Runners take your mark, get set, go.

The second annual Whidbey Island Wings of Gold Marathon will be held at 8 a.m., Saturday, April 12, two weeks earlier than last year’s event. Organizers hope the date change, which won’t coincide with Holland Happening weekend like last year, will allow for a little less chaos and for more local participants.

“We wanted to hold it a week earlier so it wouldn’t conflict,” event coordinator Jim Toole said.

People from all over the world flocked to last year’s inaugural race, coming from as far away as England to take part in the Boston Marathon qualifying run. Participants are signed up from even farther away for this year’s race.

“We have them coming from as far away as Africa this year,” Toole said.

Although the winners of last year’s race came from afar, many local athletes also fared well, including Sharon Jensen of Oak Harbor. Running in her first marathon ever, the mother of four finished in seventh place in her age bracket and most impressively qualified for the Boston Marathon with a time of 3:42.27.

“It was really great to be able to do my first marathon in a community where I live,” she said.

Jensen will only compete in the half-marathon this year, because slightly over a week later, April 21, she will make her way to Massachusetts where she will compete in just her second marathon ever, the Boston Marathon.

“It may be a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Jensen said.

Those running the full 26.2 mile Whidbey Island marathon course will start out on Rosario Road, cross the bridge and weave their way through the country roads outlying Oak Harbor until they reach the finish line in Coupeville.

“We call it a very scenic, very hilly course,” Toole said.

For a brief period of time the runners will make their way through the city of Oak Harbor. Participants will make a jaunt from NE and SE Regatta Drive to SE Pioneer Way. From there they will proceed through SE Midway Boulevard and follow SE Bayshore Drive through City Beach, to SW Beeksma Drive, to Highway 20 and finally continue southbound on SW Scenic Heights Street toward Coupeville. Most running will to be done on the sidewalks, however a 15 minute closure of East Whidbey Avenue and SE Regatta has been requested by Toole for the start of the half marathon, which begins at 8:30 a.m. at Olympic View Elementary.

New to this year’s event is a 10-mile walk that starts at City Beach Park and ends at Town Park in Coupeville.

“The walk is pretty cool actually,” Toole said. I guess it could be called a park to park walk.”

Overall this year’s Wings of Gold Marathon is expected to draw more than 1,000 people, compared to 650 last year.

“Definitely last year was a success for a first-year marathon,” Toole said. “We’re already well ahead of our count last year.”

Due to the large turnout of athletes, Toole asks for the support of anyone who wishes to volunteer their time to the event.

“We’re in desperate need of volunteers,” he said.

Volunteers can call (206) 729-9972 or email to: whidbeyvolunteer@hotmail.com.

Those runners who register between March 16 and April 6 pay a lesser amount of $60 for the full marathon, $35 for the half marathon and $30 for the 10-mile walk. Registration at the EXPO, which is held at the Best Western Harbor Plaza from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, April 11, is $75 for the full marathon, $40 for the half marathon and $35 for the 10-mile walk.

People can register via mail at: wings of gold, c/o Pro-Motion events, Inc., P.O. Box 31789, Seattle, WA 98103 or register online at www.whidbeyislandmarathon.com or www.ontherun.com/wingsofgold before midnight, April 6.

Proceeds will support the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Island County.