Marathon registration reaches new high

Published 2:17 pm Wednesday, April 9, 2014

The popularity of the Whidbey Island Marathon and affiliate races is climbing to new heights this year.

More than 3,100 people have registered for marathon, half-marathon, 10K, 5K and 1K races, which is up from 1,749 last year.

That’s the most participants in the event’s 13-year history, race director Tamra Sipes said.

“Our early bird promotion started the ball rolling,” Sipes said. “We got 1,500 runners within a month and a half. It just continued to grow.”

All five of the running events will take place Sunday, April 13, beginning with the marathon at 7:15 a.m. at Deception Pass State Park.

Runners will travel over the bridge and finish at Windjammer Park on the Oak Harbor waterfront.

The bridge will be closed to traffic at 7:10 a.m. then will reopen at  7:45 a.m.

The half-marathon will start at 8:30 a.m. on Beeksma Drive on North Whidbey, followed 15 minutes later by runners in the 10K and 5K.

The kids 1K will begin at 11:30 a.m., or immediately following the awards ceremony at Windjammer Park. That event will feature a school challenge. The elementary school that has the most kids present on race day will receive a $500 check from Blue Fox Drive-Inn.

About 1,930 runners have registered for the half-marathon, and roughly 640 for the full marathon, Sipes said. They will be greeted by more than 600 volunteers helping put on the event., a Boston Marathon qualifier.

At the finish, “Woodrush” will play live music. Runners in all races will receive a T-shirt and finisher medal.

A free Expo will take place from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday at North Whidbey Middle School in Oak Harbor, where runners may still register.

Sipes said good race reviews in national running publications helped registrations soar.