newsletter may 2004

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• November 2004
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• April 2004

Last Minute Lottery Info...NEW e-Confirmation Cards

Lottery registration for the Marine Corps Marathon concludes on Wednesday, June 2, when the final names are drawn. Interested runners may sign up for the drawing through June 1.

Already been selected? Confirm your entry and get your bib number on the MCM Confirmation Page. Please verify your personal information and notify the MCM office with any updates or corrections.

Immediately after the lottery concludes, runners should download a personalized e-Confirmation Card. This e-card replaces the confirmation brochure mailing that had been utilized in previous years. The printable e-card features mandatory runner data and MCM Runners' Expo/packet pick-up information. Please follow directions and print out a copy of your e-Confirmation Card from the MCM homepage. This card is essential and must be presented at packet pick-up. Available after the final lottery drawing, the new e-Confirmation Card will be accessible for runners to print as many copies as needed.

New Course and Elevation Maps Unveiled

Click the headline and view how MCM runners will be spending Halloween morning. The new MCM course and elevation map detail the 26.2 miles of the Marathon of the Monuments. Remember the new start line sends runners north on Route 110 into Rosslyn, as opposed to south towards the Pentagon. Additional course changes include following Lee Highway at mile 2 to Spout Run Parkway, before meeting up with George Washington Memorial Parkway and heading back to cross the Key Bridge.

There will also be a reintroduction of East Potomac Park area at mile 16. This change brings runners to the 14th Street Bridge at mile 20 as opposed to mile 21 in 2003, giving them more time to "Beat the Bridge." After crossing the bridge and returning to Virginia, runners will follow a new stretch of the course into Crystal City and down the soon-to-be two-way Crystal Drive.

To finish the race, participants will make the traditional climb up Marshall Drive to the Iwo Jima Monument, but will no longer have to circle the memorial to make it to the finish line. The new finish line will be located in front of the Iwo Jima Monument. Course route is subject to change.

Orange You Glad You Ran the MCM 8K?

Encourage friends and family to participate in the new MCM 8K. The Inaugural MCM 8K will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 31, following the start of the Marathon. Registration for the 8K costs $35. The MCM 8K utilizes the marathon's start line after the runners leave the corrals and concludes at the MCM finish arch. Shorter distance. Same awesome mock neck participant shirt as the MCM, but in bright harvest orange featuring original MCM 8K artwork. You haven't seen orange like this since the last time you were able to rhyme a word with orange. The MCM 8K...all the energy, excitement, hospitality and patriotism of the MCM with more orange.

Pasta Party Tickets

Runners who purchased tickets to the Mueller's Marine Corps Marathon Pasta Parties will receive their passes in the race packet at packet pick-up at the MCM Runners' Expo presented by Caremark. To purchase tickets to the Pasta Parties, runners and guests may download a ticket order form on the MCM website beginning in mid-June. Each of the three seatings features music, videos, great food, prizes and engaging guest speakers like Olympic Gold Medalist and 2004 MCM honorary Starter Billy Mills.

MCM Training Apparel at the MCM/Brooks Store

At the MCM Brooks store, we believe nothing should come between you and your training run. So grab your commemorative MCM technical running apparel to keep cool, dry and comfortable in any weather. Brookspeak: SILC-This lightweight, micro-fiber polyester quickly transfers moisture from the body to the fabric surface to speed evaporation and regulate temperature. Multi-seasonal. Want Silc? Check out the women's 2004 training sleeveless top.

Vintage MCM Shirts

Classic MCM mock neck competitor shirts from the 23rd, 24th, 26th, 27th and 28th MCMs are for sale in select sizes. Also for sale, exclusively through this offer is the limited edition Miles, the MCM mascot, bobblehead.

Support a Great Cause and Run with a Charity

The Marine Corps Marathon has been recognized by USA Track & Field (USATF) as the Charitable Race of the Year after charity partners generated more than $8 million dollars in donations.

Through the MCM Charity Partner Program, local and national charitable organizations are able train and motivate their running groups to participate in the MCM as a platform to raise money and increase awareness of their cause. MCM is proud to present the list of our 2004 Charity Partners as an opportunity for would-be MCM participants to secure a guaranteed MCM entry and help support a worthwhile charitable effort. Visit the MCM Charity Partner webpage to learn more.

Spotlight: Running in Memory of Fallen Heroes

Marathons are mentally, emotionally and physically challenging events. Anyone completing such a challenge deserves and is given a finishers medal to honor this accomplishment. In 2003, Roland Bowler found another way to make his Marine Corps Marathon finishers medal into a Medal of Honor. A former Marine, Bowler had always felt a kinship with the men and women in the United States Marine Corps. It was when he came across the name of a young corporal who had been killed during a battle in Iraq that the sense of kinship turned into something much stronger. For some unexplainable reason Bowler became determined to show his gratitude to Corporal Patrick Nixon. Roland Bowler decided to run the Marine Corps Marathon and honor Nixon in the process. Despite the pains of intense training, Bowler felt the most difficult part of his MCM experience was making contact with Nixon's family to explain what he was doing and why. After completing the MCM, Bowler traveled to Texas and personally delivered his finisher's medal to Nixon's family.

Today, Bowler is the head of "Running in Memory of Fallen Heroes" (RIMOFH). His organization seeks to link runners desiring to honor fallen heroes with military families who have lost loved ones. "As I saw the look of gratitude in their eyes, I became convinced that other families would appreciate the same thankful gesture and RIMOFH was born," explained Bowler. For more information, email rolandbowler4@yahoo.com, or visit www.runninginhonoroffallenheroes.org

If you have a unique or inspiring training story to tell, send an email and photo to marathon@nt.quantico.usmc.mil and you may be featured in our Runner Spotlight.

Ask the MCM-Group Info

Q. While our group was selected through the lottery one member did not receive a confirmation email. Why didn't this one person get selected and how can we correct this?
A. The foremost reason for a group member not being selected along with the rest of the group is incorrect information entered during the registration process, such as a wrong credit card number. To correct any group registration concerns, contact DO IT Sports at 877-879-3648.

Q. I tried adding myself to a group that has already been selected through the lottery but have been unsuccessful. How can I join this group?
A. Unfortunately, if the group has already been selected, it is not possible to add new members. Only group members included during initial registration process may participate once the group has been selected.

Be a Part of the Action, Volunteer for the 2004 MCM!

Be a part of the Marine Corps Marathon experience without running a step... but don't worry, we'll keep you moving! Here is your chance to work side by side with the men and women of the United States Marine Corps in our nation's capital. No other volunteer opportunity offers a more inspirational or patriotic setting.

The 2004 MCM is in need of enthusiastic and excited volunteers to assist race staff and Marines at water and aide stations, the MCM Expo, baggage pick-up, and many other locations. The possibilities are endless!

Register to be a volunteer with the online volunteer application form. Singles, families or large groups welcome! Volunteers are highly valued by the Marine Corps Marathon! The event simply could not happen without the support of so many.

Hotel and Travel Planning

Top quality Arlington and Washington, DC-area hotels are offering special rates and runner-friendly amenities to MCM participants. Among the special services extended to MCM participants and guests are shuttle services, late checkouts and pasta parties. Visit the MCM Travel Page presented by Delta Air Lines to view individual hotel web sites, plus learn more about MCM airline discounts.

Free Virtual Trainer

Need a friendly reminder or a structured program to shape your training for the Marine Corps Marathon? The MCM Virtual Trainer, written by Olympian and best-selling author Jeff Galloway, is set up to allow runners from beginners to those Boston-bound to train for the marathon without devoting every moment to running. The program offers training schedules for all skill levels that can be sent directly to your email. There is no cost for participation. The schedules include two weekday runs and a longer weekend run. Galloway has trained over 150,000 runners for marathons and has written two best-selling books: Galloway's Book on Running (2nd Edition) & Marathon! He also conducts training programs and does e-coaching for individuals. For more information, visit his website www.jeffgalloway.com or email jeffgalloway@mindspring.com

Virtual Video

And what better way to visualize the challenges of the Arlington and DC-based course than to actually see it? The 30-minute Virtual Marine Corps Marathon Course Video tours the course from a runner's-eye view providing basic information, highlighting course characteristics and offering tips for race preparation. Narrated by former US Olympic marathoner Don Kardong, the Virtual Marine Corps Marathon Course VHS or DVD costs $19.95.

Healthy Kids Corner

As part of its mission to encourage children to initiate a lifelong commitment to fitness by making healthy choices at home, at school and at play, the MCM has created a Healthy Kids Corner of the MCM web site. The MCM will feature articles, training, nutrition and healthy lifestyle information for children and their parents to promote physical activity, healthy behaviors and lifestyle choices. Have your kids check out this month's newsletter featuring childhood photos and stories of the 2003 MCM male and female top finishers.

Information is also available for parents, school officials, youth groups, clubs and organizations to sign up, train for and run the 2004 Marine Corps Marathon's Healthy Kids Fun Run presented by the Washington Post. The one-mile fun run will take place on Saturday, October 30 at the Iwo Jima Monument. Race festivities begin at 9:30 a.m. and are open to all children, ages 6-13. Advance entry fee is $10. Runners' Expo and race day entry fee is a new unwrapped toy ($10 value) for the Marine Corps Toys For Tots campaign.

Grab Your Chip

Purchase your own customized Marine Corps Marathon runner's chip. This chip can be used at all ChampionChip events around the world and serve as a reminder of a great run with the Marines. The timing chip costs $35 plus shipping and handling.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Smile!

The Marine Corps Marathon proudly welcomes new event photographer MarathonFoto, the established leader in race photography boasting three decades of experience. The MarathonFoto team of professional photographers will be taking multiple photos of all MCM participants at several different locations on the course as well as at the finish line. Runner photo proofs will be available lightning quick after the race. If you wish to receive notification when all of your race photos are posted online and available for viewing, register your email address on the MCM Photo page.