Browne, 43, the 1989 winner and one of only two Barbadians to win the energy-sapping event, will lead the local challenge in tandem with the durable Keith Cumberbatch and the overseas-based Andrew Greenidge.

Last year, 48-year-old Cumberbatch was sixth overall and the first Barbadian to cross the finish line.

Start and finish

The 25th instalment will see the race start and finish on the outskirts of Bridgetown.

The marathon starts at 5 a.m. at the Esplanade, Bay Street, and will proceed along the Chamberlain Bridge, Wharf Road, Hincks Street, Harbour Road, Spring Garden Highway, Paynes Bay, Holetown and right to Almond Beach Village, where they will turn by the entrance and return to the finishing point at the Esplanade.

St Lucia's Victor Ledger is back to defend his title and he, along with the consistent Pamenos Ballantyne of St Vincent and the Grenadines, will carry the hopes of the Caribbean. They are going to be challenged by Kenyan Samuel Njuguna, who is good enough to run the distance in two hours, 18 mins.

If he handles the heat and humidity, fans could witness the first ever sub-2:20 in Barbados.

Previous winner Amy Chalk will also be returning after a break, while 12-time champion Kim Goff of the United States is expected to return.

The half-marathon will be contested at the same time and will take the same route but instead of going down to Queen Street in St Peter, the runners will turn by Paynes Bay, St James, and make the trek back to the Esplanade.

Agustus Kavutu of Canada/Kenya set a record in the Fort-de France half-marathon and he will face stiff competition from George Kitonga and last year's champion Zepherinus Joseph from St Lucia.

The Run Barbados series, which dates back to December 1983, starts this afternoon with the Nature Valley 10K in Bay Street where primary and secondary schools athletes will race with elite and fun runners.

United States-based Mark Thorne, the 1986 Carifta Games bronze medallist in the 5 000 metres, is back home to race again in the 10K.
The lion-hearted Leo Garnes, a former Olympian, will also line up for the start, as well as the improving Jason Gilkes.

The male and female winners of this race will each collect $4 000.

Runners will travel along Bush Hill, Dalkeith, Culloden Road, Belleville, Belmont, Constitution Road, Treasury Building, Wharf Road, Hincks Street, Harbour Road and return to Bay Street via Broad Street.
(MK/EZS)