Posted: March 1, 2006

Athletics: ING NYC Marathon Opens Registration Process

From David Monti

© 2006 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

The New York Road Runners announced today that registration for the 2006 ING New York City Marathon, the world's largest marathon, has opened.

"The amazing race that is the ING New York City Marathon starts today, and for thousands of fortunate runners it will end on Sunday, Nov. 5, on the streets of New York City as they take part in the experience of a lifetime," said race director and New York Road Runners president and CEO, Mary Wittenberg, in a press release.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on June 1, 2006, for U.S. lottery applicants, or May 1, 2006, for international lottery applicants and U.S. applicants seeking special guaranteed entries. Lottery drawings will be held to select race entrants.

Last year a record 87,625 people applied for entry to the race. After the lottery process and normal attrition, 37,597 started on the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and 36,856 crossed the finish line in Central Park, the most of any marathon in history.

Athletes who are not considered elite, but who are much faster than average runners, can gain guaranteed entry using qualifying times from other marathons. For instance, men under 40 years-old who have recently run a full marathon in 2:55:00 or better or a half-marathon in 1:23:00 or better are eligible for guaranteed entry as long as they apply by May 1. For women under 40 the standards are 3:23:00 and 1:37:00, respectively. Athletes 40 and over have their own age-graded standards for guaranteed entry.

Complete information on how to apply, including the time standards for guaranteed entry, is at the following link: www.ingnycmarathon.org.

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