By Reena Kumar
Sadiq Khan, Tooting MP is taking part in his first London Marathon through the sunny streets of the city.
Mild and clear conditions have greeted the first runners to start the race with fans hoping for a fast pace by British favourite Mo Farah in his debut over the distance.
Khan is raising cash for The Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund which works with some of the most deprived youngsters in London.
He said: “Let me tell you I am no runner. There’s been the odd jog around Tooting Common, but that’s most often fuelled by guilt at eating too many Mars bars rather than a passion for running.
“But I have seen firsthand how invaluable the Dispossessed Fund’s work is, often assisting the most vulnerable members of society. And that’s why I’m running 26.2 miles for them.”
He has so far raised almost £15,000 for the cause.
Farah, the reigning Olympic and world 5,000 metres and 10,000m champion, is taking part in the elite men's field which set off at 9am.
Among his competitors are Kenya's Wilson Kipsang, who set the world marathon record of two hours three minutes 23 seconds at September's Berlin Marathon.
Also included are Emmanuel Mutai, who set the London course record of 2:04:40 in winning three years ago, and Geoffrey Mutai, twice winner in New York.
Uganda's world and Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich was also on the start line as was Ethiopia's double London champion Tsegaye Kebede and compatriot Haile Gebrselassie, who, at the age of 40, sought to take the field through to the three-quarters mark in world record pace.
The elite women's race, which set off ahead of the men, featured a high-class field, who will have the world record for a female-only marathon of 2:17:42 set by Britain's Paula Radcliffe in London in 2005 in their sights.
Ethiopia's Olympic and world 10,000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba, like Farah, made her marathon debut.
She was joined on the start line by 2013 London winner Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya as well as Ethiopia's reigning Olympic marathon champion Tiki Gelana, whose hopes of victory in London last year were dashed by a collision with a wheelchair racer.
Marcel Hug won the men's wheelchair race, with David Weir second, while Ernst van Dyk finished third.
To sponsor Khan go to virginmoneygiving.com and type in SadiqKhan.
