Sequim Gazette staff
With a few days left, space is nearly full for the many events of the 11th Annual North Olympic Discovery Marathon and Half Marathon.
Race director Larry Little said so far they have about 1,800 people registered for the events on Sunday, June 2, with registration still open for all events. He anticipates about 2,000 people turning out again this year.
“It’s stayed steady for about the past four or five years,” Little said. “We’ve limited the number because we have to keep the quality of the event up. We have 650 volunteers and we’ve been hesitant to push it up past that number if we needed more.”
Volunteers help coordinate the full and half marathons, 5K and 10K relays, marathon walk and Kids marathon.
“The half marathon is the largest event and they always are,” Little said. “Every marathon in the country that’s the case.”
This year, see the Run for Joe for the first time: Capt. Joseph Schultz’s family members, fellow soldiers, friends and others who were inspired by the fallen soldier’s life will come together to run for and/or support the Captain Joseph House Foundation. People interested in learning more can contact Leslie O’Brien at leslieobrien@yahoo.com.
The full marathon starts at Carrie Blake Park at 9 a.m. on Sunday and the half marathon starts at the Agnew Soccer Fields at 9 a.m.
From Sequim, they’ll run a loop toward Keeler Road, Sequim Bay Road, through the park again and onto Blake Avenue before heading west on the north side of Washington Street to Fifth Avenue. They’ll turn north, go east on Fir Street, north on Sequim Avenue and end up on Hendrickson Road where they will follow the Olympic Discovery Trail to the finish line at Port Angeles City Pier.
Half marathoners will start at Barr Road near Old Olympic Highway and run southwest using Barr Road. They will make a short dogleg on North Barr Road before meeting the Olympic Discovery Trail.
Walkers doing the full marathon follow the same course as runners but begin in Sequim at 7 a.m., whereas half marathon walkers will begin at the same time as the runners in Agnew.
For relay teams, corporate and high school teams of five are available and start at 9 a.m. in Sequim.
For the 5k/10k events, runners start at 9 a.m. Sunday on the Port Angeles City Pier and run east on the Olympic Discovery Waterfront Trail.
They’ll turn south at Ennis Street, follow to Front Street, turn east and follow 1/2 block to the Rayonier truck access road. Then they’ll turn north and follow the creek to the Rayonier parking lot. 5K runners turn west toward the finish line at City Pier. 10K runners turn east and follow the Olympic Discovery Trail to the turnaround.
Children of all ages can race at 4 p.m. Saturday from the City Pier by registering from 2:45 p.m.-3:30 p.m. unless pre-registered. They’ll run on the Olympic Discovery Trail east to Francis Street Park, turn around and finish at the same finish line that the marathoners will be running across on Sunday. The course will be monitored by course marshals for safety. Parents are welcome to walk or run with their children.
For more information on registration, visit nodm.com.
