Mark Wright and Kirsty Gallacher were all smiles on Sunday as they prepared to take on the gruelling London Marathon.
The former TOWIE star, 36, and the TV presenter, 47, got together before the 26-mile run, where they are set to be joined by 40,000 competitors, including Sir Mo Farah competing in his last ever London Marathon.
Mo, the four-time Olympic and six-times world champion, ended his last 26-mile race in ninth place.
Kelvin Kiptum won the men’s race in the second-fastest marathon time in history while Sifan Hassan crossed the finish line first for the women.
Speaking to the BBC after his finish, an emotional Mo said ‘I’ve got great support here over the years and I wanted to make my last Marathon here.’
‘I was confident and thought I’d do between 2.05 and 2.07 but you never know. I gave it my all but my body just didn’t respond. I pushed myself all the way but it didn’t respond and that’s when you know it’s time to call it a day!’
‘Part of me was wanting to cry along the course – the crowd and people are amazing, even though it’s pouring with rain people come out and that’s what the sport needs, that’s what keeps me going. I will miss that, it’s quite emotional.’
‘We need to give back to the younger athletes and teach them anything is possible. Some younger ones don’t understand that’s what they can do but they can. That’s what I want to give back to them.
‘It’s my turn, I’ve got a couple of races more and then I’m done. The Great North Run will be my last race to say goodbye to the fans and I’m looking forward to it. I’ve had an amazing career.’
As the elite runners finished, 40,000 others were starting their marathon with Mark Wright and Kirsty Gallagher spotted on the starting line.
The pair appeared in good spirits as they smiled for a selfie, captioning the snap: ‘We’re ready! @londonmarathon’.
Taking to the start line, Mark will be running with FLORA for its Making Healthy Switches campaign, while Kirsty is for The Royal Marsden Hospital, a specialist cancer treatment hospital.
Speaking to Flora ahead of the start of the TCS London Marathon, Mark said: ‘I am feeling excited.
Ready! Mark Wright and Kirsty Gallacher were all smiles on Sunday as they prepared to take on the gruelling London Marathon
Family: Mark, who admitted he is both ‘nervous’ and ‘excited’ is running the marathon alongside his brother Joshua
Beginning: Taking to the start line, Mark will be running with FLORA for its Making Healthy Switches campaign
‘I’m a little bit nervous, I’m nervous for my mum and dad, but at the same time it’s an emotional day.
‘All four of us family members are doing it together, the London marathon – what a time.’
Also getting ready to take on the big route was EastEnders’ Natalie Cassidy, who got together with Chris Evans before embarking on the challenge.
Taking to Instagram, the pair beamed with excitement as they made their way to the start line.
Natalie wrote: ‘The best person to see on marathon day. @chrisevanstfi LET’S DO THIS. WE ARE ALL SO LUCKY TO BE DOING THIS TODAY.’
Natalie will be running the race in honour of her late EastEnders co-star Barbara Windsor, who died in 2020 aged 83 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Also running in honour of Barbara is her widow Scott Mitchell.
The actor, 60 proved he was ready for the day ahead as he placed his hands on his hips and gave a big smile to the cameras.
Also making her way was Adele Roberts, who is attempting to be the first woman with an ileostomy to run a marathon.
The radio presenter was diagnosed with stage two bowel cancer in October 2021, but was given the all-clear in June last year. Part of her treatment was receiving a stoma bag, which she is still living with.
On their way: Also getting ready to take on the big route is EastEnders’ Natalie Cassidy, who got together with Chris Evans before embarking on the challenge
Peace: Chris seemed excited for the challenge at hand as he offered peace signs to the cameras
Excited: Taking to Instagram, the pair beamed with excitement as they made their way to the start line
Inspiration: Also making her way was Adele Roberts, who is attempting to be the first woman with an ileostomy to run a marathon
All set! Jake Quickenden was also ready for the race, in a brightly coloured neon running ensemble
Here they go! Meanwhile, also getting ready at the start of the race was EastEnders’ Adam Woodyatt who beamed alongside his son at the start line
Happy: Adam was all smiles as he made his way to the start line
Competing: Mo Farah (middle) made his start on the 26-mile route alongside other runners
On the move: At around the halfway point, runners will pass the Cutty Sark and the Shard before crossing Tower Bridge
Adele appeared ready-to-go as she met with Richard Whitehead MBE before the race.
Richard is a double gold medallist and Paralympic champion, who is running his 77th marathon.
As they cosied up for a photo, they wrote: ‘Off to the start line!’.
Jake Quickenden was also ready for the race, in a brightly coloured neon running ensemble.
Having difficulties on the day though, Union J’s Josh Cuthbert admitted his that not only was his train ‘cancelled’, he could ‘barely walk’.
Taking to his Instagram Stories on Saturday evening, Josh confirmed that he was ‘having a nightmare’.
He wrote: ’14 hours until the marathon and I can barely walk on my foot.
‘I had a ‘sports massage’ on Thursday and ever since I’ve had the worst pains on the sole of my left foot.
‘Every time I walk it hurts, to the point that I can’t put much weight on it. I’m icing it and taking ibuprofen and gelling it up and then I hope I’ll be ok for tomorrow.
‘I’ve also got numbing gel. But yeah, this is not ideal’.
Meanwhile, also getting ready at the start of the race was EastEnders’ Adam Woodyatt who beamed alongside his son at the start line.
Marcus Mumford, the lead singer of Mumford and Sons was also pictured on his way to the London Marathon.
On March 21, Marcus shared on Instagram that he will be running the streets of London to raise money for The Grenfell Foundation, where he serves as a Chairman of the board of trustees.
In 2017, the Grenfell fire raged through a 24-story London high-rise and became the deadliest fire England suffered in over 100 years.
‘We support the extraordinary group of bereaved and survivors from Grenfell Tower, and the wider community still impacted by this tragedy in West London, where I’m from,’ wrote Marcus in an Instagram caption.
In honour: Also running in honour of Barbara Windsor is her widow Scott, who appeared ready for the day as he placed his arms on his hips
Meaningful: Marcus Mumford, the lead singer of Mumford and Sons was also pictured on his way to the London Marathon
Unfortunate: Having difficulties on the day though, Union J’s Josh Cuthbert admitted his that not only was his train ‘cancelled’, he could ‘barely walk’
Not happy: Taking to his Instagram Stories on Saturday evening, Josh confirmed that he was ‘having a nightmare’
Crowds: As the celebs get ready alongside 40,000 other races, it marks the first time since 2019 that the marathon has taken place in April
Back to normal: For the last three years, the event has taken place in October due to the coronavirus pandemic
Start line: Those competing will start in Greenwich, which serves as the neutral location for measuring all time zones around the world
As the celebs get ready alongside 40,000 other races, it marks the first time since 2019 that the marathon has taken place in April.
For the last three years, the event has taken place in October due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The London Marathon route has mostly remained the same since 1981.
Those competing will start in Greenwich, which serves as the neutral location for measuring all time zones around the world.
At around the halfway point, runners will pass the Cutty Sark and the Shard before crossing Tower Bridge.
They will then run along Victoria Embankment to Westminster, passing the London Eye, before heading in the direction of Canary Wharf.
Heading into the final stretch, runners will pass Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. They will then turn onto The Mall and head towards the finish line, which is situated near Buckingham Palace.
The London Marathon will be shown live on BBC One.
Coverage of the elite races will start at 8:30am, with their main show beginning at 10am.
Fans will also be able to watch the event via BBC iPlayer.
