B.A.A. 5K sells out after one day

The Boston Athletic Association 5K race sold out one day after registration opened.

The race is only five years old, having been added to the weekend schedule in 2009, and has attracted a lot of interest. This year there were more bib numbers offered than in years past, but the 10,000 spaces still sold out in a single day. Last year there were fewer than 6,500 entrants. In 2009, the race debuted with 4,000 entrants.

Registration for the 5K opened on Feb. 5 at 10:00 a.m. EST and closed at 3:25 on Feb. 6, less than 30 hours later.

The huge demand for race bibs even in an event other than the headlining marathon is a testament to the demand at the event this year. The race has also been moved from the Sunday, one day before the marathon, to Saturday, two days before. Sunday will be Easter Sunday this year.

The amount of prize money at stake is also going up. In total, between the top 10 men and women there is $39,900 to be divided up. The men’s and women’s winners will each take home $7,500. There is also new bonus prize money for the race, along with other B.A.A. Distance Medley events, which also includes a 10K in June and a fall half-marathon. In total, the series in 2014 will see a 55 per cent increase in assured prize money from 2013 and even more in potential bonuses.

The B.A.A. 5K will take place on April 19 and the Boston Marathon will be run on April 21.