Record entries expected for 3 Bridges

Last year's tally for the 3 Bridges Marathon was more than 700 entries. Photo/File

If the cloudy weather holds, you can bet they'll all come running.

The Wanganui Harriers Club's annual 3 Bridges Marathon set out early this morning with entries possibly approaching last year's record number.

On the Friday before the 2012 edition of the marathon, there were 450 competitors already signed on with a big "walk-up" predicted on the day.

The final tally was a record 709 entries across the walking and running grades, impressive given it was held on an extremely busy sporting weekend which included the AON Billy Webb Challenge for rowing and the 10th Anniversary of the Downtown Wanganui Flying Lap for hydroplanes.

"They're coming in thick and fast, it's past the 400 mark at least. If it's a nice day, it will be going crazy," said club captain Jimmy Hildreth yesterday.

The event follows a 10km multi-lap course, with the full marathon running around it four times, while the half marathon is two laps and once around for the walkers.

They will start and finish near the Union Boat Club on Somme Parade, after crossing the Dublin St, City and Cobham bridges.

Last year's winner was Feilding's Struan Webb, who dashed home in the men's section in just under three hours, four minutes after 42km of running with the lead group.

The overall record fastest time belongs to top New Zealand runner Phil Costley.

Worth keeping an eye out for is Napier's Warren Bernard the 31-year-old clinical psychologist who will be running the second race of his goal of completing 20 marathons in 20 months.

He is fundraising for LIV Village - a charity in Africa that rescues and cares for vulnerable children.

Today walkers were starting at 6.30am, followed by the full marathon at 7.30am and the half marathon at 9am.