Motorists on the highways and byways of Whidbey Island will need to be extra alert from 8 a.m. to around 2 p.m. Sunday, April 13, as they share the roadway with more than 2,500 runners in the seventh annual Nature’s Path Whidbey Island Marathon.

This year the route has been changed. The full marathon will begin at Cornet Bay Marina rather than north of the Deception Pass Bridge, as in the past. Half marathon participants start at 8:30 a.m. from Oak Harbor High School.

Both races will conclude in front of a welcoming crowd at the new Wildcat Memorial Stadium. In prior years, the races ended at at Town Park in Coupeville.

Although both courses have been radically changed, veteran participants have many fond memories of previous races.

Even though some are not participating in this year’s event for a variety of reasons, the memories linger.

James Nelson, who ran in last year’s marathon, and his wife, Kristen, who ran the half marathon, are both sitting this year out.

“My wife ran in the Phoenix Marathon so she is taking a break,” James Nelson said. “Me, I don’t have an excuse.”

Nelson said he and his wife participated in the Whidbey Island Marathon for two years.

“What I remember the most was the great weather we had and the old course was absolutely beautiful from the bridge to Coupeville,” he said.

Dean Riley said he has “too much going on,” so he won’t be running this year. “My best memory is from last year when I ran for the first time,” he said. “The rush of the crowd keeps you going, that’s what I remember most.”

The marathon was “one of the boxes you check off on your life list,” according to Matt Klope. “I did it once and it was a killer, but fun.”

Nevertheless, thousands will be running this year’s challenging course, which takes runners south on Highway 20 to Ducken Road and then east to Monkey Hill Road.

From there, runners proceed south to West Henni Road and then west to Imperial Lane before turning south onto Jones Road, later making their way onto Dike, Frostad, Taylor and West Crescent Harbor roads, then turning onto North Regatta Drive, Cemetery Road, Goldie Road, Ault Field Road, Heller Road, Swantown Street, Fort Nugent Avenue and Zlystra Road.

At this point, marathon runners continue west to West Beach Road, while the half marathon runners, who began their event at 8:30 a.m. from Oak Harbor High School, turn south on Zlystra Road to Hastie Lake Road and then east.

Half marathoners run east on Hastie Lake Road back to West Beach Road where they will merge with runners in the full marathon.