The cold couldn't keep away thousands of runners participating in the Mercedes Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay early Sunday morning in downtown Birmingham.

Runners lined up for the chilly 7:03 a.m. kickoff in front of Birmingham's Linn Park and Boutwell Auditorium.

The premiere race of the day--the Mercedes Marathon--is a 26-mile race that counts as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. Elite runners from around the nation and world come for the race.

The streets on the route will be closed down until approximately 1 p.m., as runners have six hours to complete the Marathon (they have four to complete the Half Marathon).

Check back to AL.com for official results of the race as they go live. (You can track individual runners here on the Mercedes Marathon site.)