Mark Wright and Kirsty Gallacher beam as they get ready for the start of the London Marathon

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.

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.

Also getting ready to take on the big route is EastEnders’ Natalie Cassidy, who got together with Chris Evans before embarking on the challenge.

Ready! Mark Wright and Kirsty Gallacher were all smiles on Sunday as they prepared to take on the gruelling London Marathon

Beginning: Taking to the start line, Mark will be running with FLORA for its Making Healthy Switches campaign

Beginning: Taking to the start line, Mark will be running with FLORA for its Making Healthy Switches campaign

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.

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!’.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy: Adam was all smiles as he made his way 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

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

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'

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'

Not happy: Taking to his Instagram Stories on Saturday evening, Josh confirmed that he was ‘having a nightmare’

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.

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