NORTH OLYMPIC DISCOVERY MARATHON: Event keeps getting bigger each year

PORT ANGELES — They come from not only all around the nation, but all around the world to run in the beauty of the Olympic Peninsula.

So far this year, registrations for the 17th annual North Olympic Discovery Marathon are up about 10 percent over last year’s numbers.

Race director Victoria Jones said 2,355 had registered for the race as of Tuesday. Last year, more than 2,200 runners competed in the marathon, half-marathon, 10K and 5K races.

“There’s been a steady increase in participation, especially in the 5K and the 10K,” Jones said. “The relay teams are gaining tremendously.”

Jones said people from Canada, Massachusetts, Maine and Pennsylvania have signed up for the race — and even runners from as far away as Germany, Mexico and Singapore. A total of 65 runners from British Columbia have already signed up for the race.

And many of the same runners return year after year to enjoy the race.

“They love the beauty of the course. They love that they’re running on the Olympic Discovery Trail and not running with cars and traffic on a road,” Jones said.

She said one of the big changes this year is more of the finish line festivities have been moved to the Port Angeles Pier, including a bigger beer garden.

Jones said people can continue to register online at www.nodm.com until 5 p.m. Friday. People can also register from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Red Lion Inn.

Jones said there will be 32 relay teams in the marathon this year. Sixteen teams finished the race last year.

So far 620 volunteers have signed up for the race, but the NODM can always use more, especially as finish line “buddies.” If people are interested in volunteering, they can contact Jones at nodm@nodm.com.

One thing for certain, there is going to be a new winner this year. Last year’s winner Keith Laverty of Bainbridge Island, who set a record with a time of 2 hours, 34 minutes, 44 seconds, is not running the marathon this year. Instead, he is running the 10K.

And as usual, if people want to go to the starting or finish lines, they need to arrive early as there will be huge crowds.

The weekend event will begin with the kids’ marathon at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Port Angeles City Pier.

Jones said the weather forecast for race day calls for near-perfect conditions. The forecast calls for temperatures in the low 50s in the morning and a high Sunday of 64 F with mostly sunny skies.

The marathon course begins at 7 Cedars Casino in Blyn and will follow the Olympic Discovery Trail through Sequim Bay State Park, across the Johnston Creek trestle, through downtown Sequim, over the Dungeness River Railroad trestle bridge, and then will meander through the farms and pastures of the Sequim Valley until hitting the waterfront of the Strait of Juan de Fuca just east of Port Angeles.

The marathon walkers race begins at 6 a.m., and the main field of the marathon begins at 7:30 a.m.

The half-marathon begins at the Storm King soccer fields on Barr Road at 8:30 a.m.. The 10K race begins at the Deer Park Overlook at Buchanan Road at 8:30 a.m. while the 5K race begins at the Port Angeles City Pier at 8:30 a.m., heads east of town and doubles back into town.

All the races finish at the Port Angeles City Pier.

The first 5K runners should arrive at about 8:45 a.m., the 10K runners about 9:15 a.m., the half-marathon runners about 9:45 a.m. and the marathon runners about 10:15 a.m.

In addition to the beer garden, there will be plenty of food, live music and massages for the racers.