In just 2 hours and 11 minutes after registration opened Saturday morning, the 7th Annual Murfreesboro Half Marathon reached its cap of 3,000 participants. Last year, the event sold out in 6 hours, and in recent years, 11 days and 30 days.

Melinda Tate, race director, says due to last year’s fast sellout, they added 500 more spots to the field of athletes. She says the race has tripled in size since its inception in 2007.

Registration for Murph’s Fun Run is still available. Children ages six to thirteen will have an opportunity to participate in the one-mile run which will begin immediately after the half marathon start. Registration is limited to 250 fun run participants.

An official Murfreesboro City Bicentennial event, the course goes down scenic tree-lined Main Street and Maney Avenue to Oaklands Historic House Museum. Runners will circle the Rutherford County Courthouse on the Square, pass by by MTSU’s Fraternity Row and the obelisk on Old Lascassas, and then finish on the MTSU track.

Sponsors include presenting sponsor Middle Tennessee Medical Center, The City of Murfreesboro, Murfreesboro Parks & Recreation Department, Fleet Feet Sports, Middle Tennessee State University, Jim ‘N’ Nick’s, State Farm, Gigi’s Cupcakes, Purity, PowerBar, Newk’s Express Café, Backer, City Auto, Beaman Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, The Daily News Journal, The Murfreesboro Post, Murfreesboro Magazine, HobNob Murfreesboro and WGNS. For more information, visit www.TheMiddleHalf.com.