Windjammer Park will once again play host to the event's festivities including the start line for all races (except the marathon) and will act as the finish line and festivities after the race! We will feature live music, kids play areas and of course the gorgeous waterfront backdrop at the finish line!
THIS IS NOT A CLOSED COURSE, PLEASE BE AWARE. The courses will be coned, flagged and marked for your protection. We will have course monitors, certified flaggers, and police stationed throughout the course, but please be aware of all traffic. We will have motorcycles as well as HAM Radio Operators monitoring the course and basic first aid needs available at all water stations. Water stations will be located approximately every 2 miles along the course. There will also be electrolyte replacement drinks at every other water station as well as energy gels on the full marathon throughout the course. All participants will be chip-timed.
FULL MARATHON DESCRIPTION
The Whidbey Island Marathon will start at Bowman Bay Boat Launch, north of the Deception Pass Bridge. Marathoners will wind their way south from Bowman Bay and Pass Lake, across the Deception Pass Bridge. The Whidbey Island Marathon will once again be the only race that closes the bridge for runners. Once clear of the bridge, runners will wind through tranquil farmland meandering towards Oak Harbor. Marathoners will run a loop through the Silver Lake area before passing by the US Navy Seaplane Base and entering the City of Oak Harbor. From here, the race features a downhill run towards the finish line. Runners will cruise along the waterfront as they enter Windjammer Park, running along the promenade before reaching the finish line.
HALF MARATHON DESCRIPTION
The half marathon will start and finish along the water at Windjammer Park. After leaving the park, participants will wind their way through Oak Harbor's historic downtown area and along the waterfront before running west through the Marsh Trail to Scenic Heights. At this point, runners will complete an out/back through Scenic Heights and Penn Cove (this section is very similar to years past). After exiting Scenic Heights, and heading towards the finish line, runners will complete their half marathon experience along the Windjammer Park Promenade before finishing in the newly remodeled park to cheering spectators and live music!
10K & 5K RUN/WALK DESCRIPTION
The 10K and 5K routes will once again follow the half marathon course, starting and finishing at the newly remodeled Windjammer Park. Once exiting, they too will wind through Oak Harbor's historic downtown area and along the waterfront. They will also run west through the Marsh Trail to the Scenic Heights neighborhood. Shortly after, the 5K course will turn around, heading towards the finish line as the 10K continues along the half marathon path. After the 10K turnaround, both races will join together again, heading towards the finish line back through the Marsh Trail and on the Windjammer Park Promenade before finishing at the newly remodeled Windjammer Park on the Oak Harbor Waterfront!
Race Time Limit
The full marathon has a 6-hour course time limit, and the half marathon has a 4:30 time limit. If you are unable to make certain checkpoints by the time needed to meet the six-hour limit, we will pick you up and move you forward to the next checkpoint and average your current pace time accordingly to add to your overall finish time. Please allow us to do this as we have to meet road closure opening times.