And among the crowd there are a number of Warrington residents who deserve your support taking part in this year's London Marathon. 

Here is just a selection of their stories, in their own words, ahead of one of the world's most famous races: 

Carolyn Arber, Grappenhall

"I am 61 and will be running my 3rd London marathon.

"I started running aged 50 and want to show everyone that it’s never too late to start running.

"I have met some wonderful people and have achieved so much.

"I feel healthier, happier and younger than I did in my forties and now volunteer at lots of running events and pass my enthusiasm and love on to other runners."

Paul Scully, Great Sankey

"I started running at the age of 35.

"Bought a Garmin, cancelled my gym membership and have enjoyed running ever since.

"I joined a running club four years ago (Warrington Running Club) and got chatting with a fellow runner on a club run about marathons and he suggested I give it a go.

"I ran my first marathon in 2015, securing a good for age qualifying time for the 2017 London Marathon.

"I only ever planned on running London once but was amazed by the experience, so here I am again in 2019 at the age of 47.

"I have suffered with injury of late so any aspirations of a PB are well and truly gone but planning on soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the event."

Kerry Hayes

"After losing my dad in October last year to cancer, I received the acceptance for the marathon about a week later. 

"It helped me channel my grief, but also do some good from a bad situation.

"Initially I was raising money for a local lady suffering from cancer.

"I read her story and wanted to help as she wants to be enable to walk her son through the school gates for his first day in September, but this treatment isn't available to her on the NHS.

"I know only too well how frustrating it can be to hear there are treatments out there, but they can't necessarily be funded by the NHS for whatever reason.

"I am also raising money for bowel cancer which we unfortunately lost my dad to."

Emma Shaw, Glazebury

"I’m running for a charity called WellChild, it helps sick children & their families.

"I am also running to prove that no matter how heavy or unhealthy you are or have been you can change.

"I was 236lbs at my heaviest and with a lot of running and hard work I’m down to 191lbs.

"My local running club Victoria Park Running Club in Warrington has been an amazing support on this journey."

Michelle Riches, Great Sankey

"I’m the deputy headteacher at St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Penketh and I’m running the London Marathon for the British Heart Foundation in memory of my dad who died suddenly on 4th March this year.

"To say I’m devastated is an understatement and training took a little bit of a bump recently but I’m determined to do this for my dad."

You can donate to Michelle's page here

Dan Massey

"Picture this..... You're at home one Sunday afternoon probably about to make yourself some lunch on a lovely spring day when you find yourself watching Mo Farah competing in the London Marathon...

"As you watch you're taken in by the London scenery, the spring sunshine, the positive atmosphere of the crowd and the athletes running effortlessly along the course and you find yourself thinking... you know what..!? I could do that..!

"Next minute the laptop is out and you've entered in the ballot, having never ran a marathon before!

"...Flash forward a few months and you receive a letter informing you that you have only gone and been successful in entering the marathon!! ...WOW.. I thought it was really hard to get a place in the London Marathon!?

"Maybe I'm just really lucky, OR.. maybe it's a sign I should be doing it, and not just doing it, but doing it for a good cause...

"Having recently started a family with my amazing wife Katie, becoming a new dad to my beautiful daughter Rosie, I could not imagine my world without them.

"Last year I was fortunate enough to take part in a local Warrington charity squash event for YOLO Jo's and was completely taken in by Dave's story and his charity Yolo Jo's.

"Yolo Jo's are an independent charity that supports people with terminal cancer. They aim to help people forget about their cancer, even just for a few precious hours, offering bucket list experiences.

"So that's how I ended up at this point, running for hours in the cold, wind and rain, with heavy legs and certainly not moving as effortlessly as Mo Farah!"

Stephen Bowden

"I ran the second ever London Marathon in 1982 running with Warrington AC. I was actually employed by the Warrington Guardian at the time working as an artist, and featured in the Warrington Guardian with my medal.

"I have been a keen runner ever since, with a marathon PB of 2.47 and secured a Good For Age Place to run London for a second time  this year - 37 years later. 

"I now run with Warrington Road Runners and last year represented Great Britain with my partner Linda at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Malaga and will be participating in the European Masters in Venice later in the year."

Click the gallery above to read more stories from readers