Nearly 6,000 people will take part in the 98FM Dublin Marathon which will start and finish in O'Connell Street today. This year's entry shows a 40 per cent increase on last year's figure of 4,200.
The event will mean a number of major traffic diversions.
More than 1,500 Americans have flown into Dublin to run in the event. The athletes represent two organisations: Team in Training, a fund-raising division of the US Leukaemia Association, and Joints in Motion, a fund-raising division of the US Arthritis Association.
A minute's silence will be observed at 9.21 a.m. in honour of Mr Noel Carroll, who died suddenly on Friday. He was chief executive of Dublin Chamber of Commerce and former press officer of Dublin Corporation, and had been an organiser of the marathon for many years. Mr Frank Greally, editor of Irish Runner, will pay tribute to Mr Carroll in a short speech before the minute's silence.
The marathon is expected to generate in excess of £5 million in revenue for Dublin city and county. The prize fund is in excess of £20,000, with both male and female winners each receiving £5,000.
Thirty-six countries will be represented, including Japan, the US, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, Kenya, Malta and Britain. The Kenyans will have a strong presence with three elite athletes, Mr Joshua Kipchemboi (last year's winner), Mr John Mutai and Mr Benson Masya, all confirmed. Last year's winner, Ms Carol Galea, from Malta has entered again.
Top Irish athletes confirmed include Mr Seamus Power, Mr Tommy Maher and Ms Teresa Duffy.
A number of Irish charities are participating again this year, including Our Lady`s Hospital, which has a team of 29 entrants; the Cancer Society with a team of 10 entrants; and the Multiple Sclerosis Society with 10 entrants.
Top male athletes can expect to complete the course in approximately two hours 14 minutes; female athletes finish in approximately two hours 30 minutes. The walkers begin at 7.30 a.m. and can expect to take 7 hours to complete the course. The wheelchair race gets under way at 9.20 a.m., followed by the main race at 9.30 a.m. The Lord Mayor, Councillor Joe Doyle, will officially start the main race.