Two Brighton drag queens have been revealed as the official starters for the Brighton Marathon.
Thousands of people will take part in the two-day festival of running which concludes with the Brighton Marathon.
The marathon weekend is being organised by London Marathon Events (LME) for the first time this year, who took over the management of Brighton Marathon last December to prevent the events from collapse.
The weekend of events begins on Saturday with the Mini Mile in Preston Park. More than 1,600 children and young people have registered for the free event which begins at 11.00.
On Sunday, the Brighton Marathon and BM10K take place, turning the city into a sea of activity.
More than 12,000 people have registered to take part in the Brighton Marathon, which starts in Preston Park at 9.45.
The official starters will be Brighton residents and stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race Alfie Ordinary and Joe Black.
The Brighton Marathon then follows a route that heads north of Preston Park to Withdean, before heading east along the coast, back towards Hove and then along the seafront again where the finish line will be on Hove Lawns for the first time.
A total of 130 charities have places in the events with participants raising money for an array of causes.
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Among the participants taking part are Isabelle and Emily Gammer, both 23 and from Essex, who are running in memory of their friend Grace Millane who was murdered while backpacking in New Zealand. They are raising money for the White Ribbon Campaign.
Also taking part is Andrew Fountain, 54, from Cowfold, who is at the beginning of an epic challenge to complete the Brighton Marathon, South Downs Way 50 and TCS London Marathon all in the month of April.
Andrew is raising money for the Rockinghorse Children’s Charity to thank the charity for its help when his son, Eddie, was born needing life-saving surgery 29 years ago.
The BM10K starts at Hove Lawns at 9.00 and is held on a new, fully coastal route. More than 3,500 participants have registered to take part.
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