Registration for the 2011 Boston Marathon opened and closed yesterday — that’s right, all in the same day. The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) officials closed up shop at 5:03 p.m, a record time. Last year, it took two months to fill up, but in 2010, runners from around the world sprinted online to register, in the course of a few hours. We’re happy to see the enthusiasm!
The Boston Marathon website says there isn’t a waiting list or late registration on the weekend of the race, but not all hope is lost. You can still run for a variety of charities, including Dana Farber Cancer Institute, as they’re still accepting applications to run with their team. Sign up here.
If jogging isn’t your flavor, join in on the fun as one of the 500,000 spectators, cheering on the runners and providing free water and snacks as they dash to the 26.2-mile finish line.
One of the most amazing aspects of this epic event, other than the looks on the runners’ faces once they’ve completed the marathon, is the amount of money raised for their favorite causes. In the spring of this year, the Boston Marathon’s official charity program exceeded $100 million in total funds raised since it started almost 20 years ago.
The event has been held annually since 1897 in Boston on Patriots’ Day, always on the third Monday of April. This year will be the 116th marathon on April 18, 2011.
Photo via Facebook.