It's hard to imagine the excitement if, sometime after 11 o'clock on Monday morning, an Irish athlete is leading the Dublin marathon into the finish at Merrion Square, safe in their moment of victory, and about to collect the winner's cheque for €15,000. And then, this being Dublin, the marathon-type celebrations could begin.
It's hard to imagine because it's seven years now since an Irish athlete managed to win the race, and even longer since a Dublin native managed to win. Unfortunately, that wait for a home victory will almost certainly continue beyond this the 28th edition of the race.
The last Irish winner, somewhat surprisingly, was Sonia O'Sullivan, who took the women's title seven years ago in what was her debut marathon, just five weeks after taking the silver medal over 5,000 metres at the Sydney Olympics. O'Sullivan, in fact, only decided the day before that she definitely wanted to run, yet she ended up winning by almost two minutes in 2:35:42.
Four years earlier, in 1996, Cathy Shum became the last Dublin native to secure a Dublin marathon victory, posting 2:38:56.
It means John Treacy, the Olympic marathon silver medallist of 1984, remains the last Irish men's winner after his victory in 1993, although this slightly sad scenario of no real Irish challengers isn't of great concern to the marathon organisers.
The event has grown significantly over the past seven years, not just in attracting more and more overseas runners, but also in attracting more elite runners. With 11,000 signed up to start Monday's race, a jump of about 1,000 on last year's entry, the vast majority will be running simply to finish.
Up front, the Dublin marathon is all about winning, with some decent prize money at stake - at least enough to bring in some of the better overseas runners.
The reality is none of the Irish are currently good enough to compete for the top prize, which leaves things a long way from the first edition of the race back in 1980 - when Dublin had two home winners in Dick Hooper and Carey May.
The first man and woman home on Monday morning are awarded €15,000 each, with €10,000 for second, €7,500 for third, and so on down to €250 for 12th. In addition, there are various time bonuses, with a further €5,000 if the leading man breaks 2:12:00, and likewise if the leading woman breaks 2:26:00.
Marathon director Jim Aughney has always spoken about the importance of fast times being run in Dublin, which improves its status among the big city marathons and in turn attracts more runners.
Just last year the course record was lowered for the second time in three years when Aleksey Sokolov of Russia clocked a swift 2:11:39. What made that performance all the more impressive was that Sokolov led almost every step of the way, finishing some two minutes ahead of the chasing group.
Sokolov is back in town to defend his title, and is the race favourite. His strength is his consistency. Last April he finished 12th in the Vienna marathon in 2:14:51 and just five weeks later took his third Russian title in 2:15:52.
Also back in the hunt are two other previous winners, Lezan Kimutai of Kenya, who ran 2:13:08 to win the 2004 edition, and Dmytro Osadchy from the Ukraine, who ran 2:13:14 to win in 2005.
Originally from Ethiopia, Tomas Abyu made the British team for last year's European Championships when he clocked 2:15:50 in London, and he comes to Dublin in excellent shape.
Huw Lobb is another Briton to watch. In 2004, the Londoner became the first two-legged runner in its 25-year history to win the Man v Horse race at Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales. Lobb completed the 22-mile course in 2:05:19 and picked up a cheque for €36,000. The first horse, by the way, was Kay Bee Jay, ridden by Zoë White, in a time of 2:07:36.
Other contenders include 23-year-old Stanley Leleito of Kenya. Last year, Leleito ran three marathons, including Amsterdam, where he finished fourth in 2:11:17, and has a best of 2:10:17 dating back to 2005 in Zurich.
No Ethiopian has ever won the Dublin race, but with three entries this year - Desse Demelesh, Birhanu Tesfaye and Tessema Abshiro - that may be about to change.
Dublin has now settled on a standard course, although there is a slightly different start position from last year (the runners lining up at Baggot Street for the start at Fitzwilliam Square East).
There is also the introduction of a new elite women's start, which sees that race go off at 8.45am, followed by the wheelchair competitors at 9.05am, and finally the elite men and rest of the field at 9.10am.
Favourite for the women's race is last year's champion, Alina Ivanova of Russia, something of an athletics enigma. Having won the 1991 World 10km race-walking title and the 1992 European Indoor 3,000m walk, Ivanova switched to running and, though now aged 38, still breaks 2:30 consistently, which should be enough to at least bring her home among the top three.
Since 2001 the race has also doubled as the national marathon championships, under the remit of Athletics Ireland. While the recent standard has been disappointing, the national title is not to be sniffed at, and Dublin's Cian McLoughlin is out to defend his title ahead of four-time winner Gary Crossan of Donegal. With defending women's champion Jill Shannon injured, 2005 winner Pauline Curley of Tullamore should collect her second title.
Of course, when the winners are wrapped in warm clothes, most of the field will still be strung out around Phoenix Park and Crumlin Road and the leafy suburbs of Rathgar and Clonskeagh - still trying to survive and without the slightest chance or thought of winning.
