By: centraljersey.com
One year ago, the 2009 Marin County (Calif.) Marathon was canceled for lack of interest. Only 60 people had signed up to take on the 26.2 miles.
It’s a startling development given how popular distance running has become.
Monday saw the second largest field in Boston Marathon history behind only the 100th running of the historic race. For the first time in Boston history, the race had filled its 25,000 runner capacity before Thanksgiving.
Many from this local area will be among the field that sold out the Broad Street Run that is scheduled for next weekend. The race hit its cap of 30,000 one month ago. In 2000, there were only 6,692 finishers.
Across the country, many of the most popular marathons are filling up within days, even hours, of opening registration. The Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., registered 23,793 runners in the first 24 hours and after six days had sold out its 30,000 spots. In 2000, there were only 17,000 total finishers at the Marine Corps Marathon. Washington, D.C., already has had to implement a lottery system to accommodate interest in its Cherry Blossom 10-Miler.
With running growing so popular, there has developed a race to the race. Hesitate too long in registering for a race, and you will be looking elsewhere for the chance to run.
Why the new boom? Distance running is becoming a popular interest in part because in these tough economic times, it requires little to go running more than a good pair of running shoes and some shorts. There’s also an epidemic of obesity to fight, and running is one way to attack it.
Running appeals because you don’t need to belong to a gym to find somewhere for a workout. There are no time restrictions for when you can run, and within reason, no limits on where you can go. As a side note, getting out on a run is a great way to see a new place and explore it quickly while doubling as a workout. Running is something that can be done in isolation or with a group.
This second running boom is different from the boom of the late 1970s and early 1980s. That first boom saw a huge jump in the number of people getting fast. Race statistics show us baffling averages for race times, while race time averages for today’s fields are much slower. The current boom sees a big jump in participation numbers.
Competitive runners may cringe with all the people that can claim they too have completed a marathon, even if they walked parts of it, but the fact remains that more and more people are challenging themselves at greater distances.
The prices of road races, in particular the marathons and half-marathons, are skyrocketing in reflection of the growing demand. The popular Philadelphia Distance Run will be hosted this fall by the Rock ‘n’ Roll people, who seem to be taking over a large percentage of the big distance races. They are charging $85 for a race that used to cost $30 only 10 years ago.
Participants, though, will pay it. In comparison to the cost of traveling to a race and lodging, it is a minimal cost.
Even the Marin County Marathon will cost $120 to enter this week. But that will get you to the start line Sunday as they finally try to pull off the race that didn’t happen due to lack of interest one year ago.
