CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine (March 13, 2015) – The TD Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race registered 4,000 runners in a record-setting four minutes 15 seconds (4:15) on Friday morning, and those still looking for a spot at the start line began entering the lottery.

Runners now have until midnight on March 22 to register for one of the 1,950 remaining bibs available through the lottery, which will be drawn on March 24.  Runners can sign up for the lottery at the race website, b2bdevelopment.wpengine.com .

This year marks the 18th edition of the now classic American summer road race founded by Olympic gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson and set for Saturday, Aug. 1 in her hometown Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

In large part due to its reputation as a world-class event with small town charm, the TD Beach to Beacon’s popularity continues to grow. Runners don’t want to miss out, which creates high anticipation and excitement about the registration process each March.

“It’s great how every year registration fills faster than the last, and we thank all who woke up early to register for this year’s race as well as the folks over at RacePartner for making the process as smooth as possible for participants,” said volunteer Race President Mike Stone. “Good luck to all who registered and we look forward to seeing everyone at the start line on Aug. 1.”

This year’s record time of 4:15 shaved 17 seconds off the old record of 4:32, set in 2014. (The race filled in 4:58 in 2013). On Thursday, Cape Elizabeth residents, given a 24-hour window to fill 600 online slots, reached the cap in less than nine minutes (8:53).

The quickest – and first – registrant was Eric Soelberg of Freeport, Maine, who completed his registration form in 47.09 seconds, a little shy of the all-time speed record of 45.27 seconds that he set in 2013.

Those who got into the race received an e-mail confirmation from race organizers and those who did not were re-directed to the bib lottery registration process. By 10:30 a.m. on Friday, 1,641 runners had entered the lottery. Each lottery entrant is charged $5. Runners who get into the race via the lottery will be notified by e-mail and their names will be posted on the race website on March 24.

Registration also is underway for the TD Beach to Beacon’s 124 legacy runners who have taken part in all 17 past races.

In addition, the race’s 2015 beneficiary – Good Shepherd Food Bank – as well aspast beneficiaries will make bib numbers available to runners in exchange for fundraising and/or support.

The TD Beach to Beacon is a celebration of health, fitness and giving back. In 2014, a record-setting 6,494 runners from 14 countries, 42 states and more than 260 Maine cities and town finished the winding, rolling, often breathtaking 6.2-mile coastal course. Thousands of spectators cheered runners along the tree-lined route and at the finish, and more than 800 volunteers helped ensure a smooth operation. The race debuted in 1998 with 2,408 runners crossing the finish line.

More than $60,000 in prize money is awarded to the top finishers and place winners in the various categories for men and women, and a $30,000 donation is provided each year to the race beneficiary by the TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank N.A.

For additional information about the race, visit b2bdevelopment.wpengine.com, and find the TD Beach to Beacon on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.