B.A.A. to Open Registration for B.A.A. 5K on March 3

Boston, MA.
‰ÛÒThe Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced today registration for the
second annual B.A.A. 5K opens on Wednesday, March 3rd at 9:00 a.m.
Registration opens at www.baa.org/5k, and
the field is limited to the first 5,000 online entrants. The race will take
place on Sunday, April 18th at 8:00 a.m., and offers runners the
opportunity to cross the famous Boston Marathon finish line on Boylston
Street.

The 3.1-mile course starts at Copley Square
Park, and passes historical landmarks
such as the Massachusetts State House, the Bull and Finch Pub (the original
‰ÛÏCheers‰Û), the Boston Common, and the Boston Public
Garden. The run is an
energizing prelude to Monday‰Ûªs Marathon. It‰Ûªs
expected that many Marathoners will cheer along the runners, some of whom may be
their friends and family.

‰ÛÏWe’re excited to announce the return of the B.A.A.
5K to Marathon Sunday,‰Û said Guy Morse,
executive director of the Boston Athletic Association. “It’s a great way to help
get everyone into the running spirit of the weekend. Providing so many runners
of shorter distances a chance to cross the finish line of the Boston
Marathon is something they’ll hopefully remember for a long
time.” 

Last year‰Ûªs inaugural race featured a half-dozen
Boston Marathon past champions, including Olympic gold medalist Joan Samuelson.
The 2009 men‰Ûªs winner and current course record holder is Olympic triathlete and
Massachusetts
native, Jarrod Shoemaker. Maria Varela, also of Massachusetts, won the inaugural women‰Ûªs race.
For more information on the 2010 5K, please visit the B.A.A. web site at
www.baa.org.

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.
This year marks the 25th consecutive year
of John Hancock Financial‰Ûªs historic sponsorship of the Boston Marathon.