Dublin city centre will come to a standstill tomorrow as a record 12,750 runners pound the streets in the capital’s marathon.
Competitors from all over the world will take part in the event with record holder, Russian Aleksey Sokolov, planning to take his third title in four years.
Roads across the capital will close from tonight for the 30th Lifestyle Sports-Adidas Dublin Marathon, with motorists urged to follow diversions.
Race director Jim Aughney said despite a blustery weekend, weather conditions should be perfect for runners.
Met éireann has forecast a dry, bright start in the morning, with some rain and drizzle later.
“The wind has caused some difficulty with our preparations and in trying to get stuff off the back of trucks and erect them on the ground,” said Mr Aughney.
“But conditions should calm down tomorrow. The forecast will be quite good.
“This is our 30th year running the event and it will be bigger and better than ever.”
Organisers estimate more 124,668 bottles of water, 23,070 bottles of a sport drink, 20,000 packs of energy gel and enough pasta to fill Croke Park will be consumed over the Marathon weekend.
Over €10 million euro will also be raised for charities.
Bettystown man Gerard Fay took to the start line last Monday morning - seven days early - as part of his challenge to complete the course eight times in eight days in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Association.
Fay, who lost his cousin to CF, will finish by crossing the finish line with competitors tomorrow.
The first Dublin Marathon was held in 1980, when just 1,420 people crossed the line from an entry of 2,100.
Dubliner Dick Hooper was the first ever winner, in a time of 2:16:14, and is the only person to have won the race three times.
Carey May was the first home of 40 women to cross the line.
Since then there have been 12 Irish women and 11 Irish men’s winners, the last was Olympic silver medallist Sonia O’Sullivan in 2000.
Sokolov set the record for the Dublin circuit in 2007 at 2:09:07.
His biggest challenge is expected to come from last year’s winner, Ukranian Andriy Naumov, and Kenyan Lezan Kimutai, who held the course record from 2004 - 2007.
Tomas Abyu of Great Britain will also compete for his third time, having finished third last year and second in 2007.
The women’s record was set by Ruth Kutol of Kenya who ran 2:27:22 in 2003.
However Russian athletes have dominated the women’s field since 2004, with last years winner Larissa Zousko and Alina Ivanova, winner in 2006 and 2007, both returning.
Over €53,200 will be given out in prize money this year, with €15,000 going to the first man and woman across the line, and a €5,000 bonus to those who break the Irish record.
PA