They are on track for a higher turnout than ever before, with around 250 runners entered for the full 26.2 miles and potentially more to come ahead of race day, while favourite Rick Weston could mount a real challenge to the course record of 2hrs 31min. 29sec. set by France’s Guillaume Ruel last year.
The marathon entry is quite evenly split between local and visiting competitors, some of whom come from far afield – including the USA, Netherlands, Poland, Finland and Serbia.
Event manager Hannah Mundy welcomed the high interest in not only the full distance but the various support races that add buzz to the marathon weekend.
‘As amazing as our Guernsey runners are, it’s really cool to see runners who are coming from all over the world,’ she said.
‘It’s great. We are trying to grow the event and it’s amazing to have so many runners on the start line.
‘Hopefully we can continue to grow it in future years.’
For the ever-popular Mourant Relay Race, they have a huge 75 teams entered in the five-person option and 70 in the pairs, including some French visitors.
Mundy also thinks that they could see as many as 150 in the Marathon Mile fun run.
At the sharp end, 2023 winner Weston is a notch above with his recent 2-25-06 run from Barcelona.
Ireland’s Dessie Burke is another former winner set to challenge for a leading position, while the UK’s John Jervis and France’s Baptiste Brin are other visitors that have set very competitive target times.
Ciaran Slattery and Tom Nichols are among the strongest Guernsey prospects in a race that should have good depth under the 3hr barrier.
‘It should be a great race up front between them all,’ Mundy said.
As for the prospect of a course record from Weston, she added: ‘We will see what he does on the day.
‘Hopefully the weather is on his side. It could be a record-breaking year in numbers and course times – we’ll see.’
The women’s race looks quite open, with Guernsey’s own Victoria Symes, Jersey’s Rosie Adamson, the UK’s Ella Taylor and the Isle of Man’s Jessica Bryan all among the fastest entries on paper.
But Vicky Carre’s course record of 3-10-10 appears safe for now.
Also among the entrants are various runners with personal stories, including Stephen Toal, a veteran-60 athlete who has already conquered 100 marathons in 62 different countries across the seven continents.
For the first time, runners can benefit from pacemakers on course.
They have been unable to find an appropriate 3hr pacer but have enlisted the help of athletes to ‘rabbit’ the 3-30 and 4hr mark.
‘We think it’s going to be a great addition,’ Mundy added. ‘It gives people who are striving for a PB someone to stick on and follow.’
The race runs from South Esplanade at 9am and organisers are still looking for course marshals. More information can be found here.
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