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 In its long history, the MCM has not only made a name for itself in sheer size as the 4th largest US Marathon and 8th in the world, but stands as the largest marathon in the world that doesn’t offer prize money, earning its nickname, "The People's Marathon."
Thirty-four years of MCM history can all be traced back to one man Colonel Jim Fowler, and big idea. According to Fowler, "After the Vietnam War, popularity of the military services declined in the eyes of many. At the same time, distance running was gaining considerable positive attention."
This thought process lead Fowler to write a memo to his superior, General Michael Ryan, dated 17 October 1975, outlining his idea for a Marine Corps Reserve Marathon, to promote community goodwill, showcase the Marine Corps, serve as a recruiting tool and finally, to give local Marines an opportunity to qualify for the legendary Boston Marathon.
Fowler’s memo stated, “The name marathon evokes military history and is the kind of event which the public finds in consonance with the image of the Marines." General Ryan loved the concept and helped it receive approval from the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Louis Wilson.
With the approval of the CMC, the planning process began. Word of the marathon spread quickly through the ranks, reaching as high as the Secretary of the Navy, William J. Middendorf, who had enthusiastically embraced the event and donated a handsome trophy to be awarded to the overall winner.
With the backing of the Secretary of the Navy, many people jumped aboard the Marathon bandwagon. When Gunnery Sergeant Alex Breckinridge, a member of the 1960 Olympic Marathon Team heard about the Marathon, he too wanted to do his part to ensure the success of the Marathon. Fowler observed "the presence of Alex Breckinridge during meetings with the local jurisdictions was of incalculable value. Here was a staff noncommissioned officer who had been a member of the US Olympic Team. I could not ask for a more impressive ambassador on behalf of the program we were trying to establish".
Thanks to word of mouth gains were being made on the publicity side. The advertising agency, J. Walter Thompson, which had the Marine Corps account "arranged" for Runner’s World magazine to join the effort. In the June 1976 edition of Runner’s World, there was a full-page advertisement for the First Annual Marine Corps Reserve Marathon. The picture depicted Paul Kelly and Dick Sullivan running in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial. The message included a brief description of the course, awards, time, location and a coupon, which runners could send in requesting more information. It was at this time that Col. Fowler dubbed the race Ryan’s Run, in honor of the General.
 Through the dedication and efforts of the Marine Corps Reserve, under the direction and leadership of Col Fowler and General Ryan, the first MCM was held on 7 November 1976 and welcomed 1,175 participants (New York only had 123 participants in its first year, 1970) to the Arlington, VA start line. Runners began and ended the inaugural race at the Marine Corps War Memorial, fondly referred to as the Iwo Jima monument, a fitting location for a Marine Corps event.
A successful first year reaffirmed Fowler’s belief that a Marine Corps Marathon would be well received in the community and beneficial to the Marine Corps. As planning began on the second event, Fowler had a meeting with the Chief of Police for the District of Columbia, Maurice J. Cullinane. Fellow Marine Herb Harmon was with the Corporation Counsel’s Office and had a good relationship with Chief Cullinane. The meeting resulted in a parade permit that allowed the marathon to change its course and yielded the scenic route through Washington that all future competitors would enjoy. Each route modification required new measurements and re-certification by the AAU. A wheelchair category was added to the second Marathon in addition to the route change. With the heightened publicity from the first event and a new, more scenic course, the Marine Corps Reserve Marathon was thrilled to welcome 2,655 runners to the second race field. With the big idea and littlest details firmly in place, the Marine Corps Marathon took off.
By the early 1980’s, the planning requirements for the MCM had grown so much, that Marine Corps Base Quantico was tasked with putting on the annual event. In 2006, the MCM hosted its first event during race weekend outside of the US, the MCM Forward. Held at Al Asad Airbase, under the direction of Major Megan McClung, the MCM Forward boasted 109 finishers, mostly consisting of deployed military members. In 2007, the MCM hosted a race field of 30,000 participants. Nearly 21,000 runners crossed to finish to behold the same memorable site as the finishers in the first MCM, the Marine Corps War Memorial, filling runners with pride for not only their accomplishments, but for their country and their Corps. In 2008, the MCM expanded its yearly calendar to include a half marathon in May called the Marine Corps Historic Half, and four short distance races which made up the MCM Event Series.
Of the original 1,175 finishers to cross the Arlington, VA start line, only four have gone on to run the Marine Corps Marathon each fall. Will Brown, 61 of Raleigh NC; Matthew Jaffe, 66 of Rockville, MD; Al Richmond, 67 of Arlington, VA; and Mel Williams, 68 of Norfolk, VA, better known as the Groundpounders, have participated in all 34 Marine Corps Marathons. Between the four of them, these men can remember every twist and turn the MCM has taken over its thirty-four year history.
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