London Marathon 2018 runners are set to face the hottest race on record today, with
Katie Price and
Joel Dommett among the celebrities preparing to tackle the route in the heat.
Thousands of runners are taking on the 26.2 mile course today, with temperatures to exceed 24 degrees centigrade.
After months of training, Loose Women star Katie Price is running in aid of the British Lung Foundation and in support of her mother, Amy, who was diagnosed with a terminal lung condition last year.
The 39-year-old mother-of-five took to Instagram to remind her 1.8 million followers that there was still time to sponsor her yesterday, saying: “I am running for @britishlungfoundation and my mum.”
This morning, she shared a snap of her running shoe-clad feet on her story, saying: “Morning marathon time.”
Katie previously completed the London Marathon in 2009 with her now ex-husband Peter Andre.
Meanwhile, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of here! favourite Joel, 32, shared a picture of his entire marathon kit laid out on the floor this morning, along with a few funny additions.
“#OOTD,” he quipped.
The comedian, who his running in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust, was inundated with messages of support from his 565,000 followers, with one saying: “Good luck, what an amazing achievement.”
Among the other famous faces running the London Marathon today are BBC Radio 2 host Chris Evans, 52, fundraising for Children In Need, Outlander actress Caitriona Balfe, 38, in aid of World Child Cancer, and BBC Radio 1’s Scott Mills, 44, in aid of Heads Together.
Last year, Chris finished in four hours 41 minutes, while Katie’s famous 2009 run saw her finish in seven hours and 11 minutes when she bravely powered on after taking a nasty fall.
The London Marathon 2018 route begins as usual in Blackheath in Lewisham, with runners passing through Greenwich, Bermondsey and the Isle of Dogs.
The end of the course sees the estimated 55,000 runners go through London Bridge and to the finish line at St James’s Park.
Joining Joel in running for Teenage Cancer Trust is Rochelle Humes, 29, while Gordon Ramsay, 51, his wife Tana and two of his children, Holly and Jack, are running for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
TV chef Gordon is an experienced marathon runner and achieved his fastest finishing time in the London Marathon in 2004 at three hours 30 minutes.
Gogglebox star Baasit Siddiqui’s wife Melissa has taken over his Twitter to keep his 74,000 followers up to date with his progress.
The Channel 4 favourite is raising money for Cash for Kids.
Great British Bake Off 2016 fan favourite Selasi Gbormittah, 31, is running in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, while TV presenting Charlie Webster, 35, is taking on the gruelling course two years after she nearly died of malaria, raising money for Malaria Must Die.
Charlie took to Instagram to share snaps ahead of the start of the race, with one selfie showing her smiling with her friend, both sporting their race numbers.
“This woman is one of the many incredible people I am so lucky to have in my life,” she told her 26,000 followers. “We’ve already had tears.”
Readying herself to start her run, she uploaded another picture showing her going a big thumbs up and a smile, saying excitedly: “Not long now #londonmarathon #malariamustdie.”