Langley expects hundreds for races

Langley will buzz with busy bodies Sunday morning.

Langley will buzz with busy bodies Sunday morning.

Up to 300 people are expected to participate in the sixth annual Langley Half Marathon and 10K walk and run July 6. Race organizer Matt Simms said about 150 people were registered as of July 1 and he anticipated another 150 by the race’s start.

“My experience, people play it by ear and if the weather is decent they’ll come out,” Simms said.

Racers can register up to the start of the race at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. on the corner of Second Street and De Bruyn Avenue.

“We realize we have people coming from all over the place, so to ease the stress we register them all the way up until the race,” Simms said.

An avid runner himself, Simms recently ran the course as a trial. Other than clearing some nettles along the trail of the four-mile and seven-mile road/trail course through the Metcalf Trust Trail System, his only report was about the recently grated gravel on Fox Spit Road.

Temperatures are projected to cool this week from the 90-degree heat at the start to about 70 degrees this weekend.

“I think it’s going to be perfect,” Simms said.

Funds from the races go toward the South Whidbey Parks and Aquatics Foundation, which aims to fund parks and water recreation on South Whidbey Island. The half marathon costs $50; the four-mile and seven-mile road/trail cost $30; the 10K walk costs $20; and all races for high school students and younger cost $20.

For more information and to register, visit www.langleyhalfmarathon.com.