The People’s Marathon is returning this fall. The Marine Corps Marathon has announced it will be returning to in-person racing, after going virtual last season.
The 46th annual Marine Corps Marathon weekend will be held October 29-31 in Arlington. The three-day event includes the live Marine Corps Marathon, the Marine Corps 50K, and Marine Corps Marathon 10K, which will all be held on Sunday, October 31. All three events will also be offered as a virtual option, where runners can complete the run from October 1 to November 11.
“Throughout my many years heading the MCM Organization, we have faced various challenges and hurdled them all, often repeating the Marine Corps mantra to ‘adapt and overcome.’ This year will be no different,” said Rick Nealis, MCMO director in a recent press release. “The MCM’s mission is to highlight the high standards and organizational excellence of the United States Marine Corps and we are excited to showcase that as we plan to safely gather and celebrate the 46th MCM in person.”
Those who registered for the virtual weekend events or deferred their 2020 registration will have the first opportunity to register for the in-person event. Additional entries to the in-person races will open to the public Wednesday, May 26 at noon, if available.
While the area is excited to have the marathon return, runners and spectators can expect a few changes to the usual race-day experience. There will be a reduced field size and staggered start times to keep the field socially distanced throughout the race. Organizers will continue to follow local government and public health officials and update protocols if needed.
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