Mo Farah at the start of this year's London Marathon [PA] Kicking off in Greenwich at 10am racers took to the streets and a huge cheer greeted Olympic champion Mo Farah who made his debut in the race this year.
As announcers called his name cheers rose from the crowds.
Despite high hopes Farah, wearing his Number 20 jersey finished in 8th behind his competitors.
Along every inch of the course, thousands of spectators lined the streets to cheer on family, friends and competitors.
Current women's title holder Priscah Jeptoo from Kenya is favourite to take tape in the women's race.
Paralympic champion David Weir's bid for a record seventh title ended in disappointment as Switzerland's Marcel Hug edged him out in a sprint finish.
The four-time London 2012 gold medallist did not quite have the strength to overhaul his rival in the closing metres as he finished one second adrift in second place.
The Team GB athlete equalled Tanni Grey-Thompson's record of six in 2012, but finished fifth last year.
American Tatyana McFadden, fresh from winning a cross-country skiing silver medal at last month's Winter Paralympics in Sochi, is the hot favourite to take the women's title.
Celebrities taking part will include former Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen, Game of Thrones actress Natalie Dormer, and Michelin-star chef Michel Roux Jr.
Labour politicians Ed Balls, Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan also posed for "selfies" in their running vests in the moments before the race began.
And there was the customary collection of those undertaking the marathon in fancy dress - with plenty of comic book characters, runners in furry animal costumes and others in drag.
Another, with sweat already dotting his forehead, carried a fridge on his back.
Champion runner Haile Gebrselassie had been recruited as pace-setter in an effort to encourage a record time
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