With high humidity and showers forecast through the end of the week, the 35th Honolulu Marathon could be a slow, wet affair more suited for the majority of the 28,000 runners than the elite.

The marathon starts at 5 a.m. Sunday, affecting traffic as well as the daily lives of most of East Honolulu.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann will join running greats Frank Shorter and Jim Ryun this morning to start the countdown to the big race. Honolulu Marathon Association president Jim Barahal and Hawai'i Pacific University professor Jerome Argusa will be on hand to discuss the marathon's economic impact on the state.

But don't be surprised if Barahal keeps one eye on the skies.

"My biggest concern right now is the weather," he said. "From an elite runner's point of view, there probably won't be any records threatened ... if it's windy and if there's high humidity. It's probably not great for P.R. either with all of the visitors who are spending the week here."

However, Barahal said a little wind and drizzle isn't necessarily a bad thing for slower runners.

"It means they won't be out there in as much sun and heat," he said. "For the average runner, it might be better."

While elite male and female runners can complete the 26.2-mile course in less than 2 1/2 hours, back-of-the-pack strollers have been known to take 12 hours or more to finish. Last year, 42 percent of all Honolulu Marathon finishers took six hours or more to complete the race, the highest percentage of any U.S. marathon.

Runner safety, always a high priority, is of particular concern after the recent disastrous Chicago Marathon in which high temperatures and humidity coupled with a lack of water on the course resulted in the cancellation of the race. One person died and dozens of others were hospitalized.

"After Chicago, we're even more intent of making sure that our race is as safe as possible," Barahal said.

Also, in keeping with new guidelines adopted by the International Association of Athletics Federations and USA Track and Field, the Honolulu Marathon Association is banning headphones from the marathon course — officially, at least.

"I think it's prudent for runners to be aware of their surroundings," Barahal said. "But on a closed course, where there isn't a lot of commingling with cars, the risk is extraordinarily minimized."

The IAAF ban was intended to prevent athletes from receiving information via radio about the whereabouts of their rivals, a practice permitted in big bicycle tours, such as the Tour de France. But in practical application, it means that recreational runners are not allowed to wear MP3 players or listen to music during road races. Only a handful of U.S. races have actively enforced the ban, and the Honolulu Marathon doesn't plan to either.

"I think (the ban) is probably an overreach, and we're not in a position to enforce it," Barahal said.

26,286 REGISTERED

At the official tally last Wednesday, 26,286 runners had registered for the race, about 450 more than at the same point a year ago. Once again, runners from Japan make up the majority of the field, with 16,202 registered so far.

The number of local runners is up from the same point last year, 7,577 to 6,750.

"We usually see that on anniversary years," Barahal said. "People who have run it before see that it's an anniversary and go out and see if they can still do it."

An additional 2,000 people traditionally sign up for the race during the walk-in period, which starts today and ends Saturday at the Honolulu Marathon Expo.

This year's expo doesn't boast the same sort of star power as it has in recent years with film and TV stars holding court each afternoon. But the expo has secured one of the most impressive "gets" of the season — three as-yet-unidentified University of Hawai'i football players.

The Saturday event will be the only non-UH public appearance in which the players will meet with the public.

ELITE MATCHUPS

The race itself will feature a rematch of last year's fiery battle between five-time winner Jimmy Muindi of Kenya and Ethiopia's Ambesse Tolassa. Last year, Muindi accused Tolassa, who would go on to win the race, of repeatedly elbowing him, clipping his heels and spitting on his shoes.

"Jimmy is really serious about getting his title back this year," said race director Jonathan Cross. "He's very focused on this race."

A new women's champion is assured. Last year's winner, Lyubov Denisova of Russia, was banned from racing this year after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Runner-up Alevtina Biktimirova is considered the favorite over newcomer Tatyana Petrova, who won the silver medal for the 3,000-meter steeplechase at this year's World Championships, and Eri Hayakawa, the only Japanese citizen to win the Honolulu Marathon (2003). Kaori Yoshida, who won the Hokkaido Marathon, is a darkhorse possibility.

The Honolulu Marathon will administer drug tests for the top three men's and women's finishers, the first drug testing to be done at the marathon since 2000.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.