BOSTON - (July 13, 2011) - The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has announced that registration for the 2011 B.A.A. Half Marathon, presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund, has closed after its 7,000-entrant field size limit was reached in 3 hours, 50 minutes. The date
BOSTON – B.A.A. Half Marathon Reaches 7,000-Entrant Field Size Limit – 11th edition, set for Sunday, October 9, 2011, sells-out in less than four hours
BOSTON – (July 13, 2011) – The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has announced that registration for the 2011 B.A.A. Half Marathon, presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund, has closed after its 7,000-entrant field size limit was reached in 3 hours, 50 minutes. The date of this year's race is Sunday, October 9, 2011.
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. The race begins at 8:30am on the Sunday of the Columbus Day holiday weekend.
"We've witnessed a quick sell out of our B.A.A. Half Marathon in recent years, and we're pleased that so many runners continue to challenge themselves through participation in B.A.A. events," said B.A.A. Executive Director Tom Grilk. "The B.A.A. Half Marathon is popular among runners both because of the scenic course along the Emerald Necklace park system in Boston and Brookline and the opportunity to participate in a B.A.A. event during the Fall season."
Since the race's inception in 2001, the B.A.A. has directed a portion of the entry fees towards the Emerald Necklace Conservancy which works to preserve, maintain, and promote the historic park system. The Emerald Necklace park system was developed by America's first landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmstead, and the B.A.A. Half Marathon features recreational use and appreciation of the landscape, waterways and parkways as they were intended at the time of design in the late 1800s.
The field of professional runners who will vie for a total prize money purse of $30,000 will be released in September.
The B.A.A. Half Marathon is presented annually by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund. Through its Running the Race Against Cancer® team of participants, nearly 600 runners will advance cancer research and improve patient care through their fundraising efforts. Interested runners who've missed the chance to register through the B.A.A. may still be able to join the Dana-Farber team.
Go to www.rundanafarber.org for more information.
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. The Boston Marathon is part of the World Marathon Majors along with the Virgin London Marathon, BMW Berlin Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon and the ING New York City Marathon.