Broad Street Run to open 2013 lottery Feb. 4
Organizers of the Blue Cross Broad Street Run have outlined details on registration for the 2013 race, which is moving to a lottery system for the first time.
The lottery for the May 5 race will open at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 4 and close on Feb. 15 at 11:59 p.m., according to a letter from race director Jim Marino posted on the Broad Street Run website.
The race is moving to a lottery system after the first-come, first-served registration method filled up in five hours last year.
Your chance of getting one of the 40,000 slots is the same, regardless of when you enter the lottery.
So the registration system won't be overwhelmed, race organizers are asking runners to sign up following this schedule:
Feb. 4-5: Last names A-F should register
Feb. 6-7: Last names G-L should register
Feb. 8-9: Last names M-R should register
Feb. 10-11: Last names S-Z should register
Feb. 12-15: Anyone who hasn't signed up
Runners will be able to check broadstreetrun.com by 10 a.m. on Feb. 19 to find out whether they have a spot in the race. All runners will also receive an email about their status.
People who want to run together can register as one group: If the group is selected in the lottery, all members have slots in the race. If the group is not selected, none of the members have spots. Groups can have up to five people and have the same chance of being selected as individual runners, race organizers say.
The race is also making accommodations for Broad Street Run veterans. Runners who have completed the race 10 or more times are eligible for a guaranteed veteran entry if they are rejected from the lottery. Veteran runners should sign up for the lottery; if they don't get a slot, they should email a request for a veteran entry by March 1 to bsrveterans@aol.com.
Runners will be asked for credit card information when entering the lottery, but the credit card won't be charged unless the runner is accepted to the race.
Participants can avoid the lottery by signing up as a charity runner with the American Cancer Society, Students Run Philly Style or Back On My Feet. A limited number of charity bibs are available and all of the organizations have $500 fundraising minimums.
More information and frequently asked questions about the lottery system is available here, from the race organizers.
Contact Emily Babay at 215-854-2153 or ebabay@philly.com. Follow @emilybabay on Twitter.
Contact the Breaking News Desk at 215-854-2443; BreakingNewsDesk@philly.com. Follow @phillynews on Twitter.
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