How do I register for the Marine Corps Marathon?

General registration opens to the public in April, first-come first-served, and typically sells out within weeks. Runners who have finished five or more MCMs get priority access through the Runners Club. Charity bibs and seeded-qualifier spots are also available for those who miss general registration.

Is the Marine Corps Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is USATF-certified and official finish times are accepted by the BAA for Boston Marathon qualification. About 3.4% of 2025 finishers ran a Boston qualifying time.

What is the pace requirement?

Runners must maintain a 14-minute-per-mile pace and clear all course gauntlet checkpoints. Runners who miss a gauntlet may be redirected off the certified course and will not receive an official finish.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course gains about 630 feet in total, with most of the climbing packed into the first 2.5 miles through Rosslyn. The route then descends toward the Potomac and is mostly flat through Washington, D.C. A short uphill at the Iwo Jima Memorial closes the race.

What is the typical race-day weather?

Late October in Arlington is usually cool and dry. Average highs are around 64 degrees with lows near 46. Partly cloudy skies and low humidity are typical, generally good conditions for marathon running.

How large is the field?

The 2025 edition recorded 30,127 marathon finishers, making it one of the largest marathons in the United States.

Is the course USATF certified?

Yes. The Marine Corps Marathon is USATF-certified, and official finish times qualify for use in Boston Marathon applications and other certified-course requirements.

Sun, Oct 25 · 2026Arlington, VASince 1976

Marine Corps Marathon

The Marine Corps Marathon takes you on a 26.2-mile loop from Arlington through the heart of Washington, D.C., past the nation's most recognizable monuments, and back to a uphill finish at the Iwo Jima Memorial. It climbs hard in the opening miles and rewards patience with a flat, crowd-lined stretch through the capital.

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MARINE CORPS · US

Marine Corps

SUN, OCT 25

2026

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Race Overview

EST. 1976

The MCM starts near the Pentagon with a howitzer cannon sending you off, which sets the tone. The first three miles climb steadily through Rosslyn, and nearly everyone goes out too hard because the crowd energy is high and the course feels fast. It is not. Be patient there. After the climb you drop toward the Potomac, cross into Georgetown, and from there it smooths out considerably. The National Mall section around miles 15 to 18 is where the race earns its reputation. You are running past the Capitol and Washington Monument with spectators packed along both sides, and the atmosphere is genuinely unlike most marathons. It is the moment to take in, not to accelerate. After 'Beat the Bridge' at mile 20, you cross back into Virginia and grind through Crystal City before a final uphill charge to the Iwo Jima finish, where a Marine hands you your medal. Worth every bit of it.

This is not a course you book for a fast time. The early hills, the turns, the size of the field, and the emotional pull of the monuments all tend to slow you down. It is a Boston qualifier and some runners do hit their standards here, but the BQ rate is modest. General registration opens in April, first-come first-served, and sells out fast, so have the page ready when it opens. Charity and seeded-qualifier bibs are available if you miss the window. October weather in D.C. is usually on your side, cool and dry, so dress light and plan to run patient.

Field size

~17k

17,000 finishers

BQ rate

15%

Above national average

Time limit

7:00

Generous cutoff

Entry

Lottery

Annual draw + charity

Course records

Men

2:14:01

Jeffrey Scuffins

1987

Women

2:34:08

Tessa Barrett

2025

The Course

640 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑640 ft

Total descent

↓640 ft

Net elevation

↑0 ft

Highest point

232 ft

Lowest point

2 ft

Course shape

Loop

Start and finish in one place

The MCM opens with a sustained climb through Rosslyn in the first 2.5 miles, rising to roughly 230 feet, the course high point. A descent along Spout Run and the George Washington Memorial Parkway follows, dropping runners toward the Potomac. After crossing Key Bridge into Georgetown, the course runs flat through M Street, along Rock Creek Parkway, and past the Kennedy Center. Miles 12 through 20 cover the National Mall, mostly flat and open, passing the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and Capitol. The Tidal Basin stretch is exposed to wind. The 'Beat the Bridge' checkpoint at mile 20 precedes the 14th Street Bridge return to Virginia. Crystal City at miles 22 to 25 is flat but crowd-sparse. The finish delivers a punchy uphill to Iwo Jima. Total gain is around 630 feet, heavily front-loaded. Runners should treat miles 1 through 3 as a controlled warmup and resist Mall crowd energy through miles 15 to 18.

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Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

45°F

High

63°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

Late October in Arlington is usually cooperative. You'll start in the low-to-mid 40s, which feels cold in the corral, so plan on a throwaway layer. By the time you're deep into the back half the temperature climbs into the low 60s, and that's where it gets interesting. It's comfortable enough, but if you went out hard in the cool morning air, the warmth will find you. The conditions generally favor a solid effort, but don't let the crisp start convince you to bank time you'll need later.

Entry

LOTTERY · CHARITY

Entry is via a March lottery for the general public. Roughly half of bibs go to lottery; the rest to active-duty service members, charity partners, and guaranteed-entry running groups. Lottery odds have been roughly 1 in 3 in recent years.

Register on race site

Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

DCA

3 mi

from the start

≈ 10 min transferOn the doorstep

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into DCA, about 3 miles from the start, right on the doorstep by rideshare or transit, roughly a 10-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Arlington, VA so you're not fighting race-morning closures and transit on tired legs. Arrive a day early to clear the expo and bib pickup, and build in buffer for gear-check and corral entry.