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| Runners start marathon challenge | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of runners - including celebrities and those in fancy dress - are set to begin the London Marathon. | |
| About 35,000 runners are expected to take part in the race, which started with elite women competitors in Greenwich Park at 0900BST. | |
| Celebrity runners this year include former Page 3 model Katie Price. | Celebrity runners this year include former Page 3 model Katie Price. |
| London Mayor Boris Johnson insisted the marathon route will not change, despite an ongoing protest by Sri Lankan Tamils outside Parliament. | London Mayor Boris Johnson insisted the marathon route will not change, despite an ongoing protest by Sri Lankan Tamils outside Parliament. |
| I don't think you can ever be prepared for the marathon Katie Price Live London Marathon map | I don't think you can ever be prepared for the marathon Katie Price Live London Marathon map |
| Other runners taking part include celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, who is running in his tenth marathon, as well as Major Phil Packer, a paraplegic who was crippled in a rocket attack in the Iraqi city of Basra last year. | Other runners taking part include celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, who is running in his tenth marathon, as well as Major Phil Packer, a paraplegic who was crippled in a rocket attack in the Iraqi city of Basra last year. |
| Price, who is running for children's charity Vision, said: "I don't think you can ever be prepared for the marathon. It's not a normal distance to run." | Price, who is running for children's charity Vision, said: "I don't think you can ever be prepared for the marathon. It's not a normal distance to run." |
| Her husband Peter Andre, running for the NSPCC, said: "We've done the training. Physically we may be up for it but I think psychologically is where we struggle." | Her husband Peter Andre, running for the NSPCC, said: "We've done the training. Physically we may be up for it but I think psychologically is where we struggle." |
| Maj Packer hopes to complete the event in 13 days and is aiming to raise £1m for the charity Help The Heroes. | Maj Packer hopes to complete the event in 13 days and is aiming to raise £1m for the charity Help The Heroes. |
| He will run the race on crutches and is aiming to complete two miles a day. | He will run the race on crutches and is aiming to complete two miles a day. |
| British runner Paul Radcliffe will not take part because of a broken toe, leaving reigning champion Irina Mikitenko of Germany as favourite. Challengers to the women's title include China's Zhou Chunxiu, world champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and Ethiopia's Gete Wami. | British runner Paul Radcliffe will not take part because of a broken toe, leaving reigning champion Irina Mikitenko of Germany as favourite. Challengers to the women's title include China's Zhou Chunxiu, world champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and Ethiopia's Gete Wami. |
| Kenyan runner Sammy Wanjiru is expected to win the men's title after defending champion and fellow Kenyan Martin Lel had to withdraw on Saturday after suffering a hip injury. | Kenyan runner Sammy Wanjiru is expected to win the men's title after defending champion and fellow Kenyan Martin Lel had to withdraw on Saturday after suffering a hip injury. |
| The route will not change despite the protest, Mayor Johnson said | The route will not change despite the protest, Mayor Johnson said |
| Earlier, Mr Johnson had denied reports that the route was to be diverted away from Parliament Square to Admiralty Arch. | Earlier, Mr Johnson had denied reports that the route was to be diverted away from Parliament Square to Admiralty Arch. |
| "I want to reassure everybody the route will be the same length as normal," he told LBC radio. "We will not be cutting [it]... it will be the same route." | "I want to reassure everybody the route will be the same length as normal," he told LBC radio. "We will not be cutting [it]... it will be the same route." |
| The Tamil protest has been taking place since the beginning of April. | The Tamil protest has been taking place since the beginning of April. |
| The occasion is crucially important for charities and organisers say it is the largest single fundraising event in the world. | The occasion is crucially important for charities and organisers say it is the largest single fundraising event in the world. |
| The race began at 0900BST with the elite women, followed by the wheelchair athletes at 0920. The elite men begin 25 minutes later with everybody else. | |
| You can send us your marathon photos or video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. | You can send us your marathon photos or video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |