Registered runners who find themselves unable to participate in the MCM may transfer an entry to an unregistered, hopeful marathoner beginning on June 17.  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.  The program doesn't allow for the transfer of MCM10K entries between runners.  Transfer Program will be open through August 31.  Another runner support service provided by the MCM is the Deferment Program.  This limited availability option begins on August 1 and enables runners to move their 2015 entry to 2016 for a small fee.

The MCM recognizes that circumstances arise including injuries, deployments, business trips and personal obligations that can affect a runner's ability to participate in the MCM.  Rather than these individuals give their bib away, an organized Transfer Program affords all runners the opportunity to officially participate in the MCM.  The illegal transferring of bibs can affect age award results and have an impact on the delivery of proper medical support if an injured runner is not in the official participant database.  There are many individuals still seeking an entry in the MCM and have been waiting to participate in the Transfer Program.

The MCM course will remain largely the same as the wildly popular 2014 version.  With the start located between the Pentagon and Arlington Cemetery, runners will cruise through Rosslyn to Georgetown, past the Lincoln Memorial, down to the Wear Blue Mile at Hains Point, along the National Mall from the Washington Monument to the Capitol and back, before crossing the Potomac River to Crystal City.  After passing the Pentagon, runners will reach the finish at the Marine Corps War Memorial.  Slight adjustments may occur along mile 14 where construction is happening along the National Mall. Course will feature small changes at the turnaround in mile 22 just past the Crystal City Family Festival and in mile 23 on the way out of Crystal City.  Official interactive course map and elevation charts will be available for advance prep later this summer.

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 reach mile 20.  Of course, the battle cry for all MCM participants is to "Beat the Bridge," located within this mile.  The 14th Street Bridge will reopen to vehicular traffic making it unavailable to runners after 1:15 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 official start times are 7:40 for wheelchairs and handcycles and 7:55 for MCM and MCM10K runners.  The course will close after seven hours at 3 p.m.

Take selfies while training.  Post images of your MCM motivational board.  Share pics of your MCM medal collection.  Use #RunWithTheMarines on Instagram or Twitter to showcase your on-going dedication to "The People's Marathon."  A collection of these images will be displayed as part of the welcome display for the Health & Fitness Expo on October 23-24 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

The MCM Travel Desk offers discounted hotel rates for MCM Weekend with easy access to National Airport or the MCM Shuttles in Crystal City. If you want convenient access to your hotel after crossing the finish line, Arlington hotels are for you. If you want to be close to the Health & Fitness Expo at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and the national landmarks in DC, stay at the MCM HQ Hotel, the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill or one of the other fine DC-based properties. Runners are urged to move quickly.  The MCM Travel Desk is selling much faster than last year.

The MCM has partnered with Parking Panda, the nationwide leader in online parking reservations, for runners and supporters to purchase parking passes at convenient locations near the Health & Fitness Expo, the MCM Start/Finish Lines and throughout the city.  Once purchased, parking passes for the MCM are 100 percent guaranteed at the selected location. Inventory is limited and garages will fill up before MCM Weekend, so it is strongly recommended that runners, spectators and volunteers purchase Parking Passes for the MCM if driving. On event morning, free parking is available in Crystal City with shuttles to Runners Village.

 Own the finish, literally. Purchase a tote, gear bag or other specially-made products created from the actual banners that decorate the MCM finish line.  It's like carrying your vision board with you throughout training.  Stash your gym gear or just flaunt your MCM status.  The repurposed-banner products are available for purchase and make great gifts to encourage and support running buddies.

The MCM10K presented by Aetna offers runners the chance to run around the Mall to the same inspirational finish as the MCM at the Marine Corps War Memorial.  Mix in thousands of wild spectators, the Capitol, a colorful run through Crystal City and, in 2015, recognition as the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) 10K National Championship.  The MCM10K hosts 10,000 participants on Sunday, October 25, the same morning as the MCM.  Registration sells out annually and, right now, the field is over 40 percent filled.  So jump in and #RunWithTheMarines.

The MCM Kids Run is a one-mile run for children ages 5-12 on Oct. 24, the day prior to the MCM.  Every kid gets a medal, shirt and healthy snacks.  As part of the fun, the Pentagon North parking lot is transformed into a family fitness festival including mascots, exciting activities, physical challenges and cool exhibits from Silver Diner, Sodexo, Watermelon.org and more!  Even though you just celebrated the end of school, take time to register now and make sure your kids are part of MCM Weekend.

The Quantico Tri is introducing a new open-water swim as part of this year's event on Aug. 22 on Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA. In celebration of this open-water event, the Tri will provide seaweed in post-event hospitality and also, for the first time, present finisher medals.  In addition to the open-water swim, the sprint event will include a 12.4-mile bike ride and 5K run. Online registration is open now.