PORT ANGELES — There was no panic on the part of North Olympic Discovery Marathon organizers after six pilings and parts of a truss section of the 100-year-old bridge over the Dungeness River floated downstream after heavy rains in February.
Instead, organizers Michelle Little and Victoria Jones changed courses in midstream, so to speak.
With the help of longtime race director and Michelle’s husband, Larry, an altered course was devised with plenty of time in advance of Sunday’s race.
“Honestly, we are appreciative that we could come up with an option,” Michelle Little said.
“There was no panic whatsoever. My husband Larry is really the brains behind the marathon using the North Olympic Discovery Trail, and he was willing to come up with a reconfigured course.”
Larry Little came up with the idea for a marathon while exercising.
After riding Clallam Transit to Sequim and running back to his Port Angeles home, the idea was planted and blossomed with the first race in June of 2003.
“We really relied on him because he’s created marathon courses for this event three times, and we were lucky to have his expertise,” Michelle Little said.
The Littles and Jones looked at three factors when reconstructing the route.
“There were three factors we considered: safety for runners, experience for the runners, and the logistics of the event,” Michelle Little said.
“We didn’t want to stretch our volunteer resources too thin.”
The new route does use small stretches of Clallam County roadway.
“We had to work closely with the county since we are running on more county roads, but again, we are thankful they were receptive to working with us in such a tightened time frame,” Michelle Little said.
“I think we came out with a great course that runners will enjoy.”
A major boost to the marathon’s efforts at attracting runners is its continued status as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.
Received a boost
Organizers also were helped in this effort by a speedy review by USA Track & Field.
“The certification process requires about 30 pages of paperwork,” Michelle Little said.
“We let them [U.S.A. Track & Field] know that we would have to change the course and were working on our application.
“They really moved the process along. We exchanged a few emails to clarify things and received certification within 10 days of submitting our application.”
The marathon and marathon relay will begin at 8 a.m. Sunday at the Agnew soccer fields at the southeast corner of Old Olympic Highway and Barr Road.
It features two out-and-back stretches in the first half of the race.
The first is soon after the start, when the route veers from the Olympic Discovery Trail at North Barr Road, and then comes back.
The second out-and-back is much longer.
Runners leave the Olympic Discovery Trail near Siebert Creek, go under Old Olympic Highway, then veer right onto Wild Currant Way. They take a left onto Gehrke Road, run past the Lazy J tree farm and then take a right at Finn Hall Road.
They follow Finn Hall Road until the loop at Agnew Parkway. They take the loop, which returns them back towards Gehrke Road.
Same home stretch
The final 9 miles of the marathon remain unchanged.
“It’s a little bit flatter this year,” Michelle Little said of the course.
“Out there in the Dungeness Valley runners will get some great views of the Olympics and out toward the Strait of Juan de Fuca.”
The toughest stretch, Little finds, is the Bagley Creek hill, about 20 miles into the race.
“That is quite a steep climb at a tough part of the race,” she said.
“We always hear stories from the locals who go to the Bagley Creek hill and support the runners.
“We’ve heard of drumming groups and musicians who go out and put out inspirational beats.
“And others use chalk to write inspirational messages on the trail.”
“But it’s all downhill or on the flat stretch of the ODT after Morse Creeek, so it sets up for a fast finish.”
Good vantage points to cheer on runners exist at the Deer Park Overlook, near the old Rayonier Mill site and Francis Street Park.
The other races — half-marathon, 10K, 5K — remained similar to last year. (See all the courses online at www.nodm.com/course.)
There are nine divisions: junior (19 and younger), men’s open (all men), women’s open (all women), mixed open (men and women), masters open (40 and over), grand Olympic open (55 and over), family (limited to extended family), business (runners who work for the same business) and teacher and staff, with organizers encouraging all runners to be from the same school.
As in the past, there will be a 1.2-mile kids marathon Saturday.
This race starts and finishes at City Pier.
Registration is still open and will remain open until Saturday.
For more information, including registration details, visit www.tinyurl.com/PDN-NODM.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
