Peter Alter, founder and organizer of the annual 8 Tuff Miles race, is sounding a bit harried and maybe peevish.
With local registration in full swing, he says the pace of signups is faster than last year, "which means it's going to sell out sooner."
What's nagging Alter is procrastinating veteran runners. "I don't care what your name is or how many 8 Tuff Miles races you've been in before," he wrote on the race's Facebook page, "if you don't register in time you will be watching this year's race from the sidelines.
"No one is safely in this race until you have paid and signed," he added.
Registration is open for locals now; it began Dec. 1. The 600 places for folks beyond the Virgin Islands sold out a few days after Thanksgiving. Alter reports Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia are the top states for mainland competitors.
The Tap Room's the place to register, locally. You can sign up, pay the $50, and get your running bib there. "Makes a good stocking stuffer," Alter said.
February 23d's race will be the 17th running of 8 Tuff Miles.