Boston, Mass. – Online registration for the 113th Boston Marathon, scheduled for April 20, 2009, will begin at 9:00 a.m. eastern time on Wednesday, September 3. Held on Patriots' Day, a Massachusetts holiday, Boston is the world's oldest annual marathon. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock Financial Services.
For the second consecutive year, the field will be limited to 25,000 entrants. In 2008 the field filled by late February and race organizers expect the 2009 race to reach its limit even faster.
To qualify for the 113th Boston Marathon, runners must meet the designated time standard for their age group. Qualifying times must be run on or after September 29, 2007 at a certified marathon. Qualifying standards may be viewed at www.baa.org/BostonMarathon/Qualifying.asp. Seeding of the race is based on qualifying times, which are subject to review and verification.
In 2008, runners with a qualifying time faster than 3:35:00 began in Wave One of the race, while all others began in Wave Two. In addition to online registration, runners may download a PDF application at www.baa.org, or request a hard-copy application by emailing registration@baa.org. Entries will be accepted until the maximum field size of 25,000 athletes has been reached.
Official Boston Marathon Charity Program Adds Six New Organizations
The official Boston Marathon Charity Program recognizes a select group of charities every year, providing each with entries to be used for fundraising purposes. In 2008, more than 1,200 runners represented the Charity Program's 24 organizations, combining to raise more than $11 million. The Boston Marathon Charity Program has now raised more than $85 million over the past two decades.
Membership in the Charity Program is for a period of up to three years, so while six charities took part for the final time in 2008, the B.A.A. recently selected six new charities to participate in 2009.
New members of the Boston Marathon Charity Program:
CYCLE Kids
GoKids
Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress
Perkins School for the Blind
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
WalkBoston
Returning organizations:
American Liver Foundation, New England Chapter
American Stroke Association-Tedy's Team
Boston Living Center
Boston Partners in Education
Bottom Line
Children's Hospital Boston
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Good Sports
Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston, Inc.
Home for Our Troops
Lazarus House Ministries
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Melanoma Foundation of New England
Michael Carter Lisnow Respite Center
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Central New England Chapter
The Esplanade Association
The New England Center for Children, Inc.
Contact information and descriptions of each charity can be found on the B.A.A.'s Charity Program webpage at www.baa.org/BostonMarathon/Charity.asp. Applications will become available tomorrow, and runners of all ability levels are encouraged to apply early.
