Popularity means signing up for races months in advance

What gives?
There is this crazy paranoia all of a sudden with race registrations.
I remember when I started running not so long ago, I would wait until the last two weeks to sign up for any race because back in the old days before I discovered cross training I was always worried about getting injured and having to drop out.
Now I don’t worry about that so much.
Now it’s this insane demand for races and them selling out.
It’s October and I’m already signed up for races in March and May for fear of not getting in before they sell out. The May race is already sold out and has been for a while and I’m sure the March race will sell out by the end of this month.
I get it.
I know running is more popular than ever these days, but seriously some of these races don’t need to sell out that early.
For some I know it’s a motivation thing.
For example, for someone doing their first marathon or half marathon, it’s motivation to turn your money over early and sign up.
But I recognize a lot of the names on these lists and they’re not first time runners.
I understand when there’s a marathon such as the Chicago or Washington Marine Core Marathon, that you have to sign up early because there is way more demand.
But now it’s spread to local community races.
Frankly, I find it annoying to sign up for race in March in October just because it might sell out.
There’s no need for it.
I understand a couple of months early, but last year, the Burlington Chilly Half Marathon was sold out in November. The race takes place the first week of March.
There were clinics with that race as a goal race and many of the people couldn’t get in if they hadn’t already signed up.
I find myself checking registration lists of the races I want to run in case they seem to be filling up.
It’s stupid.
All it takes is one person to do it and them everyone else jumps on the bandwagon. Then, before you know it, a race is full just because a few people signed up.
I like caps. I think more races should use them because it ensures an orderly event where runners will be taken care of, but it has incited this kind of crazy signing up months in advance.
And by the way, I’m not pointing any fingers at any one because I am already signed up for races next year.
But only because all of you did so first.