FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Marine Corps Marathon to Host Exciting Weekend of Events
MCM Weekend from Oct. 29 to 31 Offers Something for Everyone
QUANTICO, VA (Oct. 19, 2010) - The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) will host a
thrilling weekend of events welcoming runners, spectators and the public.
The weekend kicks off with the Health & Fitness Expo featuring running
products and access to experts and culminates including the 35th MCM with
30,000 runners from all 50 states and 54 countries.
Health & Fitness Expo presented by GE
Friday, Oct. 29 and Saturday Oct. 30
Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Hall D
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (both days)
More than 90,000 will visit the Expo showcasing more than 200 exhibitors
and interactive displays with free massages, food samplings and direct
access to running industry experts. All MCM, MCM10K and Healthy Kids Fun
Run participants will pick up their race-day packets and participant shirts
at the Expo, which is free and also open to the public.
MCM Speaker Series presented by Nissan
Friday and Saturday, Oct. 29 and 30
Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Room 203
Hours: Friday -- 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday -- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Four-time Emmy Award winning broadcaster Larry Rawson will moderate the
Speaker Series featuring Olympic runner Ryan Hall; Dimitri Kyriakides,
Greek Representative from the Municipality of Marathon, Greece; authors
Sara Wolf and Mike Matte and other running industry experts, including a
sports medicine physician, the MCM historian, members of the Clif Pace team
and MCM Race Director Rick Nealis.
First Timers Opening Night
Friday, Oct. 29
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
Hours: 7:30 to 10 p.m.
This sold-out event will celebrate the 11,000 first-time Marine Corps
Marathon participants, many who are expected to gather at the Hyatt
Regency. The program includes the MCM Expert Bar offering assistance and
event information plus access to the Clif Pace Team and MCM staff. Similar
to speed dating, the room will be set up to "speed greet" with runners from
the same region or with the same expected finish time.
Inspire a Miler
Saturday, Oct. 30
Pentagon North parking lot
Official start: 9 a.m.
This brand new event in the Pentagon North parking lot calls upon MCM
longtime participants to Inspire a Miler. Members of the MCM Runners Club,
who have completed five or more MCMs, will participate. Just prior to the
Healthy Kids Fun Run, up to 700 members of the MCM Runners Club will have
the opportunity to demonstrate running is a fun and healthy way to get
active. With thousands of young runners watching, Runners Club members will
run 1.5 miles of the Healthy Kids Fun Run untimed one-mile course while
demonstrating their love of the sport. Runners Club bibs will feature the
number of their most recently accomplished five-year achievement.
Healthy Kids Fun Run
Saturday, Oct. 30
Pentagon North parking lot
Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Three thousand kids ages 6 to 13 will participate in the one-mile fun run
that also offers a full day of entertainment at the family fitness called
Camp Miles. The kids will run in six waves from 9:30 to noon while enjoying
music and entertainment from the School of Rock, Elmo, Cookie Monster and
many other team and organizational mascots, CNN Fit Nation with Dr. Sanjay
Gupta, Redskins Cheerleaders, Fit Arlington challenges and other great
activities hosted by the National Children's Museum, D.C. United, Verizon
Wireless, Max Muscle, "FAMILY Magazine," Silver Diner, Toys for Tots and a
surprise celebrity wax figure from Madame Tussads Museum!
Carbo Dining In
Saturday, Oct. 30
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
Hours: 6 to 8 p.m.
In the spirit of traditional military dinners called the "Dining-In," MCM
hosts this sold-out pasta event for runners and their families and friends.
Four-time Emmy Award Winning Broadcaster Larry Rawson is the featured
speaker for the event. Entertainment will be provided by the Broomall
String Band, one of the oldest string bands in the country.
Runners Village
Sunday, Oct. 31
Pentagon North parking lot
Hours: 5 a.m. to 8 a.m.
The pre-marathon area called Runners Village in the Pentagon North Parking
lot features MCM announcer Rob Powers who will provide runners tips and
direction. Two nondenominational prayer services will be held at 6 and 6:45
a.m. with Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Maurice Buford. In addition, UPS trucks
will be staged at Runners Village to collect baggage prior to the race.
MCM10K presented by Aetna
Sunday, Oct. 31
12th and Jefferson Streets on the National Mall Starting ceremonies: 7:50 a.m.
Official start: 8 a.m.
The sold-out MCM10K includes 10,000 participants who will run 6.2 miles
across the 14th Street Bridge, into Crystal City and Arlington to finish at
the Marine Corps War Memorial.
35th MCM Wheelchair/Hand Cycle Start
Sunday, Oct. 31
Rt. 110 Arlington, VA
Official start: 7:45 a.m.
Northern Virginia Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) will fire the starting
pistol at the MCM start line for more than 100 wheelchair and hand cycle
participants who will set off at 7:45 a.m., just before the MCM start.
Nearly 60 percent of the participants are wounded veterans from all
branches of the armed forces.
35th MCM
Sunday, Oct. 31
Rt. 110, Arlington VA, between Arlington Cemetery and the Pentagon Starting
ceremonies: 7 a.m.
Official start: 8 a.m.
Thirty-thousand registered participants will embark on the 26.2-mile
journey in the 35th MCM starting at 8 a.m., with live 90-minutes of
coverage beginning on Comcast SportsNet at 7 a.m. Comcast SportsNet will
conduct live broadcast from the MCM start with highlights of the MCM's
background and history and interviews with Olympian Ryan Hall, Emmy Award
Winning broadcaster Larry Rawson, and other celebrity runners and
finishers. The MCM promises a spectacular start with international flags
from 54 different nations, Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard on horseback,
the Mummers Day Broomall String Band from Philadelphia, concussive
fireworks, the supersonic flyover of F/A-18 Hornet attack fighter jets and
CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters, and the firing of the M2A1 Howitzer.
MCM Finish Festival
Sunday, Oct. 31
Rosslyn, VA
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
After enjoying post-race hospitality and posing with MarathonFoto for a
picture in front of the iconic Iwo Jima Monument, 35th MCM, and MCM10K
finishers will proceed to the MCM Finish Festival presented by Verizon
Wireless in Rosslyn, VA. Spectators can "check their runner" throughout the
day at the HP booth. Runners and spectators can visit the Brooks Finisher
Store, stop by Verizon Wireless to make free phone calls, or make a
personalized video at the GE video booth. At Family Link Up, race-day
participants will meet up with family and friends. They also can obtain a
free massage in the ReGen recovery area, enjoy a beer sampling from
Michelob Ultra and visit Rosslyn's Restaurant Row as entertainers perform
throughout the day. MCM Announcer Rob Powers will emcee and play music from
the Finish Festival platform, giving runners, spectators and guests event
updates. Runners also will present their baggage claim tickets at the UPS
baggage trucks located on Wilson Blvd.
Departure from the MCM Finish Festival is available via free post-race
shuttles located on Oak Street and Wilson Blvd., or runners and spectators
can board the Rosslyn Metro or catch a ride from a Taxi parked at 19th and
Lynn. Taxis will charge for each ride.
More information about the entire Weekend of Events is available on the MCM
website at www.marinemarathon.com. For media information or interviews,
contact Tami Faram, Marine Corps Marathon Public Relations Coordinator at
703-432-1840 or .
Voted the best marathon for families, the Marine Corps Marathon honors the
dedication, sportsmanship and patriotism of its participants. Runners from
all walks of life participate in the largest marathon not to offer prize
money, earning the nickname as "The People's Marathon." The MCM is the
fourth largest marathon in the United States and the eighth largest in the
world. The 35th anniversary Marine Corps Marathon will be held on October
31, in Arlington, VA. No federal or Marine Corps endorsement is implied.
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