by Larry EderThe half marathon distance is one of the most popular in the United States. The BAA has put on this event for several years now, and it is a great chance to run in the fall colors of Boston. Be up early, as registration will fill quickly!
Boston Athletic Association to Open
Registration for
10th Annual B.A.A. Half
Marathon Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.
ET
Online registration is
expected to fill quickly.
Boston, Mass. – The
Boston Athletic
Association (B.A.A.) will open online registration for the 2010 B.A.A. Half
Marathon on Wednesday, July 14 at 9:00 a.m. ET. The B.A.A. expects the
10th edition of the B.A.A. Half Marathon to fill quickly. The date of this year’s
race is October 10, 2010 (10-10-10). Last year’s field filled in one day.
Runners interested in participating this year are encouraged to register on
Wednesday.
The B.A.A. Half Marathon is run along Boston and Brookline’s Emerald Necklace park system.
The start and finish location for this year’s race is in Boston’s Franklin Park
near White Stadium and the Franklin Park Zoo. In the past, the race
started and finished in the Back Bay Fens. The field size is limited to 6,000
entrants, and the race begins at 8:30 a.m. on the Sunday of the Columbus Day
holiday weekend.
“We look forward to celebrating a milestone for
Boston running – the 10th annual
B.A.A. Half Marathon – this year,” said B.A.A.
Executive Director Guy Morse. “The popularity of the B.A.A. Half
Marathon is testament to the popularity of
running nationwide, both competitively and recreationally. The B.A.A. Half
Marathon features some of Boston and Brookline’s most beautiful
parks and the Franklin Park Zoo, and these have been hallmarks of the race since
its inception in 2001.” Also since the race’s inception, the B.A.A. directs a
portion of the entry fees towards the Emerald Necklace Conservancy which works
to preserve, maintain, and promote this historic park
system.
The B.A.A. Half Marathon is once again presented by Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute and The Jimmy Fund. Through its Running the Race Against
Cancer® team of participants, more than 500 runners will
advance cancer research and improve patient care through their fundraising
efforts. To learn more about joining the Dana-Farber team, click here. (http://www.rundanafarber.org/
Also one
of the region’s top professional races, a field of international athletes
will vie for a combined prize purse of $30,000. Last year, Martin
Fagan of Ireland and
Belainesh Gebre of Ethiopia won $5,000 for their
victories.
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association
is a non-profit organization with a mission of managing athletic events and
promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.’s
Boston Marathon
is the world’s oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local
events and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running
programs. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been
John Hancock Financial.
