The Belfast Marathon takes place on Sunday with almost 7,000 runners starting at Stormont and covering all four corners of the city. More than 3,200 relay teams, each with five runners covering about five miles, also participate. A wheelchair race is included.

Aaron Beggs, 40, from Bangor, plans to run the 26.2 miles in under three hours. He assisted a fellow runner across the finish line at the Boston Marathon last month. Beggs stated he would help any struggling runner near the finish in Belfast despite the attention from his prior actions.

Philip McLorinan and Debbie McLorinan from Lisburn aim to finish their first marathon. They train with Jog Lisburn Running Club.

Alice Cinnamond from Belfast entered the race three years after a stroke at age 29. She reports full recovery and runs to raise charity funds.

Alan Harris, 46, from east Belfast, runs in a gorilla suit with pink top and skirt for his chosen charity. He completed the London Marathon last week.

Runners come from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Ethiopia, Morocco, Canada, the USA, and European mainland countries.