MCM Charts New Course in 2012
The MCM will debut a new course in October with changes occurring from mile 22-24. After beating the bridge and returning to Arlington, runners will enter colorful and crowded Crystal City opposite of previous years. Rather than run down on the east side of Crystal Drive starting at 12th Street and return on the west, runners will reverse their traverse of miles 22-23 and start out on the westbound lanes. Upon exiting Crystal City, runners will no longer run onto Army Navy Drive, instead they will turn right onto Long Bridge Drive, an area being redeveloped by Arlington County. This will guide runners to Boundary Channel Drive, adjacent to the Pentagon, and through Runners Village back to the final stretch along Route 110.

It's about Time

While there are no timing qualifications necessary to register for the MCM, there are strict pace requirements to maintain participation in the event. All runners must maintain a 14 minute-per-mile pace to meet the two on-course check points. Runners must reach the Gauntlet at mile 17.5 by 12:20 p.m. Runners slower than the required pace will be detoured for safety reasons but will quickly rejoin the marathon course. These participants may continue to run the MCM but will not complete an official marathon. It is requested any runners rerouted at the Gauntlet not accept a finisher medal. Of course, the battle cry for all MCM participants is to "Beat the Bridge," just after mile marker 20. The 14th Street Bridge will reopen to vehicular traffic making it unavailable to runners after 1:05 p.m. Any runners unable to "Beat the Bridge" will be required to board the straggler buses and be driven to the event finish area. Also worthy of note, the MCM will start five minutes earlier this year at 7:40 for wheelchairs and handcycles and 7:55 for the runners. The course will close after seven hours at 2:55 p.m.

No MCM for You? Transfer is the Answer.

Registered runners who find themselves unable to participate in the MCM may transfer an entry to an unregistered, hopeful marathoner. It is up to the runners to find each other to execute the transfer. The MCM Facebook page is a great way to connect. If the distance has become the issue, registered marathon runners may opt to run the MCM10K by shifting their entry from the MCM to the 6.2 mile event. Procedures, deadlines and fees for both options are provided on the MCM Transfer Page.

Get a Good Start at the Right Hotel

The MCM Travel Desk offers discounted hotel rates up to 29 percent off prices quoted by other online hotel services. For easy access to National Airport or the MCM Shuttles, stay in a Crystal City hotel. If you want to convenient access to your hotel after crossing the finish line, Rosslyn hotels are for you. Want to be close to the sites in DC, stay at the MCM HQ Hotel, the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill.  Runners are urged to move quickly. The MCM hotel block is over 70 percent sold.
Now with More Mall-the MCM10K
With a brand new start in the shadows of the Smithsonian, the MCM10K presented by Aetna now offers more Mall and the same traditional inspirational finish at the Marine Corps War Memorial. Add to that, thousands of wild spectators, the field of marathoners just 14 miles behind and that's the makings of the most exciting 10K in the nation's capital. The MCM10K hosts 10,000 participants, registration has sold out for four consecutive years and is over 50 perfect filled now. So tell running friends to move quickly for a spot in the "Six-Mile Haul from the Mall."

See Kids Run! Run Kids Run!

Healthy Kids Fun Run is a one-mile run for children ages 5-12 on October 27, the day prior to the MCM. Every kid gets a medal, shirt and healthy snacks from Sodexo. As part of the fun, the Pentagon North parking lot is transformed into a family fitness festival including mascots, exciting booths, physical challenges and cool exhibits. Even though you just figured out your summer camp schedule, take time to register now and make sure your kids are part of a great day.

Online Training Tool Now Available

Looking for direction to maximize your training for the MCM? Through the MCM website, runners may purchase online training plans designed for people of ALL experience levels from the first-timer to the seasoned veteran. The newly launched multi-platform program offers runners tools to log distances, social media integration, opportunities to earn badges and so much more.

Gender Defender 5K is Perfect Date Night
On August 25 at 7 p.m., male and female runners are invited a head-to-head gender challenge on Quantico culminating with a unique gender-specific finish experience-the Mancave and the Boutique.  The men will enjoy beer, grooming products, comics and cars, while post-race pampering, wine and relaxation will be available for the ladies. All male participants receive a blue technical race shirt and a commemorative bottle opener. Female runners receive a pink technical race shirt and flower. All finishers will pick up a Gender Defender race coin. Female award winners will earn champagne flutes, while male winners will receive beer steins.

MCM News Sprint

Gatorade (lemon-lime flavor) will be the on-course energy drink...Four food stations offer a smorgasbord of energy-inducing ingestion including Oranges, Clif Shots, Dunkin Donut Munchkins and Jelly Belly Sport Beans...Sign up for the amazingly accurate and effective Clif Pace Team to meet time goals from 3:05 to 5:30...With a destination of the nation's capital, runners have lots to see and experience during MCM Weekend. Please take a moment to complete this quick MCM tourism survey...Visit the MCM Brooks store for the new line of MCM-inspired training apparel including shirts and hats, plus limited supplies of previous year merchandise...Invite friends and family to volunteer during MCM Weekend either at the expo, on course or at the finish line. Lots of opportunities to aid the runners and work alongside the Marines.