portable loos, too, which can't be nice.

Anyway, between them they will raise millions for charity in what is the world's biggest one-day fundraising event. How much money has been raised over 34 years? A whopping £716m.

Eleanor Bell: Wishing my lovely cousin @IckleMissH the best of luck in the #LondonMarathon today.

Daniel Marc Evans: Go Charlotte Evans! Beating me to my first marathon by two months, sibling rivalry!

Wendy Santi: Good luck to my beautiful daughter Nikki in the London Marathon today.

Are you strategically placed to cheer a friend or a loved one? If you're in London watching the marathon, send us your pictures and chit-chat using the hashtag #getinspired

London Marathon runners come in all shapes, sizes - and costumes. Not every man can pull off a pink dress, but on BBC Two they've found a bearded man who can. Good luck to you, sir. What an outfit.

Image source, Colin Plews

Share your best stories and costumes by tweeting #getinspired

Jo Pavey
European 10,000m champion on BBC TV

"In my first marathon, which was the London Marathon, I tried to pace myself but got far too carried away and I learned my lesson the hard way. When people ask me for advice I always say 'get your pacing right'.

Toot! The klaxon blows, which is a signal for the elite women to set off on their daunting journey from east to west London. Many are wearing gloves which suggests it's a chilly morning in the English capital.

The women's race, of course, is all about the fantastic four with Kenyans Mary Keitany, Edna Kiplagat, Florence Kiplagat and Priscah Jeptoo expected to dominate.

In the men's wheelchair race, the two main protagonists Marcel Hug and David Weir are among the athletes at the top of the field as they pass the 5km mark.

In the women's race, Switzerland's defending world champion Manuela Schaer, Japan's Wakako Tsuchida and the two-time defending London champion Tatyana McFadden are setting the pace.

Image source, Getty Images

The London Marathon isn't all about winning, as the first race proved with Dick Beardsley and Inge Simonsen who, having battled stride for stride for 26.2 miles, crossed the line hand in hand.

The pair were famously declared joint winners, which is why we're asking who would you pick to run a marathon hand-in-hand with and why? Send us your thoughts using the hashtag #GetInspired

Image source, BBC Sport

Here are some facts for you about the London Marathon. Feel free to sing it to the tune of your choice (The Twelve Days of Christmas always works quite well).

Anyway, at today's London Marathon there will be 37,500 medals, 279 road signs, 45 ambulances, 2,000 plasters, 200 bottles of baby oil, 40,000 foil blankets, 23 water stations, 300 stretchers, 40,000 Pink Lady apples, 400 ice packs, 250 tubs of petroleum jelly and 1.250 portable looooooos. [Pause for breath.]

Image source, BBC Sport

You can read more London Marathon record and stats on our, well, record and stats page.

Liz Willingham: Good luck to @zoeawilson today running her first #LondonMarathon #GetInspired

Richard Frost: Wishing my stepdad Tony Druery all the very best for the #LondonMarathon a true inspiration

Frankie Tedstone: My visually impaired friend Lisa is running today with her guide. She is the BIGGEST inspiration

Get in touch using the hashtag #getinspired

Image source, BBC Sport

Yes, the London Marathon is when the great and good of the celebrity world run, hobble and/or walk side by side with 'ordinary' folk. Keep an eye out for former Formula One world champion Jenson Button, who is aiming to beat his personal best of two hours and 58 minutes.

Chris Giles: Good luck Kate Warlow running the #LondonMarathon today. See you at the final line

Gordon: Good luck to my old TCW comrade Sunjay Bhogal running in the @LondonMarathon today!

Steph the Runner: Good luck to my partner Darren running the #LondonMarathon today in memory of our daughter Jessica

Emma Foster: Incredibly proud of JCB running his 7th marathon in 7 days. Last one Jules.

Helen Davis: Diane Brown from Marlow, her first marathon, so proud of you.

Send us your thoughts and messages of support using the hashtag #getinspired

Image source, Reuters

We will be keeping an eye on David Weir this morning as the Briton aims for a record seventh title in London.

The six-time Paralympic gold medallist has said winning today would mean more to him than success at next year's Olympics in Rio.

Can he finally overtake Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, a record she has shared with Weir since 2012?

"The London Marathon is what got me into racing," he said. "It was the first race I saw on TV with wheelchairs. It was the first one I wanted to do, when I didn't know about Paralympics."

There's no reason to delay giving you the start times of the various races any further, so here they are (in BST):

09:00 - 1st IPC Wheelchair (estimated 10:30 finish)

09:05 - 1st IPC World Championships (expected 11:30 finish)

09:20 - Elite women (possible 11:40 finish)

10:10 - Elite men (estimated 12:15 finish)

What time will Paula Radcliffe set off? She'll start with the best club runners at about 10:10 BST.

BBC Sport's Luke Reddy at Blackheath: "Today runners call on one of the age-old household goods - the bin liner.

"When you've got 26.2 miles ahead of you, standing up for the hours ahead of the race is not really a good idea, but who wants a wet derrière? Such is the state of the grassy start zones, some forward planning is needed and bin liners at least offer some protection.

"So far I've seen a gent carrying a giant bird outfit and there are a few people dressed like bananas. Speaking of the yellow fruit, it's being consumed by the bucket load. Everywhere you look there are nervous faces munching on one. Another gent has just walked past me with a 30th birthday balloon. I hope he didn't have a heavy night!"

Image source, BBC Sport

It's a dull morning in the English capital, with the sky the colour of dirty dishwasher. The rain clouds are expected to continue to dump their load over today's runners as the day unfolds, which is a shame as it might scupper any hopes of a world record being broken in the elite men's race. Plenty of hot drinks being supped in Blackheath as the masses go through their final preparations.

I suppose I should better tell you how to keep up-to-date with all things London Marathon related. If you stick with the live text commentary you shouldn't go wrong because there are words and live coverage on this page.

But John Inverdale is currently presenting live coverage on BBC Radio 5 live, while Gabby Logan is on BBC Two at the moment, chatting to Paula Radcliffe. (At 10:00 BST coverage will switch to BBC One.)

Still with me? There is also uninterrupted coverage of all the elite races on the Red Button. Not to mention highlights on BBC Two at 18:00 (22:30 on BBC Two Wales), but I can remind you about that later.

Hello! Wipe away the tears, there's no need to get emotional, not yet anyway. Welcome to live text commentary of the 35th London Marathon!

Let's try to remain upbeat for now because the day will no doubt become moving and poignant as we hear the tear-jerking tales of thousands of charity runners and watch Britain's greatest female runner drag her body from Greenwich to The Mall for a touching swansong. It's going to be tough, but the London Marathon always is.

Image source, BBC Sport

It comes to us all. The end. The last hurrah. When we have to accept our best days are behind us and the body no longer does what the mind wants.

But not everyone's best was the best that's ever been. Not everyone knows what it feels like to step down from greatness, surrendering to wobbly tendons and aching joints when all you want to do is run, run, run and run some more.

Which is why we won't know the true breadth of Paula Radcliffe's feelings today as she runs through 26.2 miles of London's streets one final time, saying a grand farewell to a race where she proved herself to be like no other female runner in history.