Press Release - Marine Corps Marathon - 3/21/03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                             Contact:   Kim Roberson 
                                                             1-800-RUN-USMC

       28th MARINE CORPS MARATHON TO OFFER GUARANTEED RACE ENTRIES  
      REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS OF CANCELLED WASHINGTON D.C. MARATHON

QUANTICO, VA (March 20, 2003) - The Marine Corps Marathon will offer 1,000
guaranteed entries into the 28th Marine Corps Marathon being held on Sunday,
October 26 to registered runners of the now-cancelled Washington D.C. 
Marathon. 

"The Marine Corps Marathon feels terrible for the runners who have trained
so very hard over the winter months in preparation for their marathon
dream," said Marine Corps Marathon Race Director Rick Nealis. "Two years
ago, after 9-11, when the Air Force Marathon cancelled, the Marine Corps 
Marathon offered a similar opportunity to those runners to run in the 
then-closed race. War and other concerns of external aggression should not 
stop us from living our lives and achieving our goals." 

The Marine Corps Marathon conducts an online registration lottery to fill 
the field of 18,000 runners. The event has sold out for four consecutive 
years. Registered runners in the cancelled D.C. Marathon can avoid the 
online lottery and secure a guaranteed spot in the 28th Marine Corps 
Marathon by sending a letter requesting entry accompanied by a copy of the
official registration confirmation from the D.C. Marathon. An application 
for the Marine Corps Marathon will then be sent to the runner. Only the 
first 1,000 applications received by the Marine Corps Marathon office will 
be accepted. Send registration request with confirmation to: 

28th Marine Corps Marathon 
c/o Marathon Goodwill Entry
PO Box 188 
Quantico, VA 22134 

Registration for the 28th Marine Corps Marathon costs $80. All entries are 
non-refundable. Transfer requests will be accepted until September 4. A 
$20.00 fee will be charged to transfer a runner's entry. 

The 28th Marine Corps Marathon will be held on Sunday, October 26, 2003 in 
Arlington, Virginia. Lottery registration continues through May 19, 2003 
with entry drawings beginning on April 15, 2003. To register, visit 
www.marinemarathon.com. For media information, contact Kim Roberson in the
Marine Corps Marathon Public Relations office at (703) 784-2225 ext. 296. 
For registration information, please contact the Marine Corps Marathon 
registration office at 1-800-RUN-USMC, or visit www.marinemarathon.com. 



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