More than 8,000 athletes from more than 40 countries will take part in Monday's adidas Dublin Marathon.
Now in its 23rd year, the event is estimated to be worth €10 million to the Dublin economy.
Bord Fáilte, which is part-sponsoring the event, said it provided a welcome out-of-season boost to tourism in the capital, as well as an overseas marketing platform, with footage of the race to be broadcast in more than 40 countries.
Overall entry numbers are up by 300 on last year and more than 5,000 of the athletes are from overseas. These include the favourites for the men's event, defending champion Zacharia Mpolokeng of South Africa and Kenyans John Mutai and Philip Kipsang Rugut.
Rugut has not previously run a marathon but the organisers believe that, based on his recent half-marathon performances, he could deliver one of the fastest times and perhaps even break the course record of 2:13:45, which Ireland's Jerry Kiernan has held since 1982.
The last Irish winner of the men's event was John Treacy in 1993 and of the women's event Sonia O'Sullivan, two years ago.
This year's race has a new start line on Nassau Street and a new finish, outside the National Gallery on Merrion Square West.
Wheelchair athletes will be first to start at 8.50 a.m. with the men's and women's races starting 10 minutes later.
The route travels as far south as Foster Avenue in Mount Merrion before heading west to Walkinstown where it turns north, circumnavigating the Phoenix Park and journeying back into the city.
Among the main areas covered will be Merrion Square North, Merrion Square East, Leeson Street Bridge, Mount Street Bridge, Ballsbridge village, Merrion Road, Ailesbury Road, Stillorgan Road, Fosters Avenue, Clonskeagh Road, Milltown Road, Rathgar, Terenure, Ballymount, Kilmainham, Chapelizod, Phoenix Park, Blackhorse Avenue, North Circular Road, Phibsboro Road, Broadstone, Blessington Street, Parnell Square East, O'Connell Street and College Green.
Gardaí have advised motorists that traffic restrictions will be in place along the route. Motorists will not be allowed to cross during peak race times.
Merrion Square West is to close from 6 p.m. tomorrow until 6 p.m. on Monday to enable the organisers set up start-finish facilities. Streets in the vicinity, including Dawson Street, Nassau Street, Frederick Street, Clare Street and Merrion Square Upper and South, will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
No inbound traffic will be allowed on to Merrion Square North after 8.30 a.m. and Merrion Street Lower will be closed between 8.30a.m. and 9.30a.m.
The Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists has advised novice and intermediate runners to rest today and do a light two-mile jog tomorrow as final preparation for the event.
"It is vital to warm up and stretch and cool down and stretch pre and post a run respectively. Stretches should be held for 30 seconds performing three repetitions of each," said ISCP physiotherapist Ms Aileen O'Rourke, who specialises in sports medicine.
For the fourth consecutive year, the society will provide voluntary treatment for finishers in a marquee at the finish line.
It strongly urged all finishers to attend the marquee for treatment, as such treatment could greatly reduce the incidence of muscle soreness in the days following the marathon.
For spectators, Dublin radio station FM104 has set up four "entertainment points" along the route at the Fortfield Road end of Bushy Park; Walkinstown Roundabout; Hanlon's Corner, Phibsboro, and the Molly Malone statue at the bottom of Grafton Street.
Weblink: www.dublincity marathon.ie
