You don’t have to wake up too early this year to snag a spot in the Lincoln Marathon.
Registration for the May 5 half and full marathon opens Saturday at 7 a.m. And if you sign up in person, you can get a discount.
The race, in its 42nd year, is capped at 13,500 runners for the fourth year. The first 13,000 spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The remaining 500 spots will be awarded through an online lottery.
The races start on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus and end on the 50-yard line inside Memorial Stadium.
“We call it a fast, flat, first-class event,” race director Nancy Sutton said.
The full marathon is $80, and the half marathon is $60.
Typically about 2,00 register for the full marathon and about 11,500 register for the half marathon, Sutton said.
Last year the race was shy of a sellout with about 12,800 runners registered. The race has typically sold out since 2008.
Organizers will host registration events in Lincoln and Omaha on Saturday. The Lincoln event runs from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Lincoln Running Company, 1213 Q. St. The Omaha event runs from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Fleet Feet, 17760 Wright St. Individuals who sign up on site will receive $5 off the cost of registration.
The lottery will open if the 13,000 spaces sell out. Then runners can make a $10 donation to Project Purple. The organization raises awareness for pancreatic cancer. Runners can purchase multiple tickets to increase their chances. If selected, they must then pay the registration fee.
