Six Hour Road Trip Distinguishes Father/Daughter Relationship

The US Marines are spirited individuals who are known for their dedication and loyalty. In partnership with running specialty store VA Runner, the Marine Corps Marathon Organization offers runners an opportunity to display these same values by completing four distance challenges throughout the year. By doing so, runners earn a spectacular limited release medal and the title ‘Distinguished Participant.’

To claim this status means a runner completed either the Devil Dog Double, Historic Half, or Semper 5ive event in May and will next toe the line at either the Belleau Wood 8K, Run Amuck, or Recon Ruck events taking place this Saturday, June 15, aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico.

For those Historic Half Weekend runners who have not yet registered for an event Saturday, don’t fret! Limited entries remain available for you to continue on the path toward Distinguished Participation status.Simply register now for one of the June events. But wait, there’s more. Runners must also sign up for either the Quantico Tri or Quantico 12K in August and the Turkey Trot 10K or Turkey Trot Mile in November. Registration is currently open for all qualifying events.

Melissa Varcoe has displayed her inner Marine tenacity, having completed the Devil Dog Double where she earned an age award.She is registered for the Crossroads Challenge, which combines Run Amuck and either the Belleau Wood 8K or Recon Ruck. Determined to be distinguished, she also has locked down her entry into the Quantico 12K meaning she’ll be making multiple six hour trips from Port Jervis, NY to Virginia to #RunWithTheMarines.

“My grandfather retired from the Air Force. Some of my earliest and fondest memories are of visiting him on different bases,” says Varcoe. “The Marine events bring back special military memories from my childhood.

“I plan to run these Marine Corps races every year for the rest of my life,” she continued. “My Dad and I are going to achieve the Distinguished Participant together, and the memories we take home from each of these races is more than enough to keep us happily reminiscing for the drive back to NY.”

Distinguished Participation status is open to runners of all ages and ability levels, with distance challenges ranging from one-mile events to the 18.1-mile Devil Dog Double. Join the Marines and Melissa on this four-part journey of distinction by securing registration now.

Thanks for visiting this archived blog. The content and details are specific only for the event year highlighted in this article. For current information, please visit the event page within the MCM website.

VA Runner

Having been part of the Northern Virginia running community since 1999, VA Runner doesn’t just sell shoes, they develop relationships. VA Runner ensures that their staff is fully trained to provide guests with an experience designed to keep them comfortable and injury free. VA Runner is part of the Running Specialty Group, the parent company of a network of local running stores across the US, with the goal of inspiring, connecting, and serving runners everywhere.