KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Alan Stroshine, race director for the Clarence DeMar Marathon, joined Good Morning with Dan Mitchell Wednesday morning to preview the 47th annual marathon and 11th annual half marathon taking place in Keene this Sunday.

Stroshine told listeners that close to 700 runners are registered between the two races, with roughly 340 signed up for the full marathon and another 350 in the half. Both races will start early Sunday morning — the marathon at 7 a.m. in Gilsum and the half marathon at 8 a.m. at Surry Dam — with finishers gathering in downtown Keene.

Weather conditions are looking favorable for runners, Stroshine said, with dry skies, low humidity, and morning temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees. “I always hope both the temperature and dew point start with a four,” he joked, though he added the forecast is still excellent for race day.

Beyond the races themselves, Stroshine highlighted a full weekend of events. On Saturday, local runners Karen Jordan and Thomas Paquette will lead a 3-mile “shakeout run” at 7 a.m. from Ted’s Shoe & Sport, and the traditional pasta dinner will feature keynote speaker Patti Dillon, a former world-record holder in multiple distances.

The DeMar Champions Award will also be presented to Cheshire Medical Center in recognition of its decades-long support since 1978.

Stroshine described the marathon course as both scenic and challenging, with stretches along the river, through downtown Keene, and up a steep hill at mile 23 in a local cemetery — an addition he admitted was his idea. Water stations are set up every two miles, and Stroshine encouraged community members to cheer runners on and even set up unofficial stations of their own.

While the race has never been about attracting elite competitors, Stroshine said finishing times for the marathon will likely be around two and a half hours.

Listen to the full interview: