The weather forecast for Sunday(50’s, sunny, with a little cloud cover), should encourage close to 2,000 eager racers that will be toeing the line at 7th Annual Whidbey Island Marathon this weekend. Though the marathon course is a little different than last year’s race, it is an improvement as it returns to giving marathon participants the chance to experience one of kind views of the Puget Sound from the Deception Pass Bridge. The change also removes a long grinding hill from the opening mile of the race, which should receive thumbs up from past participants.
The WIM has three races slated for this weekend, with the 5k taking off on Saturday from the Oak Harbor waterfront and weaves runners through portions of a revitalized downtown district. The marathon and half marathon will kick off on Sunday morning at different locations and different times; however, everyone will be able to experience the vast hills that make Whidbey Island both a fun and challenging place to run. Having lived on Whidbey Island and run a former version of the half marathon course, my best advice would be run steady, hydrate early and save a lot for the hills in the closing miles.
Last year, top honors in the marathon went to Wyatt Golding of Seattle on the men’s side with a time of 2:52:05 and Amy Frazier of East Amherst, NY claimed the women’s title in 3:12:17. The half marathon titles in 2011 were claimed by Carre Joyce-Heineck in the women’s race in a time of 1:21:25, while local runner Andy Wyman of Oak Harbor picked up the men’s title on his home turf in 1:15:34. Two Oak Harbor runners, Jeffrey Graves and Emily Breck, picked up victories in the 5k with times of 19:12 and 22:03.
In addition to being a Boston Marathon Qualifier, the WIM is offering over $5000 in cash prizes to top finishers in the half and full marathon. With online registration closed, those wishing to jump in and experience Whidbey Island at its best can still register on Saturday from 11am to 7pm at the Expo which will be held at North Whidbey Middle School(67 NE IZETT ST, OAK HARBOR). Packet pick up will be available at the Expo during the same hours and will have numerous vendors along with information about Sunday’s races.
More information can be found here: 2012 Whidbey Island Marathon
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