Run, Karla, Run!

Photo by Thomas R. Stegelmann/Flickr

With a record 140,000 applicants for 45,000 spots at the start, most runners who applied for the 2011 ING New York City Marathon lottery didn’t get in.

If you’re one of those runners, take heart. You can still nab one of those coveted spots by running for one of the race’s official charity partners.

Runners pledge to raise a required amount of money—usually $2,500 to $3,000—in exchange for a bib in the world’s largest marathon. Some charities also offer coaching, training programs and other perks for being one of their fundraisers.

In 2010, 8,000 charity runners raised a total of $30 million in charitable donations by competing in the ING New York City Marathon.

To find a complete list of charity partners, visit the charity page of the race’s official website. There are over 200 charities that are looking for a few good runners.

Karla Bruning is an award-winning journalist and running nerd. She has completed four marathons, trains with the New York Harriers and is a member of New York Road Runners. Follow Karla’s “Notes From a Running Nerd” at RunKarlaRun.com, Facebook and Twitter@KBruning. To listen to an interview with Karla, check out The Marathon Show, available for streaming or download on BlogTalkRadio and iTunes.