Is anyone from Hedge End running in the London Marathon on Sunday?

The 26.2 mile race has been run annually since 1981 and is now one of the most famous marathons in the world.

There are over 50,000 competitors due to take to the London streets on Sunday – the largest number of runners to take part so far and despite the disruption caused by the volcanic ash to many of the competitors’ travel arrangements.

The years have seen various weather scenarios as background to the race, but this year’s is forecast to take place during a mini heat-wave with temperatures of at least 22C expected, and 25C possible.

Starting at Blackheath the race finishes next to Buckingham Palace in The Mall and this year the youngest runner is 18 and the oldest 86!

The race has also become the largest single annual fundraiser in the world, with £47.2 million raised in 2009. More than three quarters of the runners now participate to raise money for charity and a third of all entry places are offered to charitable organisations.

The race is also renowned for its fancy dress element – and so if you’re planning to run on Sunday and are dressing for the occasion, why not give us a preview of your costume on Hedgeendpeople!

I see from the London Marathon website that whether you were following the beginner, intermediate or advanced training plans that tomorrow, Saturday, is a rest day for all of you, and that on both the intermediate and advanced schedules that today, Friday, too is a rest day and beginners are only supposed to be doing a 15 minute walk today – so you’d have plenty of time to do something restful and reach for the computer and tell Hedgeendpeople!

Or you can post your story after the race!

And so the best of luck to anyone from Hedge End running on Sunday!

If you’re not running or travelling up to London to watch the race which begins at 9.45am, you can listen live on BBC London 94.9.

For more information about the 2010 Virgin London Marathon, visit their website.

Photo from Flickr by 762_AK.