The public ballot online entry system for the 2020 London Marathon is now open to all applicants.

Applicants from the UK should enter at ballot.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com, external.

International applicants (from outside the UK) should enter the international ballot https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/enter-now-international, external

This is the first time that the ballot system has opened on race day and it will be open for six days.

The 2020 marathon will take place on Sunday, 26 April 2020.

Image source, Getty

Team GB snowboarder Aimee Fuller is swapping the slopes for the streets of London. Earlier this month she completed her first ever marathon - in North Korea.This time, the 27-year-old from Hampshire is taking on the London Marathon with her mum.

"I'm so excited to be undergoing this journey with my mum. The opportunity came up off the back of the Winter Olympics and I said to her 'wouldn't it be amazing to do a marathon?' She said 'give me a couple of days to think about it' then came back and said 'if you do it, I'll do it'.

"We all know how exercise is good for mental health - my mum is the epitome of that. She got me my Polly Pocket roller blades when I was young and could always do a cartwheel in the garden. I'm inspired by how she maintains such good motivation.

"She's led on the mileage, which encouraged me to go further. We've been jostling back and forward as to who's gone further each week. It's 100% not about the time - it's about doing something together."

Former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo: "I am happy. I am just proud. It is tough, I kind of collapsed on the last 10km it was painful, but I am happy. The support was unbelievable, it was a nice moment to share with my family."

Still a punchy 03:22:45 time for the Frenchwoman, which included a finish alongside her young son.

Probably not the finishline photograph Hayley Carruthers would have wanted.

But a time to be proud of. She was 18th overall, the fourth Briton home. In a personal best time.

The body may have given up on her on the finishline, but her brain was still working fine. She cannily got her feet, which presumably had her timing chip on them, across the line as quick as she could while crawling.

Amelie Mauresmo has just finished her first London Marathon in a time of 03:22:45.

Sir Andy Murray said he would pay for dinner with his former coach if she reached her target of three hours and 15 minutes.

It looks like Andy can keep his wallet closed this evening! But huge congratulations to the former Wimbledon champion.

Image source, PA

There are over 40,000 unique stories carrying people around the streets of London this afternoon.

If reading some of them has got you inspired to Get Involved, you can visit our page to find out how.

Image source, PA

Image source, Leon McLeod

Police constable Leon McLeod was one of the first three officers on the scene at the London Bridge terror attacks on 3 June 2017. The 31-year-old from London is running for PTSD999, a charity that supports members of the emergency services who have suffered with post-traumatic stress disorder.

"Although I didn't sustain the physical injuries or worse that so many others unfortunately did, the events from that night in London have no doubt left their mark.

"I know for certain that many of my colleagues and fellow members of the blue-light family that responded to calls for assistance have been affected, but while this event was above and beyond the norm, emergency services personnel are faced with traumatic events on a daily basis all over the country. The atrocities at the Grenfell Tower fire and the terror attacks in London and Manchester in 2017 only serve to highlight this.

"It's been a seriously difficult two years since that night at London Bridge but this is my opportunity to raise money for a charity that's helped me and many others that I hold close."

Image source, Getty Images

As a child, Dave Heeley was diagnosed with an eye complaint called retinitis pigmentosa. Over the years he gradually lost his sight, but that hasn't stopped the 61-year-old from West Bromwich doing what he loves - running and raising money. In 2016 he completed an astonishing seven marathons in seven daysacross seven continents.

"I don't care whether you're disabled or not, running is about improving your mental wellbeing and getting yourself out there. It's great for your inner self - for me, it just makes me feel so wonderful.

"Being blind, I do need a guide runner and I have a selection that I've built up over the years. My main guide runner is Tony. He's brilliant. He has a 40-minute drive each morning and knocks on my door at six o'clock for our 10-mile run, but he says if he didn't have to do that he wouldn't be out running, so we both help each other out in that respect.

"During the run, we'll always be talking, discussing the news, what we've been up to. During the marathon, I'm looking forward to us having a sing-song and Tony will keep me updated on the sights around."

Those numbers talk for themselves. Catch him if you can...

Sir Andy Murray said he would pay for dinner with former coach Amelie Mauresmo, if she came under her target of three hours and 15 minutes.

Amelie is currently on course for 03:15:04...

It could be a photo finish - we hope you've brought your wallet Andy!

Image source, Getty

Sporting glory in London is nothing new to Amelie Mauresmo.

The 2006 Wimbledon champion, who also did a two-year stint as Andy Murray's coach, competes in London for the first time today, although she is has done New York twice.

There are also plenty of celebrities haring around the streets of London this afternoon. We've just seen Chris Evans trudging along. It's great to see everyone running with smiles on their faces.

Image source, Getty Images

Let us know if you spot Robin by Tweeting #getinspired...

Energy drinks and water are recommended if you're considering a marathon, but there's a new supplement worth thinking about if you want to beat the fatigue...

Race director Hugh Brasher, and son of one of the founders Chris Brasher, said: "I don't think breaking the £1bn mark was anything my father thought about in 1981, but to be here today is brilliant. We will also be world record holders for a 12th consecutive year.

"We are trying a lot of innovative things around the course today. We have got a station for seaweed tablets and we are recycling all of the drinks bottles. We have also reduced the number of water stations, but increased the supply of water at each station. We will be using 200,000 less bottles and hopefully that means we use less water."

Adam's certainly in the running (pun intended) for the 'most novel way to raise sponsorship money' award.

Can anyone beat this....?

Let us know via #getinspired

Image source, Adam Lavelle

Image source, art_of_your_success

We will be attempting a Guinness World Record for fastest 3 person outfit. However, the current record is held by 3 men & is pretty hard.

We may well not beat it, but we will be keeping our ears pricked, tail wagging and paws padding along as best as we possibly can!

Months of hard work and rigorous training schedules all come down to the moment you cross the line...

Here's how Eliud Kipchoge set the record for the second fastest time in a marathon.

BBC One

Men's winner Eliud Kipchoge: "I'm happy to win on the streets of London for the fourth time and to make history, on a day that the event has raised £1bn.

"The crowd in London is wonderful and that spirit pushed me. from the first kilometre to the last, everybody is shouting. I'm happy to cross the line.

On his next race: "As usual, I do not chase two rabbits, I only chase one and that was London. I have caught that rabbit so I will discuss with my team what follows. The second option is still open."