Marathon set for next week….

People cheer, all along the course....

The seventh running of the San Juan Marathon/Half Marathon is set for next week on the 7th…here’s more from Paul Hopkins at the Fitness Club:

Despite the current economic situation, the Kings San Juan Island Marathon and Half Marathon is yielding healthy numbers, at least as far as early registrations go.  Event organizers report that as of May 5, the event is 21% ahead of last year at the same time.

“Traditionally, most of the registrations come in 4 weeks prior to the race, with a surge of day-before registrations at the expo.  So we’re very pleased with these early numbers and hope the trend continues.” Says race co-director Paul Hopkins.

Clark Gilbert, also co-director, pins some of the early success on a more aggressive billing of the race as “challenging..  “The hills on our course have names, just none we can print,” says Gilbert.

Annie Thiessen, a past marathon participant, gave her impression of the event in a recent edition of NW Runner Magazine.  She says, “San Juan Island was the toughest course I have ever done. That course was tailor-made for a suicidal, clinically depressed masochist on heavy narcotics. None of the hills are that large but the hills never stop.  You are either running up or down. Understand, I did run it to redeem myself from dropping out at mile 19 of Newport the day before so I was a bit tired.  Nevertheless, it was a total bear.”

For more information, to register or volunteer, visit www.sanjuanislandmarathon.org or call 378-4449.

You can support the San Juan Update by doing business with our loyal advertisers, and by making a one-time contribution or a recurring donation.