The London Marathon is under way, with runners wearing black ribbons to remember the Boston bombings' victims.
Amid an increased police presence, thousands lined the streets to see the elite women set off from Blackheath.
A 30-second silence will be held at 09:57 BST, before the start of the mass race, for those killed and injured in two blasts in Monday's Boston race.
Hundreds of extra police officers - 40% more than last year - have been drafted in to reassure runners and spectators.
About half a million people will line the streets of the route, which starts at Blackheath in south-east London and finishes near Buckingham Palace, passing some of the city's most recognisable landmarks, including Tower Bridge and Big Ben.
- 09:00 BST - elite women's race
- 09:20 BST - elite wheelchair races
- 10:00 BST - elite men's race, mass race
Chef Michel Roux, who appears as a judge on the BBC's MasterChef, is one a number of celebrities taking part.
Two hours before the start of his race, his 19th marathon, he said his response to the Boston bombings on Monday had been one of "shock and horror".
"I immediately thought of the families of all those who perished. It was just atrocious. But my reaction after that was London. We're going to do it and we're going to do it for them."
Singer Katherine Jenkins said she was running her first marathon to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, in memory of her father who died when she was 15.
BBC newsreaders Sian Williams and Sophie Raworth are also running, and former Strictly Come Dancing champion Harry Judd of pop band McFly.
Race director Hugh Brasher said that, after Boston, "a full security review took place and everyone was adamant that the show must go on."
The Metropolitan Police said that it had reviewed security plans after the Boston Marathon attacks and that the extra officers - 40% more than last year - would be used for "for reassurance patrols".
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Iva Barr, 85, and Alicia Forsyth Forrest, 18 are both running for charity
Ch Supt Julia Pendry, who has headed marathon security for five years, has said this year's police operation is "about making sure that people who come to London on Sunday feel safe when they are in the city".
She said more search dogs would be deployed and urged marathon spectators to keep their belongings with them to avoid sparking security alerts.
But she added: "There is no link between the Boston Marathon and the London Marathon and there is no change to the threat level at this time to London."
Extra security has been in put in place around the bags of the runners, with 34 lorries taking the rucksacks of the thousands of runners from the start in Blackheath to the finish on the Mall near Buckingham Palace.
The bombs which went off in Boston are believed to have been placed in rucksacks placed on the route.
Athletes taking part include British Olympic double gold winner Mo Farah, who has said he is "hurt" by accusations that he is only taking part because of a reported six-figure appearance fee.
Farah, who won the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2012 London Olympics, intends to run just half of the 26.2-mile course on Sunday in preparation for running the full race next year.
"I'm here to learn about the course, so that next year I'm ready to go," he said.
"It's a no-brainer when you think about it."
Meanwhile, specialist US terrorism officers are waiting to question Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the surviving suspect in the twin bombings close to the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
Mr Tsarnaev's older brother, Tamerlan, died after a shoot-out with police.
Virgin London Marathon has pledged to donate £2 for every runner that finishes Sunday's event to The One Fund Boston set up to raise money for victims of the explosions.
The race organisers expect the total donation to be at least £70,000.
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