Well over 3,000 runners are expected to participate in this year's Ramble, a turnout that could match or exceed last year's record of 3,500, according to race director and founder Martin Hanley.

But, said Hanley, "It's not about quantity. We want to ensure it's a quality experience for everybody who does show up. It's not a number's games at this point; My mission these next couple days is to do everything to make sure it goes smoothly."

The race, which features professional actors giving lively readings of works from the Joyce canon as runners traverse the fast 6.2-mile course, has grown at rate a comparable to that of the 20th century Irish author's ego between "Portrait of the Artist" and "Ulysses." It is now considered one of the premier running events in New England.

This year's race takes on extra cache with its status, for the second year in a row, as host the New England USA Track & Field Grand Prix 10K Championship. The championship designation ensures that some of the region's most talented runners will be at the start line on East Street, Hanley said.

Also for the second consecutive year, the race will begin and end at Endicott Estate. From there, the lasso-shaped course heads though Dedham Square to Precinct 1, onto Rte. 109 into Riverdale before doubling back onto Ames Street toward the home stretch.

From lightning-fast Kenyans looking to shatter last year's course record to local residents looking to set a personal best, runners of all stripes are looking forward to the race Hanley bills as "where prose meets the road."

"The Ramble is a unique, spirited race - one of the best road races I've run," said Brian Clinton, 22, of Dedham. He's run's the race for the past six years and is aiming to beat his own Ramble best of around 41 minutes.

While a 10K race might seem plenty daunting for most, a trio of friends is planning an unusual race day itinerary that laughs at that premise: they'll run the course three times, twice before the race and once during.

Why?

One of the women, Sara Schaffener of Boston, explains that she and friends Karyn Alman and Mary Woodward of Waitsfield, Vt. are preparing to run the Burlington, Vt. Marathon next month. They wanted to run the Ramble, but their training schedule called for a long run on Sunday. So they hatched a plan that lets them do both.

"With the excitement of running with other people, that should make the last round easy, relatively speaking, where normally it might be a tiny bit monotonous," said Schaffner, a first-time Rambler. "This lets us do our practical long run, spend time with friends and be part of this fun event."

Runners can register at The Dedham Mall tomorrow from noon to 6 p.m. and online at www.ramble.org. Registration costs $20.

"I don't sell the event; I let the reputation of the event stand for itself," said Hanley. "This event is all about community. With our busy lives, we don't often share an experience with our community, but that's what this is all about. That's what it means to me, and to a lot of the volunteers who work on the race."

The James Joyce Ramble has contributed more than $250,000 to the Dana-Farber Institute for Cancer Research since 1984.

Race sponsors include National Amusements, The Neponset Valley Daily News, WBOS-FM, WCVB-TV, Dedham Savings Bank, Vinny Testa's, Harpoon Brewing Co., Dedham Mall Merchants Association, Dedham Community Theatre, Fallon Ambulance, Walley Insurance and Total Image.

Also on Sunday, in conjunction with the Ramble, is the 9th Annual Take-A-Walk fund-raiser sponsored by Dedham Savings Bank. Coordinator Bob Stanley founded the 4.5-mile walk in memory of his mother Janice Stanley, a longtime employee of Dedham Savings Bank employee and a Dana Farber cancer patient for two years. This weekend marks the seventh anniversary of her passing and also what would have been her 60th birthday.

"Last year we had a great turnout and hope to get the same this year," Stanley said. "It's a great event to bring kids - we had many baby carriages out there last year."

To participate in Take-A-Walk, call 781-953-5632. To sponsor a participant, mail pledges to Bob Stanley, 29 Hermaine Ave., Dedham, MA 02026.