The Bend Marathon and Half (and 5K and 10K) will return for a fourth year on April 22, and the race is poised to break the 2,000-runner threshold for the first time.

As of Friday afternoon, 2,061 participants had signed up for one of the four distances, up from 1,506 finishers last April. Race co-director Kerry Loehr said the Family 5K has already hit its participation cap and estimated that the 10K is 95 percent full. More than 1,100 runners have signed up for the half marathon, the most popular distance. Loehr said 70 to 75 percent of runners who have registered live outside of Central Oregon, as was the case in previous years. Although the biggest groups of visiting runners come from West Coast cities such as Portland and Seattle, Loehr said runners from 39 states have signed up so far.

All races will begin and end on Brooks Street next to the Mirror Pond parking lot. The marathon begins at 7 a.m., followed by two half marathon waves at 8:30 and 8:45 a.m. The 10K begins at 9 a.m. and the 5K starts 15 minutes later.

Loehr stressed that spectators are welcome along the race routes and at the post-race party, which will be held at the finish area.

“We wanted to make it more inviting to the entire community,” Loehr said. “Even if you don’t run, come down, there are interactive things for kids to do and live music. We want to make it a festival.”

Registration for the 10K, half and full marathon will remain open at www.bend-marathon.com through Saturday or until an event fills up. Detailed course maps are also available on the race website.

— Bulletin staff report