After months of hard work and preparation, the time has again come for a horde of lycra-clad runners to haul themselves around London’s famous 26.2 mile Marathon course.

Now in its 34th year, this Sunday’s race will be ran by close to 40,000 people, beginning in Greenwich and Blackheath before finishing in front of Buckingham Palace – taking in the city’s many landmarks along the way.

Among the masses of competitors and charity runners sweating it out under unpractical animal costumes – all eyes will be on Olympic champion Mo Farrah, who represents the home country against some of the world’s top distance athletes, including Kenyans Wilson Kipsang and Emmanuel Mutaiis.

The London Marathon was in fact created by a former Olympic champion, Chris Brasher, having been inspired by his experience of the equivalent race in New York. The first London Marathon took place on 29 March 1981, and has since gone from strength to strength.

In fact, the event is such a success that it must turn away more than two thirds of those who enter the ballot every year.  Only around 36,000 make it to the starting line of more than 160,000 entrants.

Digital marathon?

The London Marathon is hoping to remedy this with the launch of the ‘Digital Marathon’ next year, potentially making room for millions of competitors with a 3D running experience. ‘Digital runners’ will be able to run the race from the comfort of a treadmill linked up to the course with HD video and virtual reality avatars.

The technology was previewed at the London Marathon expo this week, to be debuted at next year’s marathon on 26 April 2015.

As for this year, runners will have one eye on the weather forecast, hoping to dodge the April showers with a sunny spring day of long distance running.