Almost 11,000 prepare for Dublin Marathon

Almost 11,000 runners and walkers will pound the streets of the capital tomorrow for the Dublin Marathon.

Final preparations are underway across the city as competitors from all over the world get set for the twenty-eighth race.

It is the fourth year that entries have exceeded the 10,000 mark – with the numbers up around 500 on last year.

Jim Aughney, director of the Adidas Dublin Marathon, said it is also the first time in a number of years that more Irish than overseas runners will compete.

“The Irish entrants are up again this year to about 5,600, compared to a little over 5,000 in the overseas, ” he said.

“That has been a positive trend in the Irish. It’s a while since the Irish outnumbered the overseas in the event.”

Motorists are warned to expect road closures and delays as the 26-mile course takes participants from Fitzwilliam Square East to Chapelizod Gate, to Terenure, out towards the UCD Flyover and back into the city centre.

More than €100,000 in prize money is up for grabs as the winner crosses the finish line at Merrion Sq West.

Top stand-up comedian Ed Byrne is among the competitors – swapping cigarettes for the stopwatch as he embarks on his greatest challenge to date.

Byrne plans to achieve his lifelong ambition to run a marathon and to raise much needed funds for Console, the suicide bereavement and prevention service.

Meanwhile, the marathon has also attracted the strongest field in the history of the event with the winners from the 2004, 2005 and 2006 men’s races all competing against each other.

Aleksey Sokolov of Russia, who clocked a very impressive course record of 2:11:39 last year, will defend his title against 2005 winner Dmytro Odachy from the Ukraine, and Lezan Kimuta of Kenya who has a time of 2:13:08 from 2004.

Cian McLoughlin, Gary Crossan and Pauric McKinney will also fight it out in the elite men’s field.

The first race – for Elite ladies competitors – starts at 8.45am at Fitzwilliam Square East, followed at 9.05am by wheelchair users and 9.10am for elite men and the main field.

Russians look set to dominate the women’s race with Alina Ivanovam who was first home last year in 2:29:49 and Larisa Zyuskom, who ran 2:33:09 in 2006 to take third place, both back in the starting line. Lucy Brennan and Pauline Curley are set to fly the flag for Ireland.

“We are expecting a very good race this year and are hoping the weather won’t be too bad on the runners,” continued Mr Aughney.

“Last year Aleksey went out on his own, but this year we are expecting it to be very close.”