March Madness Signup Dec. 31; Shamrock Jan. 1

Thse of you who want to run the March 18 Cary March madness half-Marathon in March know you need to get lucky when registration opens at 6 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31. The limit of 1,000 should fill in an hour or two.
Meanwhile the Bank of AmericaShamrock Shuffle 8K on March 25,opens registration on Sunday (at noon) And the Bank of America Chicago Marathon opens registration on Feb. 1. Here is the Bank of America news release:

Registration for the 2012 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K will open at 12 p.m.* (CST) on Sunday, January 1, for the Sunday, March 25 event. Chicago's traditional rite of spring for runners and fitness enthusiasts starts and finishes in Grant Park, and travels through Chicago's "Loop," including a mile-long stretch on famed State Street.

The entry fee is $45, and registration will close when the 40,000-participant capacity is reached.

Leading up to race day, the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle Health & Fitness Expo will take place at Chicago's Navy Pier on Friday, March 23, and Saturday, March 24. The two-day Health & Fitness Expo will feature more than 75 industry-leading exhibitors offering the latest in running and fitness apparel, footwear, nutrition and technology. The Health & Fitness Expo is free and open to the public.

The Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle will conclude with its traditional post-race party in Grant Park immediately following the race. The party will include live music, food, beverages and fun for all participants, family, friends and spectators.

More information on the race and registration is available at shamrockshuffle.com.

2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Registration Opens February 1
After you've kicked off the running season at the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K this spring, you can put an exclamation point on the end of the year by completing the 35th anniversary Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 7.

Registration for the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will open at 12 p.m. (CST) on Wednesday, February 1, at chicagomarathon.com. Entries will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and registration will remain open until the event reaches its 45,000-participant capacity. The cost of entry is $150 for U.S. participants and $175 for participants outside the U.S.

* Please note that registration will open at a new time of day this year, beginning at 12 p.m. (noon) rather than 12 a.m. (midnight).