40,000 runners hit the streets as London Marathon finally returns

Runners including James Cracknell and Sophie Raworth prepare to start the event (John Walton/PA)

Tens of thousands of people have begun pounding their way through the streets of the capital for the London Marathon.

More than 40,000 runners are tackling the traditional 26.2-mile route from Greenwich to The Mall after last year’s mass event was scrapped due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions.