All events for the 2020 Marine Corps Marathon Weekend scheduled for Friday, October 23 through Sunday, October 25 in Arlington, Virginia and the nation’s capital will shift to virtual-only status, due to ongoing public health concerns and the guidelines of local governments.

“We explored various approaches to safely execute a live event and held numerous meetings with Marine Corps leadership, local government and public health officials,” said Rick Nealis, director of the Marine Corps Marathon Organization. “We understand this is disappointing news for many, but we could no longer envision a way to gather together in compliance with safety guidelines. While we are unable to celebrate in-person this October, we are excited about the opportunity to bring the 45th anniversary event to the homes of runners around the world through a rewarding and engaging virtual experience.”

The virtual events, including the marathon, the 10K, the 50K, and the Semper Fun Mile must be completed between October 1 – November 10, the Marine Corps Birthday. All participants will receive the corresponding participant shirt, commemorative bib, patch or finisher medal. Runners will also have access to an online event program, personalized finisher certificate, the Marine Corps Marathon Audio Experience and several new digital engagement platforms.

Further instructions and a link to the registration change form will be sent this week to the email address provided by participants during registration. The deadline for currently registered runners to take action on the change form is Aug. 5.

In addition to marking its 45th anniversary, this year’s Marine Corps Marathon commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima by featuring actual volcanic ash collected at that site within the event medal.

Source: www.marinemarathon.com