Registration opened yesterday for the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k presented by Kroger. The April 1st event will be capped at 30,000 participants, and, as Vic Dorr of the Times-Dispatch reported this morning, it will include some significant course modifications.

Because of the ongoing construction to Monroe Park, a process that has just begun and is expected to last 12-18 months, the traditional finish line will have to be moved. As Dorr wrote: “…though nothing is 100 percent confirmed…the turnaround (at the western end of the course) likely will be moved one block west to Staples Mill. Such a change would allow organizers to move the finish line from its customary location (the intersection of Laurel and Franklin), near the northwest corner of Monroe Park) to a site near the junction of Franklin and Shafer.

The current registration rate of $30 for adults, $20 for youth 14 and under, and $55 for the YMCA 10k Training Team is available for the first 7,500 registrants. After it hits 7,500, the price will increase. This will be the 18th running of the event and it is the fourth-largest 10k in the United States. Registration is available at www.sportsbackers.org<http://www.sportsbackers.org>.
A new addition this year is the ‘Virtual 10k Training Team<http://www.sportsbackers.org/training-team/ymca-10k-training-team/>’-participants receive the organized plan and guidance from coaches that goes along with the 10k training team, even if they’re unable to make it to the group runs on Saturday mornings. They can train on their own and still enjoy many of the team perks.