4,000 runners ready for Dublin marathon

More than 4,000 people are expected to compete in the Dublin City marathon today, which will result in major traffic diversions from early this morning.Up to half the participants in the race have come from overseas, many of them competing for charity. The sponsors, the Dublin radio station 98FM, estimate up to 1,000 competitors from the US alone, most of them fund-raising for leukaemia and arthritis charities.The race begins at 9.25 a.m., with the wheelchair competitors going off five minutes before the rest of the field. From O'Connell Street, the participants head south via Merrion Square and Mount Street to Ballsbridge, rounding the UCD campus at Stillorgan Road and Fosters Avenue before returning to the city-centre via Clonskeagh Road and Donnybrook.From Leeson Street, the fireld heads south again through The Coombe, Dolphin's Barn, Harold's Cross and Kimmage Road. This is the halfway point in the race, which the front-runners are expected to reach at about 10.30 a.m., with backmarkers taking another two hours.From Terenure, the route continues west via Templeville Road and north through Walkinstown, Drimnagh and Kilmainham. The competitors reach the 22-mile point near Chapelizod before turning for home via Conyngham Road and the north quays.O'Connell Street will be closed to northbound traffic from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The quays will be reopened once the competitors have crossed the O'Connell Bridge soon after 9.30 a.m., but there will be restricted access on some approaches to the quays throughout the race.Gardai have organised a number of diversions, while at several points in the route - including Mespil Road, Harold's Cross Road and Chapelizod Road - traffic will be allowed through during breaks in the field.Today's weather should be ideal for th race. Met Eireann expects it to be dry and mild in almost all areas.One alternative to the marathon is the "Minithon", although you have to be under 15 to enter. Organised by Dublin Community Games, the event is expected to draw 1,000 children between the ages of 9 and 15 for a two-mile "fun run". It starts in Middle Abbey Street at 9.45 a.m.