Beach 2 Beacon....1:45 and done...Wow!

Driving into work this afternoon, my wife called me at 1:45pm and mentioned that after two hours of trying, she finally had managed to signed up for the must run event of the summer, the B2B 10K. Her confirmation indicated she was #6213. As she tried to sign her sister up, the screen announced that registration for the 2009 Beach To Beacon 10K was CLOSED.... Wow! 1 hour and 45 minutes, 6,000+ runners...registration, done! I had 4 friends that managed to sign up, though with difficulty due to the enormous amount of folks jamming the website. I am sure some runners who have participated for a number of years missed the cut and at the store later in the day, I could sense frustration and amazement from runner's who had been on-line...some had gotten in, some hadn't.

Each year more races face the daunting task of being fair and equitable to entrants, especially with capped or quota based races. The fairest thing is and always has been, first come, first serve. Perhaps a lottery is now inevitable, and with the current system, aren't we almost there anyway? Personally, I am not a lottery fan and would hope that B2B organizers look at ways to ease the website congestion. I am not surprised at how quickly the slots filled. Road races continue to grow with runner's looking for unique experiences with B2B providing that mid-Summer "Maine Coast" feel and it's also known in running circles as "Joanie's Race".

I know there are constrants with how many runner's the town of Cape Elizabeth, race management and officials can handle. However, with Dave McGillivrey directing, maybe it's time to use a multiple wave start and expand the number of participants? Dave is also the Race Director of the Boston Marathon which at one time had a cap of 7,500, but expanded due to demand and now do multiple waves based on seeded status and have over 15,000 participants. Did I mention the race filled up faster this year then any other previous year?

As frustrating as some of us not making it is, I do know this...the folks running and managing Beach To Beacon have done a tremendous job, put a lot of thought into this great event and asset for our community and are some of the brightest and most knowledgeable people organizing road race events. They will take away and continue to listen, learn, improve and create, what is becoming one of the top tier road race events in the country.

Remember....Run Happy!

Irish Rover & Mary's Walk/Kerrymans Pub 5K's....When Irish Eyes Are Smiling!

St Patrick's Day is the true launch of the Maine racing season, starting with two of the best and fastest growing Irish/St Patrick Day races in Maine. The Irish Road Rover 5K (March 8), & Mary's Walk and Kerryman Pub 5k (March 15), get underway in the next few weeks. In these trying times we need reason to celebrate and what better way than with a run for a good cause and then hoist a pint to celebrate with your mates.

The first official Irish Road Rover 5K started in 1997 and was started by Dan Mckeown. Its tradition, however, dates back much earlier to when Dan's brother Tommy and his friends got together early St. Patrick's Day for several years to run a course in Syracuse, NY and Dan decided to dedicate that memory to his Brother. As Dan says, "It is their spirit of fun and friendship that has been the goal of the "Rover". So after the race, have a toast to running, to good health and to good friends old and new". Isn't that what life is all about anyway? Thanks, Dan, for all your work these past 12 years.

Please note, this years Rover will Not have race day registration as Brian Boru, just simply can not accomodate the growing crowd of the race. So final registration will take place on Satruday, March 7, from 10am - 3pm, at Maine Running Company. Also, don't forget, Daylight Savings starts this saturday, so set your clock ahead one hour....and aren't we all looking for that extra hour of daylight to get our run in?

Mary's Walk and Kerryman Pub 5K is in it 's 11th year and has raised over $1,000,000 for the Maine Cancer Foundation and provides grants for cancer research. An avid walker along Saco's Main Street, Mary Kerry Libby was well known for her friendly smile, gracious charm and kindness. A much-loved mother of four, wife, sister, daughter and friend, Mary lost her courageous battle with cancer on March 7, 1997 at 44 years of age. The first Mary's Walk was held on the Sunday before St. Patrick's Day in March 1999. In the past 10 years over 12,000 people have participated in Mary's Walk and the Kerrymen Pub Road Race. The walk is held in conjunction with the Kerrymen Pub Road Race, a long-standing event on the road race circuit.

As the website continues to state, "Mary's Walk is truly making a difference in funding Maine based cancer research. It is our hope that the spirit of caring and support generated by Mary's Walk will help families now battling cancer in some small way. For as long as people continue to care about their loved ones dealing with cancer and until there is a defined cure for this disease, Mary's Walk will continue to grow and benefit families and friends throughout Maine". Anyone having been touched by cancer, knows that these events can make a difference.

So celebrate the St Paddy's day by getting out to help the cause....Run, Walk...just do something to fight this disease...

And remember....Run Happy!