BRITAIN’S second biggest marathon is back in Brighton.

The Brighton Marathon Weekend has returned to the city for its tenth consecutive year bringing with it an estimated 17,500 runners and 150,000 spectators.

The event includes three races across the weekend.

The first is the Cancer Research UK Kid’s and Teens Mini Mile Races, taking place on Saturday.

This is a fast-paced one-mile race around Preston Park in Brighton with separate races for boys and girls aged from nine to 17.

These will be run between 11am and 3pm before a prize-giving ceremony and celebration at 4pm.

CLICK HERE TO READ: These roads will be affected by the Brighton Marathon

To start a full Sunday of racing and celebrate its ten-year anniversary there will also be a new event at this year’s race.

The Brighton Marathon Ride is a cycling event taking place before the marathon and 10k that will allow riders to make the most of the marathon route by riding along the closed roads in the centre of Brighton and Hove.

This is one for the early-risers as it starts at 7am at Hove Lawns, finishing at the same location at the newly-formed “Velo Village”.

Next, runners of the Brighton Marathon 10k will set off at 9am from Preston Park, the same as the marathon itself.

Race organisers describe the course as “fast and flat”, a perfect opportunity for a new personal best, as runners speed down to the finish in Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront.

Here, athletes can enjoy the Event Village which opened at 10am today.

“Race Pack’s” can be collected here before each of the races, and there is also a variety of activities on offer including food, bars, live screens and some much-needed pre and post-race massages.

CLICK HERE TO READ: This is how public transport will be affected during the Brighton Marathon

Then, the main event gets underway at 9.45am, again at Preston Park.

Known for its stunning scenery the 26.21 mile course takes runners from Preston Park to Brighton seafront passing through the city centre to get between the two.

It also has a reputation for its impressive atmosphere with hundreds of thousands of spectators lining the streets to cheer on runners every step of the way.

Many of the athletes are competing in the race to raise money for a chosen charity and some go above and beyond to collect as much money as possible.

So its certainly worth keeping an eye out for runners in eye-catching costumes, as previous years have had everything from stormtroopers to nuns to rhinos.