The countdown is on, the runners are limbering up, and the novelty costumes are being dusted off for this weekend's London Marathon.
If you can't make it to the capital to see the event for real on Sunday, here's a run through the bits to look out for from the comfort of your sofa when the Virgin Money London Marathon is shown on BBC One and BBC Two.
The favourites
The men's favourite, at odds of 5/2 from William Hill, is defending champion Wilson Kipsang from Kenya, who won the marathon last year (when he broke the course record with a time of 2:04:29) and in 2012. Female favourite at 9/4 is Mary Keitany, also from Kenya, who won the women's race in 2011 and 2012, and the women's category of last year's New York City Marathon.
Dorset's very own Steve Way is one of the British men's favourites with odds to win from William Hill of 150/1. Last year the former 16-and-a-half-stone, 20-a-day smoker came 10th in the Commonwealth Games marathon, breaking a British masters record with a personal best 2hr 15min 16sec
Paula Radcliffe
Women’s marathon world-record holder Paula Radcliffe will be taking part in the London Marathon for the last time on Sunday. It was revealed earlier this week that she came close to pulling out after damaging an Achilles tendon in her left leg training in Kenya for the race, which for the first time she will start alongside club runners. Radcliffe flew to Munich to see world renowned doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt so she could compete in the race for one last time. In 2003, she set the women’s world record of 2:15.25.
The celebs
You'll see plenty of familiar faces pounding the pavements. Formula 1 star Jenson Button will be leaving his car at home for the day and running to raise money for Cancer Research UK; Call The Midwife actress Helen George (Trixie Franklin) is taking part for Macmillan Cancer Support, and BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James says his "legs have been aching since Christmas", as a result of his training in aid of the Lord's Taverners sports charity.
Meanwhile, Emmerdale's Tony Audenshaw (who plays Bob Hope) is running his 15th London Marathon (and his 45th marathon in total) for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. He said: "The spectators at London always give extraordinary support, which is why I normally wear fancy dress for the race. This year I am riding a Bernie Clifton-style inflatable horse and can't wait to work the crowds in what is really a 26.2 mile show."
The novelty outfits
While some runners opt for skimpy outfits to show off their newly toned figures (anyone remember the man in the leopard print thong and bow tie from 2006?), others don more cumbersome creations to make them stand out on the route.
Phil Clarke from Boscombe is hoping to set the record for the world's fastest vegetable when he dresses up as a giant runner bean. Cancer survivor Eddie Cain from Ringwood will be running the 26.2miles while wearing a pair of snow shoes.
Also, first-time marathon runner Gemma Kirkham from Bedford is running in a giant picture frame as the Mona Lisa, and Natalie Eckert from Stoke-On-Trent, will be taking part in stilettos (just imagine the blisters!). Not to mention Jerry Knox from Los Angeles, who'll be attempting to reclaim his Guinness World Records title for fastest marathon dribbling two basketballs.
The bride and groom
Laura Harvey and Paul Elliott will be hoping they get to the church on time - as they'll be breaking off halfway through their run to tie the knot. The London couple must cover the first 12.5 miles in less than two hours and 35 minutes, then attend their 45-minute wedding ceremony before hitting the road again while their guests tuck into lunch before watching the newlyweds run past again at the 22-mile mark. Once they cross the finish line, they'll head off to enjoy their wedding reception. As for outfits, the bride plans to wear a tennis dress gown while her groom will don a top hat.
The politicians
This year, five MPs will be taking a break from election campaigning to run the marathon (although Parliament dissolved on March 30, meaning they'll be running as members of the public). South Dorset candidate Richard Drax is among them and has set himself a fundraising target of £10,000 in his bid to help a Portland charity which supports the elderly.
The everyday heroes
Running alongside the famous faces and pro-athletes every year are the ordinary people whose lives have been impacted by extraordinary events. Local heroes include Laurence Bowen from Purbeck who was told two years ago he'd never run again after a crash with a car as he cycled home which left his right hip shattered. Father-of-three Mark Willis is running to raise money for Headway Dorset charity who helped his father, an avid marathon runner, left brain damaged after a car accident.
Singer Barry Edmondson from Wimborne who has Crohn's Disease will be walking the London Marathon. He has entered the event twice and both times had to pull out because of is illness.
Also, the Daily Echo's Andy Nicholls is hoping it will be second time lucky after he missed out on last year's event when he sustained a back injury at the last minute. He is running to raise cash for Bournemouth-based charity Help and Care.
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