The 40th Marine Corps Marathon will commence on Sunday, Oct. 25, but the festivities begin days before runners make their first strides on the course.
Here’s a look at some of the events -- including those open to spectators and runners alike -- during Marine Corps Marathon weekend:
MCM Pep Rally
Marathon weekend kicks off with a pep rally at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. The pep rally is open to all runners and guests, and registration is available on the Marine Corps Marathon website. Music, cheerleaders, and a marathon expert panel Q&A will be at the pep rally.
Runners bRUNch
Starting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Rosslyn, a catered brunch will be served to runners and families that registered. A commemorative bib and limited edition Marine Corps Marathon coin will be given to all attendees before the Netherlands Carillon plays each of the military service songs.
Runners Conference
Sports
The Runners Conference at the Carnegie Library is free to anyone who pre-registers for each session they would like to attend. Over the course of two days, a variety of speakers will share their marathon experience and give advice to runners. Speakers include legendary Olympian Jeff Galloway, Marine Corps Marathon director Rick Nealis, and a panel of Runners World experts who will offer tips on how to run your best throughout the marathon.
