More than 1700 people will hit the streets tomorrow in the annual Dunedin marathon.
Entries will still be accepted until 4pm today, but it appears numbers will be about on par with last year's event.
As of yesterday, the field in both the men's marathon and half marathon was lacking the quality of runners seen in recent years.
With 2013 and 2014 marathon winner Tony Payne switching to the half marathon this year, last year's runner-up Romain Mirosa appears to be the marathon front-runner this year.
Mirosa stuck with Payne for 25km last year, before falling off the pace and eventually finishing in 2hr 39min 31sec, almost five minutes behind Payne.
Glen Chisholm, who finished third, another four minutes back, a year ago, is also back for another go.
Jonah Smith (20) has chosen a good time to make the step up to the marathon, and is another who could push for the winner's medal.
Smith was the fourth man across the line in 1hr 17min 18sec in last year's half marathon, and the second in the open men's section.
He also finished second in the Balclutha half marathon in July and 25th over the same distance in the Christchurch event in May, where he recorded a personal-best time of 1hr 12min 24sec.
Payne, who told the Otago Daily Times earlier in the week he was aiming to cross the line in 1hr 8min, is the clear favorite to win the half marathon.
Last year's winner Jason Palmer is not competing this year, but runner-up Kerry Faass and third placed Robbie Johnston are.
Barring injury, Mel Aitken should be the first woman across the line in the marathon.
While she won the masters women's section in 3hr 3min 56sec a year ago, Sarah Chisnall topped her for the women's Dunedin marathon title.
Aitken, who won the women's title in 2012, has been in the form of her life this year, something she puts down to a change in diet and training.
She won a raft of cross-country races during winter, including the Otago senior women's title at Waikouaiti in July, and warmed up for tomorrow's race by winning the masters 35 years section at the national road championships in Tauranga last weekend.
Shireen Crumpton is eyeing up a fourth consecutive women's half marathon title, but will have to fend off a challenge from former Otago runner Rachel Kingsford, who is now based in Christchurch.
Crumpton comfortably won in 1hr 22min 51sec last year.
This year's event also includes the inaugural quarter marathon run and walk, which will start from the stadium at 9.15am, before runners head straight to Port Chalmers.
The marathon starts at Harington Point at 8am, and the half marathon run and walk starts in Union St at 9.30am.
The weather forecast for tomorrow's event is cloudy, with a few showers, southwesterly wind and a high of 12degC.
At a glance
ENTRIES
Marathon: 166
Half marathon: 934
Quarter marathon: 269
Half marathon walk: 245
Quarter marathon walk: 121
Total: 1735
COURSE RECORDS
Marathon
Men: 2hr 19min 17sec (Samuel Wreford, 2010)
Women: 2hr 47min 04sec (Bernie Portenski, 1992)
Half marathon
Men: 1hr 06min 38sec (Matt Smith, 2007)
Women: 1hr 20min 27sec (Kirsty Morris, 2007)
Half marathon walk
Men: 1hr 53min 27sec (Roger Leslie, 2013)
Women: 1hr 59min 43sec (Rozie Robinson, 2011)
