First Stop--the Amazing MCM Health and Fitness Expo
The MCM Health & Fitness Expo presented by GE will be held from Thursday, October 25 through Saturday, October 27 at the DC Armory. The expo is packed with over 200 exhibitors and vendors featuring the newest exercise products, MCM souvenirs, product samples, health screenings and unique access to experts. Get a free massage from Aetna or have your body composition analysis taken at the GE booth. Talk with experts from the Clif Pace Team. Meet Olympian Shalane Flanagan in the Nissan booth on Friday and Saturday. An amazing array of MCM apparel is available at the MCM Brooks Store with $200 worth of purchases earning access to the VIP Porta Potty at the start. At the Expo, all runners will first obtain their bib with timing device and UPS Baggage Sticker in the Packet Pick-up tent. Remember to print and bring the e-card delivered by email earlier this month. Additionally, runners receive an event program, MCM Weekend Guide, commemorative patch and awesome mock neck participant shirt. Tweet your pic in the MCM shirt with #RockTheMock.

MCM Twitter Has Clues for SuperSize Goodie Bags

The first of 37 MCM SuperSize Goodie Bags will be awarded at the Health & Fitness Expo opening ceremonies on Thursday, October 25 at 3:30 p.m. The first runners in line will compete for the goodie bags that contains high value products from MCM Sponsors and licensees. The remaining bags will be randomly distributed during MCM Weekend by notifying runners over Facebook and Twitter where and when the next bag will be awarded. So before MCM Weekend, be sure to follow the MCM on Facebook and Twitter. Not all bags contain all prizes. Some of the prizes include: Free running shoes from Brooks, gift cards from Dunkin Donuts and DSW, cash cards from Geico, product from Clif Bar and GNC, event tickets from the Washington International Horse Show, Redskins tickets Comcast SportsNet, free oil change from Jiffy Lube, line jumping privledges for the Aetna massage booth and LG's Intuition smartphone/tablet from Verizon Wireless. Other participating partners include MarathonFoto, Therapearl, Jack Black, Lasting Commemoratives, Fond Memories and binspiredsigns.com. All SuperSize bags contain limited edition 37th MCM coins provided by Warrior Chip.

Nissan Introduces Social Media Tracking Services
The MCM and Nissan offer new tools to meet the demands of social media doers and posters. Spectators and runners now can register for these tracking services.

For the supporter -- Track a Runner
Relatives, friends and running buddies can follow a runners progress at the 10K, 20K, 30K, 40K and finish-line split locations in real time. The virtual support crew can follow one or multiple runners by signing up to receive updates by text or email.

For the runner - Runner Broadcast Service
Runners may announce their progress every 10K of the marathon course by automatically
posting timing updates on their Facebook timeline or over their Twitter feed. By broadcasting split times, runners will be able to effectively inform every friend or follower of their triumphant trek through the nations capital. 

About the Start

Remember the MCM and MCM10K will start at 7:55 a.m. That's a five minute change from previous years. Wheelchairs and hand cycles begin at 7:40 a.m. It is suggested all runners arrive two hours prior to the start of the MCM. Metro service begins at 5:00 a.m. for MCM runners and spectators on race morning. Marathon runners should use the Pentagon Station (blue/ yellow line) to enter Runners Village hosted by Boeing in the Pentagon North Parking lot and pre-race UPS Baggage Drop off. Arlington Cemetery (blue line) will not open until 8:30 a.m. The MCM10K will start at the Smithsonian Metro (blue line). Free parking is available in Crystal City at the corner of 23rd & Crystal Drive. Pre-race shuttle service from this parking location to Runners Village begins at 5:30 a.m. Runners and spectators utilizing Metro on MCM Day are recommended to purchase a One Day Pass for ease of access before and after the event. 

 

At the MCM Start

Runners who intend to check a bag should utilize the clear bag provided at Packet Pick-up and the UPS Baggage Sticker from the reverse side of the bib and report to the assigned UPS Truck in Runners Village. In addition to bag check, Runners Village boasts porta johns, the pre-race prayer services 6:00 a.m. and 6:45 a.m., the New-Skin anti-blister/anti-chafing station and the Brooks VIP Porta Potty. The start line is a short walk up the ramp to Route 110. Runners are encouraged to line up in the appropriate corral based on anticipated finish time. This will ensure a smooth start. Ceremonies begin at 7:20 a.m. and conclude with the howitzer blast at 7:55 a.m. Festivities include the United We Sing, international flag salute, Osprey flyover and rockin' music.

Reasons to Smile on MCM Day
The paparazzi will be everywhere capturing the images from MCM Day. ComcastSportsNet hosts 90 minutes of live TV coverage from the MCM start beginning at 7:00 a.m. A replay of the start line show airs on Comcast SportsNet on Monday, October 29 at 9:00 p.m. Throughout the course, MarathonFoto photographers will document every runner in multiple locations with background landmarks including the Capitol, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and, of course, the Marine Corps War Memorial. More than 400,000 images will be taken on MCM Day. Check the Comcast SportsNet website on Marathon evening for footage of every runner crossing the finish line.
Be A Spectacular Spectator
Spectators need a gameplan for MCM Day as much as runners. More than 100,000 supportive, enthusiastic individuals will line the course hoping for a glimpse of their runner and the opportunity to inspire others. Essential tools to maximize the spectator experience include the MCM Weekend Guide presented by the Washington Examiner, a course map, a familiarization with Metro and a quick listen to the Spectacular Spectator presentation. The coolest on-course spectator spot is Crystal City at Mile 22-23 where there's easy access through Metro, parking or MCM shuttles. Plus, Crystal City offers family friendly activities, music and entertainment certain to delight even the youngest spectators.

MCM Finish Festivities 
Once across the finish line at the Marine Corps War Memorial, a Marine will award the awesome 37th MCM finisher medal. MarathonFoto photographers will take victory shots of runners with their newly earned hardware in front of the Marine Corps War Memorial. The hospitality zone includes Fitful nourishment, Turbana bagels, bananas, bottled water, Gatorade, Dole fruit bowls and Snyder's pretzels. Inside the Fitful box is the new MCM recovery jacket. This replaces the space blankets that had been used in previous years. Please, remember to recycle. Runners then enter the Finish Festival in Rosslyn. The Festival includes live music,giveaways, food samples, restaurant row, massage service, family link-up, Mic Ultra Beer Garden (redeem the coupon on the bottom of the bib for a celebratory beer) and UPS Baggage Pick-up. Visit the MCM Brooks Store, Dunkin Donuts, GE's runner recovery booth, Nissan with special guest Olympian Shalane Flanagan and the HP Check Your Runner station for splits and finish results. The MCM Info Tent is located in Dark Star Park for spectators and runners. When ready to head home, Metro, taxi service and MCM shuttles are available.

Photos and Clothing and Commemorative Items-Oh My!
A variety of unique and special products are available to commemorate the incredible experience of running the MCM. Photos from MarathonFoto. MCM apparel from Brooks. Special finisher plaques from Fond Memories. Original MCM art recognition products from Lasting Commemoratives. And then there's the special collectors tote bags made from the MCM finish line banners by PriorLife. Run the run and collect the memories. 

MCM News Sprint
If you plan to tweet during MCM Weekend, use hashtag #37THMCM... The fastest way into the 2013 MCM is the Marine Corps 17.75K on March 23, 2013. All finishers receive a guaranteed entry into the 38th MCM...Make sure to print out the e-card to officially check in at Packet Pick-up... Run with the Marines again when MCM hosts the Turkey Trot 10K on
Marine Corps Base Quantico on November 17... Would you like a complimentary MCM print from Lasting Commemoratives? Sign up to receive a voucher redeemable at the Expo. Visit website for details....Follow the MCM, now on Instagram as MarineCorpsMarathon... For spectators, volunteers and runners seeking directions to a specific on-course location, the MCM Locator is the required resource. The mobile friendly, web-based application can be accessed at www.mcmlocator.com... Brooks is cheering for every runner. Good luck to everyone who's running! ...Limited space remains at the MCM First Timers Pep Rally on Friday, October 26 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. The program will include experts, great music and giveaways including an exclusive commemorative first timers pin....Flavors available at the Clif Shot energy zone just before mile 13 include Razz, Chocolate, Citrus+Caffeine, Mocha+Caffeine and Double Expresso Caffeeine.

Donate Running Shoes. Receive DSW Bonus Card.
Stop by the DSW booth at the Health & Fitness Expo to donate gently-used running shoes in exchange for a $5 DSW Bonus Card! Whether in the market for a new pair of running shoes, some weekend casuals, or a sleek pair of dress shoes, DSW has what you're looking for. Shop dsw.com at over 350 stores nationwide-including the two newest D.C. locations in Columbia Heights (open now) and Friendship Heights (opening October 25)! Find a store near you. 
Nissan NEXT Innovation Center
Nissan is inviting you to help celebrate our most innovative year ever. Test drive one of our Nissan models, including the all-new 2013 Nissan Pathfinder®. Come to the Nissan NEXT Innovation Center (adjacent to the Packet Pick-up tent across from the DC Armory) and test drive our most innovative models ever. Visit www.NISSANNEXT.com to register today!