Bloomsday Organizers Have Trouble Getting Internet Site Up And Running

The World Wide Web isn’t ready for the runners of the world’s largest timed road race.

On Sunday, a full-page advertisement in The Spokesman-Review trumpeted registration for Bloomsday, the massive foot race scheduled for May 3.

The ad included a registration form and a note about a handy Web site where runners could “Use your VISA or Mastercard to Register Online!” at http://www.bloomsdayrun.com.

Unfortunately, advertising acumen got ahead of technical expertise. The Web site isn’t there yet.

“When we got the ad to the paper, we figured the Web site would be on line,” said Karen Heaps, Bloomsday race coordinator.

“Some things just took longer than we expected,” she said.

Heaps hopes the Web site will be up by the end of the week.

When complete, the site will be accessible at either a .com or .org address.

That still gives the Internet-inclined plenty of time to hit the first registration deadline of April 13. After that, the registration fee jumps from $8 to $25.

“I just hope it doesn’t inconvenience people,” Heap said. “We just ask people to be patient with us.”

The Web site will allow online registration. It will also have a map of the new route and starting procedure, a list of frequently asked questions - such as the ever vital “Where are the porta-potties?” - a history of the race and other information.

, DataTimes