The field for the 2nd annual Nike Women’s Marathon has been filled.

[Yesterday,] Nike announced the 2nd annual Nike Women’s Marathon is sold out! 15,000 women across the globe have registered for this highly anticipated event which will take place on October 23, 2005 in San Francisco. This year marks the second year for the event — which is quickly becoming the premier women’s running event on the calendar.

Last year’s field of 9,000 runners sold out 2 weeks before the race. This year, the field of 15,000 runners was filled 9 weeks before the race. That is not too shabby for only its second year. The race was started as a tribute to Joan Benoit Samuelson‘s 1984 Olympic marathon on its twentieth anniversary.

It amazes me that a race can grow that fast; that seems to happen with anything that Joan touches though. Her Beach to Beacon race has quickly become internationally known and is the largest race in Maine despite still being in its infancy.