how soon before a marathon do most people register?

[stitchfan18]

I'm signed up to run my first full marathon in August, and the website lists all the people registered on the verification page. I think I was the 2nd person to sign up a couple months ago, and now there are still only 13 people running the marathon. I checked right after I registered and was listed, so I think the page updates after every registration. There is practically every race distance, but the 1/2 and shorter races are on Sunday, while the marathon and 50k race is on Saturday. I know a lot of people sign up later for 5k/10k distance races since they don't require as much training, but is that typically true for longer distances? I don't mind running a smaller race, but less than 50-100 in a marathon seems really small considering the course is downtown on city streets...

 

[cewait]

It really depends. I have walked up to a marathon and signed up at the expo. Like the one described, it was a smaller race. The enter 'months in advance' phenom is relatively new. Fifteen years ago one could enter late to most every marathon in the country. Due to the second runner boom race now fill and fill early.

If you are not comfortable running a really small marathon, I would consider running the half instead. It can get lonely when your nearest competitor is never in sight. On the other hand, most of these smaller races are well supported and one never need worry about aid stations being overwhelmed.

 

[stitchfan18]

It really depends. I have walked up to a marathon and signed up at the expo. Like the one described, it was a smaller race. The enter 'months in advance' phenom is relatively new. Fifteen years ago one could enter late to most every marathon in the country. Due to the second runner boom race now fill and fill early.

If you are not comfortable running a really small marathon, I would consider running the half instead. It can get lonely when your nearest competitor is never in sight. On the other hand, most of these smaller races are well supported and one never need worry about aid stations being overwhelmed.

They have been pushing for registration lately. There was a groupon yesterday for discounted race fees and when I saw the page, over 500 had been purchased. I don't mind the smaller races, some of my favorite races have been less than 150 runners, I just didn't know how the increase in distance related to when people signed up.