RUSSELL, Ky. - The 27th annual Run By The River, scheduled for Saturday, may draw a record number of entrants.

"We've had an enormous amount of interest in this year's race," said Tim Gearhart, director of the event for the sponsoring Kiwanis Club of East Greenup County. "We've had inquiries from as far away as Fairmont, W.Va. and Louisville, Ky. and more than 40 runners are already pre-registered."

Run By The River features 5K and 10K road races, as well as a division for 5K walkers. The registration fee is $12 for those 14 and under and $18 for those 15 up. All entrants receive a T-shirt and trophies are awarded in 12 age groups for both men and women in each road race. Runners 10 and under receive a medal and trophies are awarded to wheelchair participants. There are no award for walkers.

Greenup County Judge-Executive Bobby Carpenter will fire the starting pistol to begin the races at 8:30 a.m. The registration table opens at 7 a.m.

The race course starts at the old Central School Building next to Super Quik in downtown Russell, travels along Riverside Drive underneath the Ironton-Russell Bridge, then along the River Road through Worthington and back. A turnaround point is on the River Road for 5K runners.

Russell and Worthington police will be helping with traffic control and the Greenup County Emergency Medical Service will be on stand-by.

"Support for this year's race is at record levels," Gearhart said, noting there are 22 sponsoring businesses.

Money raised by Run By The River is used for numerous civic projects sponsored by Kiwanis, including distribution of food baskets at Thanksgiving, scholarships to seniors at Russell and Raceland-Worthington high schools, and purchase of shoes for children through the county's school resource centers.