The 2011 Whidbey Island Marathon will take place on roads throughout North and Central Whidbey Island April 9 to 10.

The first event, the 5K Fun Run/Walk, begins Saturday at 9 a.m. at Flintstone Park, and travels from City Beach Street to the Oak Harbor Marina and back. The entry fee on race day is $30.

The full and both half marathons begin Sunday. The full marathon starts at Cornet Bay Marina near Deception Pass at 7:30 a.m. while the half marathon participants start at 8 a.m. from North Whidbey Middle School.

Motorists should be advised to watch for runners on the following sections of roadway: from Highway 20 to Ducken Road, from Monkey Hill Road to West Henni Road, from Imperial Lane to Jones Road, and then on Dike, Frostad, Taylor, Sunset and West Crescent Harbor roads.

Racers will also be running along Whidbey Avenue, Regatta Drive, Torpedo Road, Maui Avenue, Bayshore Drive, Scenic Heights, Balda and Miller roads.

Although most roads will open to runners and vehicle traffic, Scenic Heights will be closed from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to all traffic except local residents. Whidbey Avenue, east of Glencoe Drive, and Regatta Drive, between SE Fourth and NE Taftson, will be closed to all traffic from 7:45 to 9 a.m.

The Washington State Patrol, the Oak Harbor Police Department, the Island County Sheriff’s Office and Whidbey Island Naval Air Station security officers will be patrolling the event to manage traffic and help keep the runners safe.

For a more complete description of the full and half marathon courses and other information go to the marathon website at www.whidbeyislandmarathon.com.