The start of fall can mean only one thing for runners here in Boston: time to start planning for Boston Marathon 2009. Last week Beth wrote about how to get a Boston Marathon number, and it was our most read post to date. Needless to say, it seems we’ve hit a nerve with our running community. Check it out if you still need a number.

Some of you may be wondering why we are so keen on the Boston Marathon. Well, besides being in our own backyard, Firstgiving has been honored to power the fundraising of hardworking athletes and charities over the last few years.

With stand outs like Marc Turgeon running for autism, Doug Barton finishing his fifth Boston Marathon, and Michael Kinveay stepping up for literacy, it’s hard not to get attached.

See what fundraisers on Firstgiving have done:

• 2004: 176 runners raised  $278,487 for  9 organizations
• 2005: 307 runners raised  $598,075 for  35 organizations
• 2006: 444 runners raised  $892,940 for  50 organizations
• 2007: 599 runners raised  $1,477,068 for  75 organizations
• 2008: 699 runners raised  $1,846,985 for  98 organizations

With trends like this we have high hopes for 2009.

And remeber, even if you aren’t part of an official charity program, you can run and raise for any nonprofit with Firstgiving.com.