The North Olympic Discovery Marathon will stick to the Olympic Discovery Trail this year.

Sunday’s race is again a point-to-point marathon now that Railroad Bridge has been repaired, but the marathon starting line has been moved to 7 Cedars Casino.

The 2014 race, the last time the marathon was point-to-point, started at the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center.

“The vision of the marathon was always to stay on the Olympic Discovery Trail,” marathon director Victoria Jones said.

“Starting at the casino, we’re able to stay on trail the entire way.”

Another advantage of starting at the casino is the increased amount of parking available at the start of the race.

The course will cross U.S. Highway 101 near the casino. Jones said that the 101 will close for 10 minutes Sunday, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:40 a.m.

The point-to-point course in 2014 drew rave reviews for runners.

Last year, the race had to be altered after flooding damaged the Railroad Bridge trestle earlier in the year, and it wasn’t fixed in time for the marathon.

That drastically altered the 2015 course, which included a couple of out-and-back stretches.

The bridge has since been fixed, and the number of registered participants is up over last year.

The registration numbers as of Wednesday: 318 for the marathon, 1,153 for the half-marathon, 277 for the 10-kilometer, and 162 for the 5K. There also are 20 teams signed up for the marathon relay.

“The 5K and 10K numbers are larger than they’ve ever been,” Jones said.

“Compared to past years, the numbers are up, especially compared to last year.

“With the bridge last year, numbers were small. So we’re really excited to have the bridge back.”

The race will have participants from 30 states, including far-away states such as Florida, Hawaii and Massachusets.

There also will be racers from Denmark, France and Canada.

Many area runners will be competing, including Port Angeles’ Colby Wait, who ran a personal-best 3:04:59 at the Tacoma City Marathon in April.

Registration is still open online at www.nodm.com. Participants also can register the day of the races at the starting line.

The marathon walk starts at 6 a.m., and the marathon and marathon relay at 7:30 a.m. All three races start at 7 Cedars Casino.

The half-marathon starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Agnew Fields.

The 10K starts at the Buchannan Road/Deer Park Loop at 9 a.m.

The 5K starts at City Pier in Port Angeles at 9 a.m.

All races end at City Pier.

Buses will take participants from the Gateway Transit area in Port Angeles to their starting lines Sunday morning.

One bus for the marathon walk leaves at 5:15 a.m.

Marathon buses start leaving at 5:45 a.m. The final bus leaves at 6:30 a.m.

Half-marathon buses leave from 6:45 a.m. to 7:30 a.m..

The buses to the 10K starting line run from 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.

Finish line festivities

This year there will be a beer garden at the finish line.

All race participants 21 and older will receive a free beer. There also will be beer available for purchase.

Live music will be provided by Joy in Mudville.

Massages will be available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Kids marathon

The kids marathon will be Saturday at 4 p.m. at City Pier.

Registration begins at 3 p.m. Participants receive a T-shirt, medal, gear bag and a popsicle at the finish line.

The cost is $12.

Free photographs

North Olympic Discovery Marathon has again hired Dewi Sprague to take photos Sunday and at the kids marathon.

She will provide high-resolution photos of participants that will be available for free download within a week after the race.

The photos can be viewed through a direct link at www.nodm.com.

Volunteers needed

Jones said volunteers are still needed, particularly race buddies.

“One thing that runners really like about our event is that at our race, when you cross the finish line, everyone has a buddy there to give them medal, ask how their day is going, get them some water, ask if they need assistance and walk them to the medal tent.

“Participants absolutely love it. The buddies love it, too. We have buddies come back year after year.”

Jones said volunteers also are needed to help with registration Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Red Lion Hotel.

Volunteers receive a race volunteer T-shirt and an invitation to a thank-you dinner.

To volunteer, email nodm@nodm.com.

Race expo

Saturday also will be the marathon’s race expo at Red Lion Hotel from noon to 6 p.m.

It is free and open to the public.

There will be 17 vendors, including other marathon race directors, artwork, self-protection company Damsel in Defense, activewear and other running companies.

The expo will also be the place for race participants to pick up their packets, which include race bib and timing chip, gear bag (if needed) and race shirt.

The expo is the best place to pick up packets, and racers are strongly encouraged to do so.

Race bibs and timing chips not picked up Saturday will be taken to the starting lines Sunday morning.

Late packet pickup shirts will be available at the finish line.

Pasta dinner

A pasta dinner will be Saturday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Elwha Klallam Heritage Training Center at 401 E. 1st St. in Port Angeles.

The dinner is open to race participants and the public. The cost is $12.

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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.