CAPE ELIZABETH – Online registration for the 2012 TD Beach to Beacon 10K road race will open for the general public at 7 a.m. on Thursday, March 15. A lottery (drawing on March 23) will follow for those who do not secure a spot through online registration. Also, beginning at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14, Cape Elizabeth residents will have 24 hours to fill 600 slots reserved for the host community.

Runners register at the race website at beach2beacon.org. In 2011, online registration for the general public was open just eight minutes before all slots were filled, while Cape resident registration filled in 51 minutes. The 2012 race entry fee is $40. The TD Beach to Beacon 10K, is set for Saturday, Aug. 4 in Cape Elizabeth.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the race founded by Olympic gold medalist and Maine native Joan Benoit Samuelson. Organizers are again targeting a race day field of about 6,000 runners, who will finish the race at the Portland Head Light.