Several hundred runners have already registered, according to race organizer Danny Gough.

The field - which already boasts runners from 33 states, as well as three from England -- will feature some colorful characters, including Dean Kamazes. The ultramarathoner plans to make the Breakers Marathon his Rhode Island stop and the 31st marathon of an ambitious quest to run 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states.

Gough wants to remind runners who have yet to sign up for the race, which will benefit the Aquidneck Island public schools' athletic departments, that they can save $5 on their entry fee if they register before Friday. The fee increases from $50 to $55 at that point. After Oct. 7, it goes up again to $65.

Online registration is available at https://www.needtorace.com/BREAKERS/signup.php.

A mail-in registration form can be printed out at http://www.breakersmarathon.org/mailregform2.html.

Additional information can be found at http://breakersmarathon.com, by calling (401) 619-0709 or by e-mailing danny@breakersmarathon.org.

Gough will have a booth set up at the 18th annual Aquafina Taste of Rhode Island food and beverage festival, Sept. 23 and 24 at the Newport Yachting Center, located on America's Cup Avenue in Newport. Those who stop by the booth, which will be at the Taste of Rhode Island's Healthy Living Village, to register for the marathon will receive a free 2006 Breakers Marathon commemorative poster.

Beginning at 2 p.m. on Sept. 23, Gough, who is the defending champion of the Breakers Marathon, will attempt to run on a treadmill for 24 hours straight to benefit the American Diabetes Association.

"I've been doing four-hour runs to prepare and will increase to eight-hour runs next week," said Gough, who will be accompanied by a treadmill relay team that will be running in one-hour blocks. "I've been told by people who have attempted similar runs that a deliberate pace and appropriate intake of calories throughout the run is essential. Hopefully, people will be inspired and give to a great cause."

Certified instructors from Bridge to Fitness health club, of which Gough is a co-owner, will also be on-hand, teaching free classes on yoga, stretching, nutrition and family fun exercises.

Training regimen

For those of you who have been following Gough's Breakers Marathon "Get Out There!" training program, his advice for weeks 13 and 14 is very much the same as the previous two weeks.

You are starting to enter the portion of your training "known to most seasoned runners as the "peak mileage" part of marathon training, before tapering in the final three weeks before the race," he says.

"Almost every runner gauges his or her training by weekly mileage," said Gough. "While using one's weekly mileage can be very useful for getting an idea of the volume of training, it should not be the only measuring stick. How much one is training is a combination of both volume and intensity. It is important not to get hung up on logging a set number of weekly miles.

"As stated before, this training program is a general outline of the marathon training schedule so it is OK if you are slightly behind or ahead of the training program or missed a workout here and there," Gough continued.

"While peak mileage weeks are an important part of the marathon training process, if you did miss a day or two of training due to injury or illness or any other reason, don't try to cram two days of training into one. Lost days are simply lost and can never be gotten back again. And one or two missed days doesn't negate all of the other training you have done. Stay confident and strong!"

Here are the next two weeks of training:

First-Time Marathoner

Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun

Week 13 (34 miles) Off 4 6 5 3 12 4

Week 14 (35 miles) Off 4 4 4 off 20 3

First-Time and Intermediate-Level Marathoner

Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun

Week 13 (36 miles) Off 5 6 4 4 13 4

Week 14 (37 miles) Off 5 5 4 off 20 3

Veteran to Competitive Marathoner

Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun

Week 13 (39 miles) Off 6 6 6 4 13 4

Week 14 (42 miles) Off 6 6 5 3 19 3

Previous installments of the training program can be found at http://www.beloblog.com/Projo_Blogs/running/.

Endurance champion

Running 100 miles in seven races over eight days, Bob Jackman of Warwick won the ENDURrun Championship, a challenging endurance event held from Aug. 13-20 in Waterloo, Canada.

Log on to http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/running/2006/08/25/ to read a question-and-answer session with the 24-year-old member of the Tuesday Night Turtles, as well as a detailed account of Jackman's win provided by his coach, Ray Nelson.

Also check out the Projo.com Running Blog for other news this week that includes the start up of the CLCF fall cross country program, Paul Reilly of Smithfield's win at the Deary Memorial 5-Miler in Putnam, Conn., the availability of race entries into the Nov. 5 ING New York City Marathon and the World Marathon Majors' strong stance against the use of performance-enhancing drugs.