FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Marine Corps Marathon to Host Exciting Weekend of Events
MCM Weekend Begins October 27 at DC Armory
QUANTICO, VA (Oct. 21, 2011) - The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) is hosting
an exciting weekend of events from Thursday, Oct. 27 through Sunday, Oct.
30. The Marines will welcome 43,000 participants in the 36th MCM, MCM10K
and Healthy Kids Fun Run and 100,000 spectators.
MCM Weekend starts off at the opening ceremony of the Health & Fitness Expo
presented by GE with the public invited to attend the three-day event at
the DC Armory.
Thursday, Oct. 27
Health & Fitness Expo presented by GE
DC Armory, 2001 E. Capitol Street SE
Washington, D.C.
Open to the public:
Thursday, Oct. 27 - 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 28 - 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 29 - 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
More than 100,000 will visit the Expo featuring 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 open to the public with free parking available.
Friday, Oct. 28
MCM Runners Club Kickoff Mixer
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill 400 New Jersey Ave. NW Washington,
D.C.
3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Pre-registration required) Membership has its
advantages, especially for the 2,203 members of the prestigious MCM Runners
Club who receive guaranteed entry to the MCM for life as a result of having
completed at least five MCMs. Approximately 700 of these road warriors
participate in the 36th MCM and many of them will participate in the
Runners Club Kickoff Mixer on Friday, Oct. 28 at the Hyatt Regency.
First Timers Pep Rally
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill 400 New Jersey Ave. NW Washington,
D.C.
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Pre-registration required) Long recognized as the best
beginner marathon, the MCM will celebrate its more than 11,000 first-time
participants at the First Timers Pep Rally on Friday, Oct. 28 at the Hyatt.
This event is exclusive for First Timers to motivate the newbies with a
special welcome led by the USA Cheerleaders with a panel of experts,
entertainment, giveaways and the commemorative first timer's pin.
Saturday, Oct. 29
Healthy Kids Fun Run
Pentagon North parking lot
Arlington, VA
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Although this year's Healthy Kids Fun Run has already reached capacity with
3,000 kids participating in the one-mile fun run, the Camp Miles free
family festival is open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kids ages 5
to 12 will run the event in five separate waves starting at 9:30 a.m. in
the Pentagon North Parking lot, while a full day of entertainment,
activities, games and mascots will add to the excitement for the entire
family.
MCM Runners Conference
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill 400 New Jersey Ave. NW Washington,
D.C.
1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Pre-registration required) The MCM Runners Conference
is a series of three informative panel discussions led by experts in the
running industry.
The topics include Intro to the MCM, Women Running and First Timers. Each
60-minute session will feature running experts and specialists to provide
insights, anecdotes, advice and information to best prepare runners for the
MCM and the road head. Chas Henry will moderate the MCM Runners Conference
panels and facilitate the Q&A. A combat-decorated veteran of the 1991 Gulf
War, Henry served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a national security
correspondent reporting from Iraq, Afghanistan and Qatar. Elite marathoner
Ryan Hall will share advice and running tips during the First Timers
session.
Carbo Dining In
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill 400 New Jersey Ave.
NW Washington, D.C.
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Pre-registration required) In the spirit of traditional
military dinners called the "Dining-In," the MCM is hosting this pasta
event that sold out quickly to 800 runners and their families and friends.
Opening the Dining In is Liz Miele, a six-time finisher of the MCM and
professional comedian who has appeared on the "Ellen DeGeneres Show" and
Comedy Central. Robert Swan, OBE, one of the world's preeminent explorers
and environmental experts is featured speaker at the event. Swan was the
first person to trek both the North and South poles and has witnessed
firsthand the effects of global warming. During the Dining In, Swan will
announce his selection of two Wounded Warriors who will accompany him on a
polar expedition in 2012. Swan and Miele will run the MCM on Oct. 30.
Sunday, Oct. 30
Runners Village
Pentagon North Parking lot
Arlington, VA
5 a.m. to 8 a.m.
The pre-marathon area called Runners Village located in the Pentagon
parking lot features MCM announcer Rob Powers who will provide runners tips
and direction. Two nondenominational prayer services will be held at 6 a.m.
and 6:45 a.m. with Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Arthur Wiggins. In addition, UPS
trucks will be staged at Runners Village to collect baggage prior to MCM.
MCM10K
12th Street and Jefferson Drive, on the National Mall Washington, D.C.
8 a.m. start
Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, will
start the MCM10K and then join 10,000 participants to run 6.2 miles across
the 14th Street Bridge, into Crystal City and Arlington to finish at the
Marine Corps War Memorial. Look for the MCM mascot, Miles the bulldog,
running the MCM10K from D.C. and through Northern Virginia.
Wheelchair/Hand Cycle Start
Route 110, Arlington, VA
Between Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon
7:45 a.m. start
Actor and Marine Corps Vietnam veteran John Doman will fire the starting
pistol at the MCM start line for more than 130 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.
MCM Start
Route 110, Arlington, VA
Between Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon
7 a.m. starting ceremonies
8 a.m. official start
Drew Carey, familiar host of "The Price Is Right," comedian, actor and
producer will fire the starting pistol at the MCM start line for 30,000
fellow runners before Carey joins them to participate in his first
marathon.
The MCM start will include a tandem jump of Marine amputee Lance Cpl.
Michael Boucher, wounded on June 12 in Afghanistan; as well as a flyover of
Marine aviators and the MV-22B Osprey. A Firing Salute will be performed by
Marines from Marine Barracks 8th and I to honor those killed 10 years ago
on Sept. 11, 2001 and for all fallen service members killed in the War on
Terrorism and for those defending freedom today. The Star-Spangled Banner
will be performed by three vocalists of United We Sing, a USO-style touring
group and the sonic boom of the 105mm Howitzer will sound the start as
runners prepare for their 26.2 mile challenging journey through Northern
Virginia and Washington, D.C.
MCM Finish Festival
Rosslyn, VA
8 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, 36th MCM and MCM10K
finishers will proceed to the Finish Festival Rosslyn, VA. Spectators can
"check their runner" throughout the day at the HP booth. Runners can
receive a free massage, and purchase finisher items at the Brooks Finisher
Store. At Family Link Up, located on N. Lynn Street, race-day participants
will meet up with family and friends. There's beer sampling from Michelob
Ultra, Rosslyn's Restaurant Row and the Quantico Marine Corps Band
performing on the Finish Festival stage. MCM Announcer Rob Powers will
emcee all of the fun while providing runners, spectators and guests event
updates. Runners also will claim their baggage at the UPS trucks located on
Wilson Blvd. between Lynn and Kent Streets.
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 name, "The People's Marathon." The MCM, sponsored by
Brooks, Nissan, Aetna, Arlington, VA and GE, is the fifth largest marathon
in the United States and the ninth largest in the world. The 36th MCM will
be held on Oct. 30 in Arlington, VA. No federal or Marine Corps endorsement
is implied.
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