Boston

Online registration for the 2010 Boston Marathon (April 19, 2010) opened today, September 9. The popular event has strict qualifying standards to enter the marathon. This year's field size will be limited to 25,000 athletes; the entry fee for USA residents is $130 by February 1, 2010. The Boston Marathon is one of five races in the World Marathon Majors series offering a $1 million prize purse to the top male and female marathoners in the world. Running USA reports that John Hancock's 2009 Boston Marathon Fundraising Program raised $3.7 million for non-profit and community service organizations during the 113th running of the Boston Marathon. As the marathon's principal sponsor for 25 years, John Hancock provides select non-profit organizations with invitational marathon entries that enable funds to be raised for their organizations. See the Boston Marathon Web site for details.