Olympic and World champion Vivian Cheruiyot begins her bid to win a third Great North Run in three years.

Half marathon world record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei is also one of the favourites in a strong field.

Good luck to Claire Coulthard who is running today.

Here she is describing how exercise helped her overcome mental health problems.

Six-time Paralympic gold medalist David Weir heads off in the 13-man elite wheelchair field.

And the three competitors in the women's race are also underway, including 2018 Great Manchester Run champion Liz McTernan.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage, so to officially start the runners at the podium will be five truly inspiring women who have inspired female runners around the world.

• Kathrine Switzer - the first woman to officially complete the Boston Marathon in 1967.
• Rosa Mota - the first and only woman to win marathon gold at the European Championships, World Championships and Olympic Games.
• Ingrid Kristiansen - the only woman to have held the record for the 5000m, 10000m, half marathon and marathon simultaneously.
• Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson - an 11-time gold medallist at the Paralympics Games, two-time world champion and eight-time winner of the women’s wheelchair race at the Great North Run.
• Paula Radcliffe - three-time winner of the London Marathon, three-time New York Marathon champion, and 2002 Chicago Marathon winner,

Dave Wilson: 'But Dave don't you roll out that same pic every year!?'

Yes. Yes I do! Here's to the 13 times I've done the Great North Run (one medal lost, one year I turned around and ran back). Good luck to everyone today. Don't stress about the time. Enjoy the experience. Focus on the finish!

Image source, @DavidWilsn

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at the Great North Run

An announcement has just informed us that 160 runners are celebrating their birthday today. That is commitment. They all deserve a whole cake to themselves after this.

If you're sat at home and wondering whether you have it in you to do the Great North Run, or any other run for that matter, the answer is yes, you do.

In the space of a year, 46-year-old Yvonne Wadeson from York went from being barely able to run to the end of her street to completing a marathon.

She also set up the Sisters with Blisters , externalFacebook group, which now has more than 4,500 members, from all parts of the world.

Yvonne and many of the 'sisters' will be taking part in the Great North Run today (and we'll be bringing you updates from them!) but here's their story.

Image source, Yvonne Wadeson

For those of you just waking up, going through your morning ritual of scrolling down the BBC Sport website and wondering what this is all about ...

The Great North Run is the biggest running event in the United Kingdom. It's also the world's biggest half-marathon.

There will be 57,000 runners at the start line in Newcastle, they will whizz past the Tyne Bridge, through Gateshead and finish in the coastal town of South Shields.

Add live music, food stalls and a huge crowd to the mix - there will be a real buzz in the place.

Image source, Getty Images

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at the Great North Run

At around 08:45 BST shouts of, ‘Oh God, it’s raining!’ came from the crowds as a few drops fell from the sky.

But that quickly cleared and the sun is now shining. If anything, it’s a little too hot...

Kerrie: Good luck to everyone doing the Great North Run today! Smash it!

Laura Toby Elliott: I can’t wait to go down and support everyone doing the Great North Run - good luck everyone. An amazing event in an amazing city.

Dan: Today’s the day. Good luck to everyone running the Great North Run. Run fast... Stay safe... Enjoy the day... and see you all at the finish line for a post run pint. Let’s do this!

As always with the Great North Run, there will be some celebrities taking part who you may recognise ...

First up, singer/songwriter/TV presenter/all-round likeable fella Olly Murs.

Image source, Getty Images

She first rose to fame after we watched her watching TV, Gogglebox star and queen of the jungle Scarlett Mofatt will also be running.

Image source, Getty Images

Mo Farah is looking to make Great North Run history.

The four-time Olympic gold medallist and six-time world champion won the half-marathon in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, and a fifth win would put him into the record books.

Also taking part will be Olympic and world champion Vivian Cheruiyot, aiming for a second win in three years.

Image source, Simplyhealth Great North Run

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at the Great North Run

The atmosphere at the start line is brilliant and it’s just been made even better by the appearance of an unlikely combination - the Archbishop of York and a man in some fabulous fancy dress.

“I’m not happy, your hat is much bigger than mine,” said the Archbishop.

Image source, BBC Sport

The Great North Run = some bizarre/amazing fancy dress.

BBC Sport's Becky Grey is over in Newcastle capturing all the excitement and speaking to the runners ...

10:10 (BST) - Elite wheelchair race starts

10:15 (BST) - Elite women start and mass runners warm-up

10:40 (BST) - Elite men and mass runners start

Image source, Getty Images

Are you taking part in today's race? What have you had for brekky? Do you have a target time in mind?

Or maybe you're there to cheer on your friends and family. We want to hear all your stories and pictures - tweet us using #getinspired.

The North East is ready, are you?

Stretch out those arms because you may be doing a celebratory Mobot a little later today.

Mo Farah is one of 57,000 runners who will be taking part in the world's biggest half-marathon as the Great North Run returns.

TV coverage will begin on BBC One at 09:30am BST - which you can watch at the top of this page - and we'll also be bringing you live text, social media, videos and pictures throughout.

Image source, Great North Run