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| Runners start marathon challenge | Runners start marathon challenge |
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| Thousands of runners - including celebrities and charity fundraisers - have set off for the London Marathon. | Thousands of runners - including celebrities and charity fundraisers - have set off for 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. | 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. |
| The 26.2 mile race began in warm and bright conditions, with temperatures of 12C. Temperatures are expected to rise up to 16C in the afternoon. | The 26.2 mile race began in warm and bright conditions, with temperatures of 12C. Temperatures are expected to rise up to 16C in the afternoon. |
| I don't think you can ever be prepared for the marathon Katie Price Live London Marathon map class="" href="/1/hi/uk/8019099.stm">In pictures: London Marathon | |
| 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." |
| More than 35,000 runners are expected to take part this year | More than 35,000 runners are expected to take part this year |
| 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. |
| Chef Ramsay said: He said: "It's time for a celebration. We're fighting a global credit crunch, and in terms of coming out and having fun, it costs nothing to come and watch." | Chef Ramsay said: He said: "It's time for a celebration. We're fighting a global credit crunch, and in terms of coming out and having fun, it costs nothing to come and watch." |
| It's time for a celebration Chef Gordon Ramsay | It's time for a celebration Chef Gordon Ramsay |
| 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. |
| Gail Emms, a silver medallist at badminton in the 2004 Athens Olympics, said: "I am so shaking, I can't believe it. I just have no idea what to expect. I'm completely out of my comfort zone." | Gail Emms, a silver medallist at badminton in the 2004 Athens Olympics, said: "I am so shaking, I can't believe it. I just have no idea what to expect. I'm completely out of my comfort zone." |
| Mayor of London Boris Johnson earlier insisted the marathon route will not change, despite an ongoing protest by Sri Lankan Tamils outside Parliament. | Mayor of London Boris Johnson earlier insisted the marathon route will not change, despite an ongoing protest by Sri Lankan Tamils outside Parliament. |
| He denied reports that the route was to be diverted away from Parliament Square to Admiralty Arch. | He 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. |
| Last year runners raised more than £46m for charity. | Last year runners raised more than £46m for charity. |
| The race began at 0900BST with the elite women, followed by the wheelchair athletes at 0920. The elite men began 25 minutes later with everybody else. | The race began at 0900BST with the elite women, followed by the wheelchair athletes at 0920. The elite men began 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. |
| Click here to see terms and conditions | Click here to see terms and conditions |
| 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. |