MARQUETTE – Marathon runners have to prepare for all kinds of weather conditions, considering that even the most elite will spend well over two hours outside with virtually nothing to protect them from the elements.

The sixth annual Marquette Marathon shows the contrasts possible with this year’s forecast calling for a mostly sunny day with high in the mid-80s.

That’s in sharp contrast to last year when rather wet conditions with temperatures 20 degrees cooler greeted runners from nearly three-quarters of the states in the U.S.

This year, new race director Cris Osier reports entrants from 27 states – with more possible – for the approximately 13.1-mile half-marathon and 26.2-mile full marathon.

That includes Melissa Burkart of Hudson, Wisconsin, who is using the event as a tune-up for a try in the U.S. Olympic trials coming up for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

There will also be an associated five-kilometer – or about 3.1-mile – Blackrocks race offered this year, too.

The marathons’ courses – starting in Ishpeming and Negaunee with each finishing at the same intersection in Marquette’s business district, Third and Michigan streets – proved so popular last year that organizers aren’t going to tamper with a good thing.

The full marathon starts at the Cliffs Mine Shaft Museum just west of downtown Ishpeming, the half marathon at the Michigan Iron Industry Museum just east of Negaunee city proper, while the Blackrocks race begins at Presque Isle Park in Marquette. The Blackrocks all completes it course at Third and Michigan.

With this being one of the Midwest’s last qualifiers for the springtime Boston Marathon, it’s an appealing course for good times with the elevation drop in the full marathon listed at 1,037 feet from start to finish. The half marathon also falls off more than 700 feet while the 5K remains just about all on even ground not far from the shores of Lake Superior.

Organizers encourage spectators to come out and watch, cheer on and even hand out or spray cooling water as runners need them. There are also a number of aid stations every one to 2 1/2 miles.

In that vein, they’ve point out several of the best spectating points on their website, www.marquettemarathon.com.

With both long races remaining south of U.S. Highway 41, good viewing points include Jackson Park on the southwest side of Negaunee, at the end of Kalkaska Road at Smith Construction near the border of Negaunee and Marquette townships, and four spots in the city of Marquette – the west end of Baraga Street at the cul-de-sac near the Salvation Army, at Mattson Lower Harbor Park on Lake Superior, at Presque Isle Park and at the YMCA next to Lakeview Arena.

Organizers also suggest NOT trying to watch at several “choke points” – at the intersection of M-35 and County Road 492 in Negaunee Township and County Road 492 at Schwemwood Park in Marquette Township.

For those still thinking about participating, while online registration has closed, as long as there are openings, registration will be available at the race expo on Friday.

The expo, which includes live music and vendor booths, runs from 6 to 9 p.m. at Lakeview Arena in Marquette, which is where those previously entered should pick up race packets.

Costs on Friday will be $100 for the marathon, $95 for the half marathon, $30 for the Blackrocks run, $200 in total for the four-person marathon relay and $10 for the Kids Fun Runs – the three-quarter-mile Pebble Run and 1 1/2-mile Rock Skipper.

The Blackrocks 5K and Kids Fun Runs have an early registration cutoff of 6:30 p.m. Friday.

The Kids Fun Runs go off at 7 p.m. Friday at Lakeview Arena.

Saturday’s schedule opens with the marathon start at 7:30 a.m., Blackrocks 5K at 8 a.m. and half marathon at 9 a.m. Top marathoners and half marathoners are expected near the finish between 9:30 and 10 a.m., though difficult weather conditions could delay those estimates.

Several Marquette streets will be closed on Saturday from 5 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m., including spots on Peter White Drive, Pine Street, Fair Avenue, Third Street and Michigan Street, with the area around the finish line closed until 4 p.m.

Other streets will also be crossed by runners and have volunteers or police stopping cars to let runners through during the day.

Steve Brownlee can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.