Despite recent political unrest, preparations for next year’s Whidbey Island Marathon are going well, according to the new race director.
Melissa Riker gave an upbeat assessment of her work organizing the city-owned event to a very receptive City Council Tuesday night.
The Elks Lodge won the contract to run the marathon earlier this year with member Riker serving as the race director.
The council had asked her to give periodic updates on the event.
Riker said she’s having luck lining up sponsors, including a physical therapy business, Walmart and two hotels. The Best Western and Candlewood Suites will be the “host hotels” and block off rooms so there’s enough space for all of the runners.
Best Western donateduse of its ballroom for the marathon’s expo.
The Lions Club, she said, is handling the beer garden.
Riker said she’s been attending expos around the region to scout out vendors and advertise to runners.
“I got to kind of feel those guys out and let them know about our race,” she said, “and let them know about Whidbey Island.”
Registration has been open for a month, she said, and 111 people have signed up. In addition, she said she was contacted by a Colorado running club that may send runners who don’t get into the Boston Marathon.
This year’s marathon had 3,115 registered participants, former race director Tamra Sipes reported earlier this year.
While it was a big increase from the previous year, Oak Harbor Mayor Scott Dudley was upset because she had cut registration fees in a promotion after he offered her a bonus for increased participation. As a result, the city lost money on the event while Sipes earned a bonus, Dudley said.
Sipes, however, said the city administration was aware of the promotion and she never heard from Dudley about his concerns. She had support from City Council members who felt she’s been doing an excellent job.
Nonetheless, Dudley opened up the contract for proposals and chose the Elks Lodge to coordinate the event.
In a politically charged meeting last week, members of the city’s lodging tax committee refused to allow Riker to give a second presentation for lodging-tax dollars, which would have been used to market the event.
Tuesday night, the council members thanked Riker for her report and applauded.
