Weekend is already assured of having its largest marathon field ever.

With the close of early registration last Friday, race officials have already received a whopping 380 entries for the January 19 marathon, 300 of which come from the LSA's 12 chapters.

Last year, the annual 26.2-mile run drew a total of 317 entries.

Like other charities, LSA-sponsored athletes compete in designated races as a means of fund-raising. Last year, it was the New York, Boston and Bermuda marathons and this year they're back again.

Race secretary Pam Shailer admitted she's not surprised to see her mailbox full of LSA entries.

"Last year they said they were coming back because they enjoyed it so much,'' she said. The difference is that a year ago LSA sent just 192 runners.

But while the number of marathoners is way up, the number of runners for the weekend's other two races are way down -- for now.

By Friday, only 250 entries for the January 18 10-kilometre road race had been received, less than half of the 510 who signed up last year. And the 13.1-mile half-marathon, which starts at the same time and travails the same course as the full marathon, has so far attracted just 203 runners, down from the 380 who were registered in 1996.

There is no concern on the part of race officials, however.

"There's still a month to go,'' said Shailer.

"Typically, marathon runners have to know what they're training for (and therefore select their races well in advance).'' Half-marathon and 10K runners don't face the same pressures.

Entries are accepted right up until the day before the race; the only difference is that it costs more than it did last week: $25 (as opposed to $20 for the marathon, $15 for the 10K and $12 for the half-marathon).

Besides, Shailer says, entries arrive on her desk every day, the bulk of them by mail from the US, with some from Canada and a few from England.

Several of the runners are planning on running the 10K on the Saturday and taking part in the half-marathon 24 hours later.