What to Know Before Registering for the MCM Lottery:

The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) hosts runners from all 50 states and dozens of countries every October in Arlington, VA and the nation’s capital. The lottery process for registration can be…intense to say the least. Runners have a two-week window during March 18-31 to declare their intent to run the MCM by signing up for the MCM Lottery. The official registration announcement emails are distributed on April 1, marking one of the more anticipated emails an individual will ever receive.

Before the Lottery opens, here are a few things you should know:

1- Check your Haku account with a functioning email and password. If you’ve participated in an MCM event previously, you’ll be required to remember your login information. For login help, call or live chat with a Haku team member at 844-299-2087 or email support@hakusports.com. The MCM customer service team can also reset your password. Just give us a call at 703-784-2225 (select ext 1, twice) if you need assistance. Another option during registration is using the password recovery link that will walk you through how to change your login information. Runners cannot set up new accounts prior to registration.

2- Make a note of the time. The MCM Lottery opens promptly at Noon Eastern on March 18.

3- Have your payment ready to go! In honor of the 45th anniversary, the entry fee for the MCM has been reduced by 4.5% from 2019 to $171.90 plus processing fees. There are no fees associated with signing up for the Lottery. Only those runners who are officially selected through the Lottery will incur costs. Please make sure your form of payment is a valid credit card and will not expire prior to April 2. If you purchase additional items while registering, you will only be charged if you are selected to run the MCM.

4- Go Shopping. Several items will be available for purchase on the MCM Lottery registration form including tickets to the Carbo Dining-In pasta party on the evening before the Marathon, the free or gold level RunCoach training program, a special offer from MarathonFoto and the iTab personalized finisher medal ribbon buckle. MCM in-training gear by Brooks will be available for purchase directly on the Brooks Running website and not through the registration form.

5- Need to Know. A couple fields you will be required to fill in during the registration process include your date of birth, gender, anticipated finish time and T-shirt size. These details matter to event organizers so be thoughtful and accurate (as best you can) about your responses. Once the lottery announcements are finalized, you can also go back into your account and purchase products including bib mail-out.

6- Ensure you’ve received your MCM registration confirmation email. You will receive two confirmation emails: one for entering the Lottery and one for the selection results on April 1. This is why step 1 is so important—all your event weekend information will be sent to the email you’ve entered. Make sure it is correct before you move forward!

7- Solidify your travel plans. Should you be selected to #RunWithTheMarines on April 1st you will want to consider how you’ll make your way to our nation’s capital and arrive at the various MCM Weekend destinations including the Health & Fitness Expo presented by Cigna at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, the MCM start in Arlington, VA and the Finish Festival in Rosslyn. Read up on the various shuttle services. Then book a hotel that supports your movement plan. Crystal City in Arlington, VA is convenient to the Runners Village shuttle service. Rosslyn is the location of the Finish Festival. National Harbor is the location of the Expo.

Wishing runners success in their pursuit of a spot in “The People’s Marathon.” Even if the Lottery fails to guarantee an entry, consider running for a cause and register to run on behalf of an official charity partner. The roster of MCM Charity Partners will be unveiled on April 1, the date of the drawing for the 45th MCM.

Written by Alexis Williams.

Alexis joined the MCM Organization in August 2019 as a marketing assistant. She is a recent graduate of Kennesaw State University where she got her degree in Communications.