It’s probably the toughest course on the Sub 5 race circuit, and in past years, the heat made it even tougher.

For runners planning to run Monday morning’s Bangor Labor Day 5-miler at 9 a.m., they should expect a perfect day to run.

“I’ve seen in the forecast that it will be a fine day for everybody that participates,” said race director Tracy Willette.

That’s a good sign as runners may want to consider a conservative start on the course as they could be hurting with a fast start.

“It’s fairly flat when it leaves the start and heads downtown,” Willette said. “Most folks get a steady start in anticipation of that big hill.”

That “big hill” is Holland Street hill, Maine’s own version of Heartbreak Hill, right in the middle of the race. After it’s ascended, runners have a virtual all-downhill finish waiting.

“The downhill on Union Street could be the finest downhill in all of racing,” Willette said. “When folks get to the pool [on Union Street] it’s kind of the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Willette expects a good turnout as the race has attracted bigger fields the past several years with 134 finishing last year.

“We have had larger turnouts each year, hovering between 100 and 130 the past few years,” Willette said. “Sub 5 has been a huge help, and will play a larger role as one of the sponsors this year.”

Willette said that the city of Bangor is no longer the race’s main sponsor. The Sub 5 track club has taken over, as budget restraints prevented the city from funding the race.

“Sub 5 took over in effort to keep the event moving,” he said.

Runners can pre-register through Friday at the Parks and Recreation building on Main Street, up until 4:30 p.m. while race-day registration gets underway at 8 a.m. For additional information contact 992-4490.

Maine’s largest 5K

One of the top races in the Northeast will take place right here in Maine later this month.

The Eliot Festival Day 5K, also known as Maine’s Largest 5K road race, is Saturday, Sept. 25th starting at 8:30 a.m. on Route 103 at the fire station.

It’s known as Maine’s biggest 5K for a reason. More than 1,000 runners from all over New England, New York and as far away as Atlanta and Anchorage, Alaska, completed the race last year. It’s a very fast course too, as last year’s winner, Cain Williams of Providence, R.I., burned the loop in 14:29, a course record and average of 4:40 per mile. That record is the fastest time run on a Maine 5K road race course, as is the women’s record (16:06 by Cathy O’Brien in 1996).

Registration is $14 before race day and $16 on race day (registration gets under way at 6:45 a.m. at the fire station). Any questions or for an application contact 439-3707, e-mail eliot5k@fcgnetworks.net or log onto www.eliotmaine.org/roadrace.htm.

Finishing Kick: You have a plethora of racing options this weekend.

On Friday, head to Portland for the Maine Running Hall of Fame 5K at 6:30 p.m. along the scenic Back Cove Path. On Sunday, the Lewiston/Auburn Bridge 5K run will go off starting at 8 a.m. In Camden, the Maine Sport Triathlon (.5-mile swim, 27-mile bike, 6.6-mile run) will be held at Barrett’s Cove on Megunticook Lake, starting at 9. Up the coast on Mount Desert Island, anybody looking for a challenging long run can give the Acadia Trail Blazer 50-miler a shot.