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HIGH POINT - The United Healthcare North Carolina Marathon saw big success in 2009 with close to 2,000 participants running in the marathon, half marathon and 5k. Organizers hope to double that number in 2010.

"Our goal this year… we would like to think that we can attract 4,000 runners to this race,” said Melissa Fourrier with Foster Friends of N.C. “And the momentum that's growing around the 5k, the walk or run and the issues we're going to be addressing with some community partners… I think we're going to meet it."

Those with plans to run the 2010 race should get to training. Officials announced Tuesday it will be held March 20 -- more than a month earlier than in years past.

"The weather is more predictable, it's going to be a little cooler for March 20,” explained endurance runner Charlie Engle. “The other part of it is frankly we had races like the Komen run and a few others that were right there at our date in May and we feel like we're partners in the community with them, we don't want to be competitors and it was important that we kind of find our own place on the calendar and we think that with the third weekend of March is where we're going to stay and that's going to be our weekend."

Engle is the honorary chairman for the 2010 race. He has participated in races around the world and says High Point has the ability to host a great event.

"You kind of have two types of races out there,” he explained. “You have the big ones, you know, New York, Chicago and Boston and those are tens of thousands of people and it's difficult to make a runner feel special. Now, it's still a fun race to do.

“Our goal with the North Carolina Marathon is to really have people come here and feel like they are part of a family and being treated like we know North Carolinians know how to treat people.”

The North Carolina Marathon raises money for Foster Friends of North Carolina. Last year the race raised more than $25,000 for foster children in Guilford County.