While your first choice may be which marathon to run, Emmet Malonesays that the support available during training for the Dublin run is invaluable.
The first choice would-be marathon runners have to make once they've decided to run the race is which one to compete in. For example, in October, when Dublin is run, there are more than 30 marathons around the United States and a dozen or more significant ones across Europe and further afield.
If you reckon you might have only one marathon in you then it might be tempting to splash out a few quid and look to compete in one of the big international events.
Boston, London and Paris (all April), New York and Amsterdam (both November) and, increasingly, Hawaii (December) are all hugely popular with overseas entrants while there are a growing number of themed and offbeat races, often held in interesting settings which might prove a more enjoyable alternative.
We'll take a look at alternative races further down the line.
While this series is intended to be relevant for whenever you are planning to run, and will be archived at Ireland.com, it is also intended to coincide with the preparations normally undertaken by those aiming to compete in the Dublin marathon.
The reasons are obvious enough. For most people who decide to run a marathon for the first time, there are enough problems to contend with without the thought of going to some far-flung destination in order to compete.
Competing in any autumn marathon means doing the bulk of your training in the better weather of the summer months.
As well as that, because various organisers and clubs around the country lay on training sessions and races for those aiming to run in Dublin on the October bank holiday weekend, there is more support available to newcomers than at other times of the year.
In recent years the Race Series - events run over five-, 10-mile and half-marathon distances in mid-July, August and September and timed to tie in with preparations for the marathon, has attracted growing numbers of competitors.
There are also less formal weekly runs in the Phoenix Park while clubs in many parts of the State provide coaching to those targeting the race.
Those preferring to fly to New York a week later can follow almost the same schedule and may well return with a more memorable experience but there are, points out Dublin race director Jim Aughney, a few hurdles to overcome before you get to stand on the starting line for one of the world's most famous marathons.
"Really, the only way somebody can get into the likes of London, Boston or New York," he says, "is either to enter a lottery in which maybe 100,000 people compete for a fraction as many places or by raising a huge sum of money for one of the charities that has paid to secure places in the particular marathon they want to be involved in.
"With Dublin, on the other hand, people are sure that they're going to get in and they know that there will be a lot of things going on to help them with the training they need to do."
The Dublin marathon remains smaller than its more illustrious counterparts but it has been transformed over the past decade or so with the number of participants quadrupling since the late 1990s when entries were down to about 2,500.
At that stage the organisers first sought to boost foreign entrants by selling the idea of American charities sending runners to Dublin after which they used rising interest levels to generate further interest in Europe and at home.
Another major boost, Aughney says, was the arrival of Adidas as title sponsors who brought with them both an enthusiasm for the event and a certain kudos among the athletic community.
Within a few years there were 3,000 Americans running in Dublin and last October the 10,500 or so who ran were made up almost equally of local and foreign runners.
"People talk about London being a huge event," says Aughney proudly, "but we have more overseas runners."
This year entries are currently on course to top the record of about 11,000, which was achieved in the mid-1980s.
Details of how to enter are available at www.adidasdublinmarathon.ie which also serves as a point of contact for those looking for clubs or organised runs as well as general information on training, nutrition and so on.
The Running Series
Over the coming weeks, this series will look at various aspects of what is involved in training for the marathon with particular emphasis on providing information for those aiming to run the race for the first time. The articles will be archived at www.ireland.com.
Many of those involved in organising the Dublin marathon have agreed to provide help and advice so if you're planning on running and you have a query drop us a line at marathon@irish-times.ie and we'll do our best to cover the issue.
Also, we're looking to assemble a small panel of people who have either run marathons before or are currently preparing for a first outing over the distance. The idea is to provide an opportunity for people to share their experiences with others. If you're interested in getting involved, please drop an e-mail containing your contact details to the address above.
Next week, we'll be looking at some of the many training schedules out there and casting an eye over which is best suited to getting you through the race and, perhaps, allowing you to meet your goals.
Most of the basic ones require about 18 weeks of training which is just about what is left until the Dublin marathon so there is still time as long as you are at least a little bit fit. It is advised, however, that you consult your doctor before undertaking the training required for a first marathon.