Dublin's reputation as the `in' place for weekends continues to grow, certainly as far as marathoners are concerned with over half the expected field of 4,000 athletes travelling from overseas for today's running of the Dublin Marathon, sponsored for the first time by the 98FM radio station.
It is not unrealistic to assume that the top honours will also be garnered by those who jet in for the weekend. As is now almost commonplace in all distance races throughout the world the leading contenders are from the Rift Valley area with six Kenyans expected to toe the line for the 9.30 a.m. start.
Kenyan John Mutai Kipyator will be expected to have some measure of advantage on his compatriots as he raced over the course last year. But having enjoyed the scenery of the south side of the capital for the opening miles he struggled home in fourth position.
But the favourite will be another Kenyan, Wilson Cheruiyot, who recently finished second in the Great North Run in Newcastle, England in a highly impressive time and if he can reproduce a performance of similar magnitude today he should take the top spot.
Joseph Kaino is another who has competed at the highest level but that was several years ago. It now remains to be seen if he can reproduce that form.
The Irish challenge will be led by the consistent Tommy Maher who always manages to produce his best in this race and ran commendably in the Cross Border Challenge over 10 miles two weeks ago. Another Irish athlete who ran well across the Border is Pauric McKinney.
The course is the same as last year starting and finishing in O'Connell Street with the athletes heading out towards UCD and the incline up Foster Avenue before heading back into the city across St Stephen's Green. From there they proceed up the Coombe and another climb awaits them as they head up Harold's Cross Road to Templeville Road. The drop down to the river Liffey will be welcome as the distance begins to take its inevitable toll. The final miles along the river will test the resolve of even the fittest before the welcome sight of the finish in O'Connell Street.
