The half marathon main event of the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run meanders along the Huron River and finishes at a lower elevation (820 feet) than it begins (873 feet).

A downhill run, right?

“You would never know it by running it,” says Randy Step, who has competed in the half-marathon more than 10 times. “It’s unique. Most races would not lay out the course that way, because it’s pretty devastating.”

With a series of slopes and hills along the course, runners of the half marathon end up climbing 426 feet worth of inclines. A Tour de France mountain stage it is not, but the prolonged inclines (most notably along Delhi and Main Street) allow strong runners to stand out, and after 38 years the course has earned the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run a solid reputation.

Steven Muturi of Rochester Hills finished first in 2010, completing the Dexter-Ann Arbor half-marathon course in 1 hour, 6 minutes, 35 seconds.

File photo

Stephen Muturi of Rochester Hills won half-marathon last year with a time of 1 hour, 6 minutes, 35 seconds. Claudia Nero of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., was the first woman to finish, crossing in 1:18:49. In all, 2,412 runners competed in the half-marathon.

Scotland native and Ann Arbor resident Adrian Carnie, 39, will run the half-marathon on Sunday for the sixth year in a row. He finished 182nd overall last year, completing the course in 1:34:27. He says the finale is challenging.

“The Main Street finish is a beast,” he said.

2005 champion Todd Snyder agrees that Main Street finish is difficult, noting “whoever chose the finish is a little sadistic.”

But Snyder believes the biggest challenge lies at the seven-mile marker.

“The Delhi Bridge climb, it’s a certain point in the race where you’ve been running for a long time and still have a long way to go. If you’re in the top 10, it can get pretty lonely at the point.”

Competitors in the half-marathon will be vying for a $1,000 prize that goes to the winner. Along with cash, the race also carries the distinction being the Road Runners Club of America state half-marathon championship.

For those not ready to make the 13.1-mile commitment, the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run also offers a competitive 10-kilometer and 5K run, 10K and 5K walks, and a kids fun run on Saturday at Pioneer High School.

Seven musical acts ranging from acoustic jazz to the Gratitude Steel Band will be spread out over the course. For many, the end of the race is the beginning of the fun. Sound Investment DJ and Jill Jack will perform at the finish line, helping ring in the less physically demanding activities of award ceremonies and the conveniently timed Taste of Ann Arbor.

Online registration for all races is available until 8 p.m. on Friday. Day-of-race, in-person registration also is available.

Dexter-Ann Arbor Run schedule

Saturday
4 p.m.: Kids run at Pioneer High School

Sunday
8 a.m.: 10K run starts at Kingsley-North Main in Ann Arbor.
8:30 a.m.: Half-marathon starts at Creekside Intermediate School in Dexter
9 a.m.: 5K run and walk starts at Forsythe Middle School in Ann Arbor
9:45 a.m.: Awards ceremonies start near finish line
11 a.m.: Taste of Ann Arbor on Main Street in Ann Arbor

Bob Gross covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at robertgross@annarbor.com