While the big-city marathons draw the masses and attract world-class marathoners, they can’t boast whale and bald eagle sightings like the Whidbey Island Marathon can.

The Whidbey Island Marathon course is paradise for nature lovers. Located 90 miles north of Seattle, Whidbey Island is located on the Washington state’s Puget Sound. The city stands in the shadows of the Olympic and Cascade Mountain ranges, giving runners breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains and beautiful coastline.

This year’s race will be held on April 10. This will be the fourth running of the event, and over 2,000 runners are expected to compete in both the marathon and half-marathon events. Last year nearly 1,000 runners competed in both events, including nearly 200 in the marathon.

The marathon begins at 8 a.m. at the Cornet Bay Marina located in Deception Pass State Park. The half-marathon starts at 8:30 a.m. There is a marathon expo on April 9 at Oak Harbor High School. The course is a USATF certified Boston Marathon qualifier.

The marathon course starts in Whidbey Island and follows the coastline to Oak Harbor and then to historic Coupeville, which is Washington’s second-oldest city. The course is a mixture of country back roads and waterfront coastline, with views of the mountains and wildlife throughout. It is common for runners to spot bald eagles during the race, and there have even been a few whale sightings.

The Whidbey Island marathon course features aid stations with water and toilets approximately every two miles. There are also Clif Shot gel and replenishment drink stations at four points on the marathon course.

Finishers receive custom-designed medals, while all runners receive a t-shirt. Awards are given to the top three female and male finishers in 5-year age groups from ages 20 to 70+.

Runners who have competed in this race gave the course 4 ½ stars (out of 5) on the MarathonGuide.com website. They ranked the race organization with 4 stars. For registration information, visit the race website Whidbey Island Marathon.

The race can be part of the perfect island getaway. Runners and fans can stay at one of Whidbey Island's bed & breakfasts or take their camping gear along and state at the Deception Pass State Park. There are also several hotels within driving distance of the course.

For history buffs, Whidbey Island has long been viewed as a key defense site. There are military relics from other eras, including 19th century blockhouses originally built to protect against Native American attack, concrete bunkers from World War II, as well as a Naval Air Station, which is in operation near Oak Harbor.