Event secretary Terry Weissel said 154 competitors had signed up for the half or full marathon by Tuesday, with a rush of entries likely in coming days.

The 42.2-kilometre marathon uses a loop course from Portland to Cape Bridgewater and back, finishing in Bentinck Street.

The 21.1-kilometre half-marathon starts in the Bridgewater Lakes district and follows the second half of the marathon course.

Weissel said organisers received 265 entries for both events in 2013.

But the figure discounted the fact the dozens of teams had multiple runners, bumping the overall total up to about 300.

“We’re pretty even from last year. We could be quite close to similar to last year or even more,” she said.

“We’ve had quite a few inquiries. A few people are coming who haven’t come before and others are coming back.”

Weissel said the full marathon would crown a new champion, with four-time winner Barry Rogers not among the starters.

“Barry isn’t coming back this year. He won four years in a row previously, including last, but we’ll have a brand new winner,” she said.

“We’re not sure who it might be. There are a number of people who could take it out this year.   We’re looking for some excitement there.”

Whoever does win, however, will have earned their title, Weissel said.

The course features a host of undulating hills, as well as a major climb about the halfway mark, known as The Shuffler “because everyone shuffles up it”.

Cashmore Straight, a five-kilometre straight section which starts at the 27-kilometre mark, also tests the mental resolve of runners.

Weissel said the 3 Bays Marathon was tied in with the Portland Rotary Club art show on Friday night and Portland Upwelling Festival on Saturday.

The Melbourne to Portland yacht race also finishes in the harbour in the early hours of Sunday morning, adding to the spectacle.

“It makes it a really good weekend for Portland. It brings people to town and they’re able to attend different things,” Weissel said.