2008 Boston Marathon Registration to Open on Wednesday, September 5
Six organizations added to B.A.A.'s Official Charity Program

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Posted Tuesday, 4 September, 2007

Boston, Mass. – Online registration for the 112th Boston Marathon, scheduled for April 21, 2008, will begin at 9:00 a.m. eastern time on Wednesday, September 5. 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.

In coordination with the launch of registration for next year's race, the B.A.A. has announced that the maximum field size for 2008 has been set at 25,000 entrants. 23,869 runners entered the 2007 Boston Marathon.

To qualify for the 112th Boston Marathon, runners must meet the designated time standard for their age group. Qualifying times must be run on or after September 23, 2006 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 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.

The 2008 Boston Marathon will once again feature a two-wave start, with Wave One beginning at 10:00 a.m., followed by Wave Two at 10:30 a.m.

Adding to the festivities during Boston Marathon weekend this year will be the U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Women's Marathon, which will take place in downtown Boston and Cambridge on Sunday, April 20 at 8:00 a.m. The top three finishers in that event will represent the United States in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

B.A.A.'s Charity Program Expands
The official Charity Program for the B.A.A. recognizes a select group of charities each year, providing each with entries to be used for fundraising purposes. In 2007, the more than 1,200 runners who took part in the B.A.A.'s Official Charity Program raised more than $10 million, while John Hancock's Boston Marathon Fundraising Program raised an additional $3.3 million.

The Boston Marathon Charity Program began in 1989 and has raised more than $70 million in 19 years. The B.A.A. recently selected six new charities to participate in the 2008 Boston Marathon, bringing the total in the program to 24.

New members of the Boston Marathon Charity Program:
· Boston Living Center
· Boston Partners in Education
· Bottom Line
· The Esplanade Association
· Home for Our Troops
· The New England Center for Children, Inc.

Returning organizations:
· Alzheimer's Association, Massachusetts Chapter
· American Liver Foundation, New England Chapter
· American Stroke Association-Tedy's Team
· Casa Myrna Vazquez
· Children's Hospital Boston
· Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
· Good Sports
· Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston, Inc.
· Lazarus House Ministries
· The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
· Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
· Melanoma Foundation New England
· MetroLacrosse
· Michael Carter Lisnow Respite Center
· Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries, Inc.
· National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Central New England Chapter
· National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, Inc., Massachusetts Division
· Read Boston

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.

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 Services.

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