TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — About two-thirds of the way through the Vineyard to Bay 25K race, fatigue usually begins to set in for runners.

Then they crest Hilltop Road near a Michigan resort town and descend into a picture-postcard panorama of West Grand Traverse Bay.

It’s a high point that comes at a perfect time to inspire participants to push on, according to Ross Deye.

“For the runners, even though it comes 10 miles into the race when they might not be feeling real good, it’s beautiful to see,” Deye said.

Deye is familiar with the view. A retired teacher and the cross country coach at Traverse City West Senior High School, he brought his runners to the area for training every summer while he coached at Northview High School in Sylvania, Ohio, where he won four state championships in a 27-year career. He fell in love with the area in Northern Michigan to the point where he chose to retire there. Then, he decided to design a race around it that would showcase the natural beauty of the area, located in Leelanau County, near Traverse City.

“I’m not sure I can coach forever and I want to be able to stay involved in running,” Deye said.

Austin Hendrix took the Traverse area field trip three times while running for Deye in high school. Now 26, the Yelp account manager returns every summer that he can. He also finished 65th overall in this spring’s Boston Marathon and credits Deye for playing a pivotal part in his success.

“He had a big influence on me,” Hendrix said. “He’s really great at developing people, not only as runners, but caring for his athletes as individuals as well.”

Both Hendrix and Sarah Pardee will defend titles in Sunday’s race.

“It’s absolutely spectacular,” said Pardee of the course. “It’s one of my favorites.”

Both Deye and his wife, Nancy, are involved in every aspect of the race and want to keep improving it as it develops. Last year about 200 runners raised $3,000 for local schools, Nancy said.

But staying true to their mission of providing “a beautiful race in a beautiful place” is easy to do.

“When you see this part of the world you fall in love with it pretty easily,” said Nancy.

What’s not easy is the race, Pardee said. You pay a price for the sweeping vistas that has nothing to do with registration fees.

“Rolling hills can take a toll on your legs, especially toward the end,” Pardee said.

The Vineyard to Bay 25K and relays start Sunday at 8 a.m. at Crain Hill Road/Center Road intersection. The 5k Run/Walk is at 8:30 a.m.

The Traverse City (Mich.) Record-Eagle contributed to this story.