The Mathews Marathon, with 195 runners registered, takes place Saturday, starting and finishing at the historic Mathews Courthouse. The marathon offers three ways to run the course: full marathon, 26.2 miles; half marathon, 13.1 miles; and team relay. Start time is 7 a.m. The weekend will begin with a complimentary carbo-load meal during packet pickup on Friday, hosted by the Mathews Family YMCA and the Mathews Women’s Giving Circle. The meal gives runners an opportunity to fuel up for race day while enjoying the community hospitality that makes the Mathews Marathon special, said Christine Johnson, president of the Mathews Outdoor Club which is sponsoring the marathon. This year’s will be the largest, she said. The Mathews Marathon is a certified qualifier for the Boston Marathon, Johnson said. Unique local attractions are the flat course, the country backroads, and the turn-around spots at county beaches. “Reaching nearly 200 participants is a tremendous milestone for the Mathews Mara...