You can follow Sara's every move with our brand new tracker which will chart her progress getting Pudsey to Pudsey - available now on the BBC Children in Need website, external.

Sara was speaking earlier to Radio 2's Jeremy Vine about her animal encounters.

"I've just had some sausage and mash, come and got changed and then I've met a lovely owl who's just absolutely gorgeous. He's got the most beautiful eyes."

Sara met Louis the Owl and his handler, Mandy.

"There's been lots of animals on route today - a farmer came out with a little pup so I had a little cuddle and a quick sniff and a kiss of a puppy and then we've got Louis the Owl. It's fantastic. Then we've had alpacas, puppies, everyone's had their dogs out waving at us, it's been lovely."

Sara has a vision for how she can take on the next part of the run, incorporating Louis as a winged aide.

"I want it to be a little bit like the book Hamnet, where the character has the hawk on her arm as she strides through the countryside. I might try and do a little bit of that with Louis the Owl possibly..."

Mandy remarked: "I'm going to fly him to you." To which Sara asked "Oh really? Can he carry a snack for me?"

It's been an eventful day so far for Sara, and supporters have been out in force to cheer her on along the way!

Check out these latest photos from her challenge:

Sara Cox
BBC Radio 2's Great Northern Marathon Woman

The weather is changing a little bit, it's getting a little bit nippier as the afternoon goes on, but there's still people coming out which is nice. But there's a lot of long roads and a lot of hills and a lot of sheep but it's an absolutely beautiful part of the world...

It’s weird when you stop, you just feel a great big rush when you stop and I feel like I am seizing up slightly each time I stop, but yeah halfway through day one of five, so I am fully braced for it to get harder and harder.

Sara's Great Northern Marathon Challenge for BBC Children in Need is now underway!

If you'd like to support Sara with a text or online donation, you can find all the details below or at bbc.co.uk/sara

Jeremy Vine
BBC Radio 2 Presenter

Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

Hey Sara! Even when you're tired, I'm hoping this one will get you smiling. We're all wishing you the best of luck. I've seen your training and it's been unbelievable! You ready? It's Wham! and Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go!

From Scott Mills and Greg James to Michelle Visage and Jeremy Vine, hear more stars picking Songs For Sara Cox on BBC Sounds.

Just look at the backdrop to Sara's run this morning! The rolling hills and lush fields must be a motivator for Sara as she tackles this mammoth challenge.

Paula Radcliffe
Legendary marathon runner and former world record holder

It’s not going to be easy by any means, I am phenomenally impressed by the magnitude of the challenge that she’s taken on, it’s absolutely huge! For context most marathon runners only ever do that far on the day of the race… so they’re not doing it back to back and she is doing it each day.

Probably Thursday is going to be the hardest day to be honest, because Friday she knows she’s finished and she knows she’s got the big crowd waiting for her, but Thursday and probably Wednesday night are going to be the tough times and she’s really going to need to zone into the motivation and why she is doing it. It’s the same for anybody taking on a challenge.”

It's been an exciting morning so far as Sara tackles day one of her epic Children in Need challenge. If you're just joining us, here are a few ways you can keep up-to-date with Sara's progress this week.

You can follow Sara’s journey right here - we'll be providing regular updates, photos, videos and more highlights every day this week.

You'll also be able to follow her every move with our new Sara Tracker, external.

Listen along live to Radio 2 by clicking or tapping the audio icon at the top of the page. Or ask your smart speaker to 'Play BBC Radio 2' - get more help with using smart speakers here.

And you can take Sara with you via the BBC Sounds app if you're on the move - if you've not downloaded it, here's some help in getting started.

Plus, don’t miss a BBC One special following Sara's journey airing next Wednesday, 19 November.

During his show this morning Vernon Kay has reflected on his own experience of taking on an epic Children In Need challenge back in 2023, and caught up with Sara Cox on day one of her Great Northern Marathon Challenge.

If you missed any of them, ask your smart speaker to play BBC Radio 2, then 'Ask BBC Sounds to rewind to' the times below. Get more help with using smart speakers here.

• 10:03 - Sara weathering the rain

• 11:39 - Support from Bellingham Primary School
• 11:47 - Sara's staying positive

You can also catch up on Vernon's show, via our Watch & Listen tab at the top of the page for the rest of today.

Sir Mo Farah
Multiple Olympic, World and European champion for long-distance running

Hey Sara, it’s Mo Farah here. Wishing you all the best of luck as you take on this massive challenge from a Scottish border to all the way to Yorkshire. Sara, you’ve got what it takes! Believe in yourself and I know you’re doing it for an amazing cause: Children In Need. You’ve got this!

Sara spoke to Vernon just now and showed her usual Northern spirit as she continues her Great Northern Marathon Challenge, which will see her attempt to cover 135 on foot in the coming days.

"I've got a bit of a lurgy, so I'm blowing me schnozz a lot..."

But in spite of suffering from a cold, she's trying to stay positive: "I'm good, I'm up in the hills now and it’s getting pretty windy. I’m trying not to think about little things starting to hurt a tiny bit - my hip flexor on the right - but it’s all good!!"

"We’ve been past a couple more primary schools and people are coming out, lots of high-fives and people tooting and waving, so it’s been lovely."

Earlier, Vernon spoke to the Headteacher of Bellingham Primary School, Mr Gibson.

"She’s seconds away from us. The kids are all very excited. We have the middle school and the primary school here."

Vernon asked "Did the kids need much encouragement to get outside?", to which Mr Gibson replied:

"They never need much encouragement. They’re all here with all their flags and their banners. Anyone with a Pudsey badge is getting great treatment from the students here at Bellingham."

And as Sara arrived and high-fived the kids, admiring the banners they had made, Mr Gibson added: "She’s looking as fresh as if she was on her first mile!"

Wondering what inspired Sara's epic trek to get Pudsey (the bear on Sara's backpack) to Pudsey (the town)?

Well, it's because this year we're celebrating 40 years of Pudsey Bear of course!

So it's apt that we pay tribute to everyone's favourite yellow bear by finishing the challenge at the place that inspired his name!

Pudsey's creator Joanna Lane, who worked in the BBC's design department, named our beloved Children in Need mascot after her hometown.

But how about some more fun facts about Pudsey - here are four more to mark the 40 years!

1. The more familiar version of Pudsey with yellow fur debuted in 1986, and he adopted a multicoloured bandana in 2007. The first Pudsey bear was actually brown, with a red bandana - as shown in this BBC Archive photo with Joanna Lumley!

2. Pudsey's best friend is a female bear named Blush!

3. In 2012, a series of special Pudsey toys were made by famous designers, including Victoria Beckham, Alexander McQueen, plus Burberry, Gucci and Prada.

4. And, who would have guessed it, but Pudsey's favourite colour is... yellow, obviously!

Sara's Great Northern Marathon Challenge for BBC Children in Need is now underway!

If you'd like to support Sara with a text or online donation, you can find all the details below or at bbc.co.uk/sara

Vernon Kay
BBC Radio 2 Presenter

David Guetta Feat. Kelly Rowland - When Love Take Over

Sara! I wanted to add a proper feel-good tune to your Pace Setter playlist. This is one that doesn't just lift your spirits, it elevates them into the next realm. Go on! We're all cheering you on here at Radio 2. So keep your head up, keep those feet flying and let this tune carry you all the way to the finish line!

From Scott Mills and Greg James to Michelle Visage and Jeremy Vine, hear more stars picking Songs For Sara Cox on BBC Sounds.

Anne Galbraith, a local from Bellingham, told Vernon Kay earlier about the mystical powers of St Cuthbert's Well, known locally as Cuddy's Well - an ancient holy well in the village of Bellingham.

"The well has mystical powers and has been known to bestow miracles on people," Anne said.

So, of course, Anne ventured down to the well this morning to gather some of the water for Sara's big mission.

And here are some snaps from the moment she blessed Sara's trainers. Quite literally putting a spring in her step!

Let's hope it helps Sara on her epic journey.

If you’re just joining our live coverage of Sara Cox’s Great Northern Marathon Challenge for BBC Children in Need, here’s what’s been going on…

• Radio 2’s Sara Cox set off this from the stunning Kielder Forest on the Scottish border, kicking off her five-day, five-marathon journey to Pudsey, Leeds.

• She’s aiming to cover 135 miles on foot - through Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire - carrying Pudsey Bear from border to heartland, powered by northern grit and a whole lot of listener love.
• Sara hit the trail just after 8:30am, cheered on by a crowd of supporters and Mark Chapman on Scott Mills' Breakfast Show.... she's making her way south towards Hexham.
• Expect surprises and plenty of muddy enthusiasm throughout the day.

Stay tuned for regular updates, photos and videos as Sara continues her epic journey!

Keep listening to BBC Radio 2 to hear more from Sara during Vernon Kay's show between now and 12:00pm.

You can listen along live on Radio 2 by clicking or tapping the 'Listen Live' button at the top of the page. Or ask your smart speaker to play BBC Radio 2 - get more help with using smart speakers here.

You can also take Sara with you via the BBC Sounds app if you're on the move - if you've not downloaded it, here's some help in getting started.

Sara started her five-day challenge in Kielder Forest shortly after 8.15am this morning. And it started with a bang that included a horn, a bagpipe serenade, cheers from supporters and an all important Pudsey bag on her back!

Talk about pomp and fanfare!

Watch that moment in full in the clip below:

Don't forget you can follow Sara while she's on the go via our Sara Tracker, external - and you can also listen along live by tapping the audio icon at the top of the page.

Or just ask your smart speaker to 'Play BBC Radio 2' - here's how you can listen on your smart speaker.

Sara has reached her first pit-stop on her 135 mile journey - at Tarset Village Hall, near the village of Bellingham in Northumberland.

Sara was greeted with a traditional song, sung by The Song Reivers Choir. What an arrival to lift your spirits!

Local supporters also brought along some tasty baked goods too! Those Pudsey biscuits do look great...