BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth is one of three celebrities who have pulled out of the Great North Run.
With just days to go, the popular broadcaster and presenter cancelled her appearance at the event where she has proved a familiar face in the past.
She first ran the Great North Run - following an invitation from event founder Brendan Foster - when she was in her mid-thirties and following the birth of her second child.
In subsequent years, the now 51-year-old has gone on to run major world marathons and complete a succession of gruelling ultra-running challenges, including Marathon Des Sables last year which saw her run six marathons in five days while carrying her supplies over more than 150 miles of the Sahara desert.
It is not known why the TV favourite is no longer taking part in the North East's world-famous half-marathon and her withdrawal follows that of two others from the list of celebrity entrants.
Radio presenter Matt Bailey, former host of the Capital FM breakfast show, and former champion boxer turned entrepreneur Jahmaine Smyle have also changed their minds.
A spokeswoman for The Great Run Company, which is behind the Great North Run and several other major sports events, said no reasons are sought when participants pull out.
As for possible knock-on effects on charity fund-raising, she said the only one of the three connected to a charity was Jahmaine but he had been due to run as part of a team so its fund-raising remains a team effort.
For the list of other celebrities signed up to do the Simplyhealth Great North Run on Sunday, see here .
