Those attempting to grab a 2015 Marine Corps Marathon bib will have a prime opportunity starting March 13.
For 10 days starting at noon eastern standard time March 13, marathon runners from around the world will be using all lucky means necessary-from four-leaf clover searches to rubbing rabbit's feet-for a chance to snag one of 22,000 MCM lottery spots. Ironically, the lottery begins on a Friday the 13th- a day many deem unlucky.
"It wasn't planned that way at all; it just happened," MCM Public Relations Coordinator Tami Faram said of the date picked for the lottery. "We'll call the lottery opening day a lucky 13 for those who gain entry."
Coming off a March 11 registration event for the Marine Corps 17.75K, which filled in less than 15 minutes, the MCM lottery will be open until noon EST March 23. The reasoning for having such a wide window of registration for the 40th anniversary of the Washington, D.C.-area marathon is due to a variety of reasons according to director Rick Nealis, but global equality is a key factor.
"What was happening before [with first-come, first-served registration] was that it was 12 o'clock here on the east coast, but it was later in the day or evening in places like London or Berlin or early in the morning in places like Hawaii," Nealis said. "It wasn't fair to those who were trying to register in the middle of the night. From a customer service basis, we'd touch base with people and they'd say, 'I was in an airplane during registration,' or 'I was in a meeting, and I couldn't get to a computer.' I also realized we were putting stress on people when registering. People were actually taking days off to register. We now have this 10-day window, so people can sign up March 13 or on a weekend."
Those wishing to register for the lottery should go to www.marinemarathon.com. Lottery winners will be notified by email on March 25. Lottery winners will not be charged a fee until officially registered.
Globally known as "The People's Marathon" and as a first-timer-friendly race, MCM will run Oct. 25 and takes participants along a 26.2-mile course through northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Future MCM-related runs include the Marine Corps 17.75K, held in Prince William County, Virginia, on March 28; the Run Amuck event on June 13 at Marine Corps Base Quantico and the Quantico Tri on Aug. 22 also held at Quantico. For the kids, the Marine Corps Marathon Kids Run will be held Oct. 24 near the Pentagon, and the annual Turkey Trot 10K will be held Nov. 21.
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