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Another notable increase appears poised to bring Saturday's Yakima River Canyon Marathon participation back to pre-COVID numbers for the first time, highlighted by the return of the 2023 champion.

Race director Frank Purdy said the Hard Core Runners Club will likely look into expanding the half marathon field after runners filled up the 200-person race five weeks ago, marking the second straight year it's reached capacity. The logistics of busing runners to the starting line near Red's Fly Shop make the limit necessary, but there are no such restrictions for the full marathon.

Around 220 runners had signed up to run the entire scenic point-to-point course as of Tuesday afternoon, far more than the 165 finishers in 2019. Purdy's hoping for a strong turnout with overcast, reasonably cool weather forecast for Saturday morning, with a high of around 65 in Selah.

"From our end operationally, having the numbers up is good," said Purdy, who noted that 18 runners took the option of an early start to ensure they'll finish before the seven-hour cutoff. "We're on good footing on that."

Runners are expected to arrive from 20 states, Canada and England, and Purdy's noticed a trend of the race becoming younger, with a median age of somewhere in the mid-30s. He's also seeing more first-timers at the 24th annual marathon, which was created in 2001 by the late Bob and Lenore Dolphin.

Based on projected times, Ellensburg's Baylen Bean should be the favorite, three years after he won with a time of 2:52:22 in his YCRM debut. The 24-year-old former Bulldogs cross country standout finished second at the grueling 2024 Yakima Skyline 50k.

State Route 821 will be closed during the race, which begins with the marathon start at 8 a.m. in Ellensburg, followed by the half marathon start at 9:30 a.m. Purdy said residents and recreation sites such as Red's Fly Shop receive passes that allow them to drive through the canyon at a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour while runners are on the long, winding course.

Close to 100 volunteers signed up to help ensure the race goes smoothly and runners can access water, Powerade and some medical accessories at aid stations every 2-3 miles. Purdy said several groups will return to aid stations they staff every year, including The Cascadians, who will also fill in at another aid station this year with some help from the Ellensburg Running Club and volunteers who responded to a request from the Hard Core Runners Club.

"I can't say enough about the volunteers," Purdy said. "We've had a few people come and go but a lot of people have stepped up and kept going, especially at the aid stations."