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Family in the running this weekend in Philly

Philadelphia Marathon activities will draw 60,000 spectators, 30,000 runners.

RUNNING HAS long been a part of the Caruso family. Mary Lynne "Lynne" Caruso's kids always ran, whether it be on high school track teams on Long Island or just for the sheer fun.

This weekend, when thousands of runners and spectators flock into the city for the 21st GORE-TEX Philadelphia Marathon, Lynne and her three daughters will be running for the fun of it.

Caruso and daughters Christine Riggs, 47, Annette Fiore, 46, and Michelle Marcincuk, 43, previously participated in 2008, when they all ran the full marathon. This weekend, they'll meet back in Philadelphia - Riggs is the only family member in the area, living in Paoli - to run, only this time with a third generation.

Caruso's granddaughter, Katherine Riggs, 16 - Christine's daughter - will join her mother, aunts and grandmother for the first time.

"We convinced her," said Caruso, 72. "It just kind of evolved. I'll call up and say, 'Hey, I'm going to go do such and such race, do you want to go along?' Mostly everyone says, 'Yeah, we'll go along.' It doesn't take too much coercing.

"We just like to get together as a family and do things."

Caruso, who now lives in Texas along with Marcincuk, will arrive in town today. She participated in last year's Philadelphia Marathon weekend activities and ran in the half-marathon.

The bulk of the family again will be doing the half-marathon, with the exception of Fiore - who now resides in Connecticut - who will run in the full marathon with her husband.

Will those family members running the half run alongside each other the whole time? Caruso isn't sure.

"We haven't really talked about that," Caruso said. "Michelle is pretty fast and little Katy has picked out a time of 2:15 for the race since it's her first half-marathon. Tina [Christine] and I will probably run with Katy, and Michelle will probably run ahead of us because she's a little bit faster."

Finish line hopefuls

The Philadelphia Marathon's men's record stands at 2:16:47, set by Joseph Ndetitu in the 2003 race. With the talented field this weekend, it's a mark that could easily be tested.

The 2013 Philadelphia Marathon men's winner, Abebe Mekuryia (2:17:35), from Ethiopia, is back to defend his title against last year's runner-up and fellow Ethiopian, Tesfaye Dube (2:18:14). Abiyot Endale, an Ethiopian who trains locally at the West Chester Track Club, brings a personal record of 2:15:34 from the 2013 Hartford Marathon to Sunday's race.

Americans expected to bring strong competition include Bordentown, N.J.'s Chris Pannone, who posted a time of 2:18:05 at the 2011 Boston Marathon. Connecticut's Christopher Zablocki, who is the current record-holder at the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach with a time of 2:17:49, should also be in contention.

On the women's side, a pair of Canadians are expected to be among the first finishers. The winner of the 2009 race, Jutta Merilainen, returns for the first time since her victory. Erin Maclean, winner of the Niagara Falls Half Marathon and the Nova Scotia Bluenose Half Marathon earlier this year, comes to Philadelphia looking to make a statement in her first-ever full marathon.

Pennsylvania residents Lauren Philbrook, of State College, and Samantha McNally, of Lancaster, are expected to contend.

Added incentive

Athletes from the United States can qualify for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials based on their times in a certified marathon. The goal of meeting the qualifying standards: the men's marathon, 2:18:00; men's half-marathon, 1:05:00; women's marathon, 2:43:00; and women's half-marathon, 1:15:00.

Joining the club

The Philadelphia Marathon recognizes those who have participated in at least 15 Philly marathons by putting them in a club known as "LEGacy Runners." This year, Maria Schaller, of Philadelphia, and Jesse Robbins, of Trenton, are welcomed into the club. Mark Sullivan, of Freeburg, Pa., and Bob Koen, a New Jersey resident, are the elder statesmen of the LEGacy Runners, having participated in all 20 (now 21) Philadelphia Marathons.

Traffic and road closures

More than 60,000 spectators and 30,000 runners are expected in the city for the weekend activities. Since the courses for the 8K, half-marathon and full marathon are all within Philadelphia's city limits, there will be multiple road closures in the area. See a complete list of closures here.

For more information, visit www.philadelphiamarathon.com.

Read all of the profiles, tips and coverage of the 2014 Philadelphia Marathon at philly.com/phillymarathon. Don't forget to join us there on race day to follow the action live.