For me, the London Marathon is a very special day on the sporting calendar.

It is the most amazing sight seeing 36,000 runners heading out from Blackheath to run 26 miles and 385 yards.

The day makes you realise what a beautiful city London is as the runners pass one incredible landmark after another.

Watching thousands of people of all different shapes and sizes and costumes pounding the streets for so many different reasons is incredibly inspirational.

One story that has caught my eye this year is the six Maasai warriors from Tanzania who will be running in traditional dress and shoes made out of car tyres.

They will be an amazing sight and are sure to be hugely popular with the massive crowds that line the route.

In the elite races I think the men's event is set to be fascinating this year with a stellar field headed by reigning champ Martin Lel, world champion Luke Kibet and Olympic gold medallist Stefano Baldini.

But it's two relative youngsters who have caught my eye.

Twenty-one-year-old Kenyan Sammy Wanjiru and 25-year-old American Ryan Hall have both made their marathon debuts in the past year.

They are so talented that perhaps this will be the year that we see a changing of the guard with some familiar names being overtaken by these two young guns.

Sadly there is no Paula Radcliffe in the women's race so it is difficult to look beyond 2007 World Marathon Majors champion Gete Wami.

In the wheelchair events increased prize money will make it a more competitive race and defending champions, British pair David Weir and Shelley Woods, will again be the ones to beat.

Enjoy your weekend,

Sue

Sue Barker presents BBC TV coverage of the London Marathon.

Sue was talking to Paul Birch.

Flora London Marathon: Race live (0830-1400, BBC ONE/online; 0830-1600, BBCi/online; 0900, BBC Radio 5 Live/online); Highlights (1840-1930 and 0505-0550, BBC TWO/online).

Masters: Live golf (2030-0000, BBC TWO/online); Live commentary (2100-0030, BBC Radio 5 Live/online); Live feed of Amen Corner (1745-2200, BBCi/online).

Masters: Live golf (1930-0000, BBC TWO/online); Live commentary (2100-0030, BBC Radio 5 Live/online); Live feed of Amen Corner (1600-2300, BBCi/online).

Football Focus (1210, BBC ONE/online); Leeds Utd v Carlisle Utd commentary (1215, Radio 5 Live/online); Scottish Cup: Queen of South v Aberdeen (1215, BBC Radio Scotland/online & Radio 5 Live sports extra/online); Score (1430, BBCi/online); Birmingham City v Everton commentary (1500, Radio 5 Live/online); Reading v Fulham second-half commentary (1600, Radio 5 Live sports extra/online); Final Score (1630, BBC ONE/online); Portsmouth v Newcastle commentary (1715, Radio 5 Live/online); West Bromwich Albion v Watford commentary (1720, Radio 5 Live sports extra/online); Match of the Day (2230, BBC ONE/online).

Match of the Day repeat (0705, BBC ONE/online); Ipswich Town v Norwich City commentary (1150, Radio 5 Live sports extra/online); Liverpool v Blackburn commentary (1330, Radio 5 Live/online); Scottish Cup: Partick Thistle v Rangers commentary (1300, BBC Radio Scotland/online); SPL: Motherwell v Celtic (1500, BBC Radio Scotland/online); Man Utd v Arsenal commentary (1600, Radio 5 Live/online); Match of the Day 2 (2230, BBC ONE/online).

EDF Energy Anglo-Welsh Cup final: Leicester Tigers v Ospreys (1410-1630, BBC ONE/Radio 5 Live sports extra and BBC Sport website); Melrose Sevens: (1410-1630, BBC ONE Scotland/online; 1410-1900/online and 1630-1900, BBC TWO Scotland/online); Boxing: Clinton Woods v Antonio Tarver (0230, BBC Radio 5 Live).

Guinness Premiership highlights (1400-1445, BBC TWO).

World Swimming Championships: (1300-1410, BBC ONE/online; 1625-1730, BBC TWO/online; 1730-1835, BBCi/online); MotoGP: Estoril qualifying (1350-1505, BBCi/online).

MotoGP: Estoril, 250cc race (1115-1230, BBCi/online); Race live (1230-1400, BBC TWO/online); MotoGP Extra (1400-1430, BBCi/online); 125cc race (1430-1545, BBCi/online); World Swimming Championships (1445-1750, BBC TWO/BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra/online); Rugby league: Super League Show (1700-1730, BBC ONE North/online and Monday, 0350-0425, BBC TWO/online).