PORT ANGELES — It started with more than 350 children running past the Port Angeles waterfront Saturday. Now it’s time for the real deal.
The North Olympic Discovery Marathon, which attracts runners from 40 different states and four countries, comes to the Sequim-Port Angeles area today for the ninth year in a row.
An event record 2,300 runners are expected to compete in the marathon, half-marathon, 10-kilometer and 5K races.
It’s a number so large, races officials may not have enough T-shirts and medals on hand for all of the runners who cross the finish line at Port Angeles City Pier.
“It’s just oversold. This is crazy,” race organizer Larry Little said. “We sold out the end of April sometime.
“As soon as that happened, the next day [organizer] Michelle [Little] had 60-something emails saying, ‘I’ve got to do it, I’ve got to do it,’ because of this family member or whatever.
“We opened up 100 more spots, and all of those were gone in a day and a half.”
Since all of the shirts and medals must be ordered months in advance, the additional registrations have presented organizers with a unique problem; one Larry Little is happy to have.
“Our focus has been on producing a high-quality event, and in a lot of ways the race being sold out . . . it enhances the prestige of the event,” he said.
“We wanted to others to perceive Port Angeles producing something that represents high quality, and I think we achieved that.”
More than 500 children were registered for Saturday’s 1.2-mile Kids Marathon in downtown Port Angeles, according to Little, although many did not participate in the event.
But that doesn’t even match the number of volunteers (600-plus) that will hand out drinks, T-shirts and medals for today’s various races.
That includes all of the individual “finish-line buddies” who greet each runner as they finish the race and personally hand them a drink and medal.
“This is a much more personal experience, and that’s why we’re selling out,” said Little, who estimates the event generates $1.2 million each year for the Peninsula.
“One of the reasons I’m pretty passionate about long-distance events is it’s one of those rare things in life that — except for whoever comes in second — everybody wins.
“A lot of these people, this is something they have really looked at for a long time. It’s amazing the stories and the level of emotion people have at the finish line. It chokes me up.
“We can provide these people the opportunity to feel like a hero.”
The marathon starts at Sequim’s Carrie Blake Park at 9 a.m. and ends 26.2 miles later at City Pier in Port Angeles.
The 13.1-mile half-marathon starts at the same time at Agnew Soccer Fields, 1240 N. Barr Road, between Port Angeles and Sequim.
Meanwhile, today’s 10K and 5K races start at 9 a.m. at City Pier in Port Angeles.
“Come down to City Pier. That’s where it is really fun to watch the finish,” Little said.
“If you are at all interested in volunteering, you can come down and volunteer as a finish line buddy.”