With apologies to the old adage, but itB次元官网网址檚 records, not rules, which are meant to be broken.

Three of the Goodlife Fitness Victoria MarathonB次元官网网址檚 bigger records were reset last year, one of them 22 years old. And this Sunday thereB次元官网网址檚 no reason those three records, plus more, canB次元官网网址檛 be broken once more in the marathonB次元官网网址檚 33rd year.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a very good chance the menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 marathon records could fall once again,B次元官网网址� said Jonathan Foweraker, marathonB次元官网网址檚 elite athlete coordinator.

The marathonB次元官网网址檚 board of directors made a bold choice this year by loosening the regulations for the cash bonus to course record-breakers. Previously, the course record bonus of $5,000 was reserved to Canadian citizens, meaning last yearB次元官网网址檚 winner, Thomas Omwenga, who earned $3,000 for the win, was unable to collect the added $5,000 course bonus.

That changes this year as the menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 marathon bonuses, including $1,000 for the half-marathon, are extended to permanent residents and refugees who have been domiciled in Canada for at least a year.

Omwenga returns after breaking Steve OsadiukB次元官网网址檚 2006 time of two hours, 16 minutes and 49 seconds last year with a time of 2:14:33.

B次元官网网址淥mwenga has a better personal-best than that, and we must note that in 2011 he ran a marathon in Montreal the week before. This time heB次元官网网址檚 rested up,B次元官网网址� Foweraker said.

The Canadian-based Kenyan has won two marathons already this year, in Manitoba and Quebec, and his last race was NiagaraB次元官网网址檚 Run for Grapes half-marathon, which he won on Sept. 23.

The competition is tight in the menB次元官网网址檚 elite pack with 2010-winner Philip Samoei, who came second last year at 2:25:41 and, Cache CreekB次元官网网址檚 Ryan Day, who was third last year at 2:26:42  also returning.

Elites keying in on the womenB次元官网网址檚 marathon are Gillian Clayton, an Ironman triathlete who has a personal best of 2:54 from 2011, Hallie Jansen, the 2004-winner, who ran 2:45 in 2011, 2010-winner Catrin Jones, who ran 2:48 last year and Nadyia Fry, third in 2011 with 2:55.

Eyeing up first in the womenB次元官网网址檚 half-marathon is another Canadian-based Kenyan, Lucy Njeri, who smashed the marathon record of with a time of 2:37:56 in 2011.

Cracking the womenB次元官网网址檚 half-marathon record might be beyond Njeri, however, as Natasha Wodak set the bar high with her course record of 1:15:27 last year.

Other notables for Sunday: the masterful movement of Jim Finlayson. Now 40, the local runner joins the masters ranks. For the fourth year in a row the Victoria Marathon will act as the B.C. Championships. The advent of an expanded Elite B category means free entry to more runners, particularly women, from the local scene, rather than just international runners.

Cycling Tara Whitten

Olympic cyclist Tara Whitten, who won bronze in London in track cycling, will lead the marathon on Sunday.

A select few cyclists ride about 10 to 20 metres ahead of the lead runner to show them the course and ensure that all marshals are in place with a police motorbike.

Seven cyclists in all will lead out on Sunday, guiding the top male and female in the marathon and half-marathon, and the eight-km road race.

ItB次元官网网址檚 the first time such a high-profile cyclists has joined this portion of the event.