MarathonCompletedBQ

Marine Corps Marathon

October 25, 2026 · 7:20 AMArlington, VA, United States

Save

Race snapshot

Race Day

59°F

46–68°F · Feels mild

Total elevation gain

787ft

Moderate rolling hills · Net elevation change +33 ft

Participants

30K

World-class event

Crowd Rating

7/ 10

Excellent spectator turnout

Races you can still enter

This race has already been run. These are coming up next.

Entry

Completed

General Registration

$240

Standard rate for the 51st Marine Corps Marathon. Refundable registration through TEAK is offered as an add-on.

Official Website

Key Dates

1. General Registration Opens
  Apr 6, 2026
  General registration opened at 10:00 AM EST.
1. Charity Bib Deadline
  Jul 31, 2026
  Last day to secure a bib through an official charity partner.
2. Expo and Packet Pick-Up Opens
  Oct 21, 2026
  Health and Fitness Expo at the National Building Museum: noon to 6:00 PM on October 21, then 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily through October 24.
3. MCM 8K, Kids Run and Final Packet Pick-Up
  Oct 24, 2026
  MCM 8K and MCM Kids Run in West Potomac Park. Last day of packet pick-up; there is no pickup on race morning.
4. Race Day
  Oct 25, 2026
  Wheels start at 7:05 AM, duos at 7:07 AM and runners at 7:20 AM on Route 110, Arlington.

Found in

Marathons in Virginia Races in Virginia Marathons in the United States Marathons in North America

The Lowdown

The Marine Corps Marathon is a road marathon organized by the United States Marine Corps and held each October in Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. First run in 1976, it is known as "The People's Marathon" and is the third-largest marathon in the United States, drawing runners from more than 50 countries. Runners start on Route 110 between the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery. The course heads through Rosslyn and Georgetown, tours the National Mall, and crosses the 14th Street Bridge back into Virginia at Mile 20. It then passes the Pentagon and Crystal City before an uphill finish at the Marine Corps War Memorial. The course is USATF-certified. There is no finish-line cutoff, but runners must hold a 14-minute-per-mile pace and clear three timed gauntlets: the DC Gauntlet, Beat the Bridge at Mile 20, and the Crystal City Gauntlet. Anyone who misses one is diverted off the course and is not an official finisher. Registrations are final, with no transfers or deferrals. Every runner must collect a bib at the expo at the National Building Museum in the days before the race, since there is no race-morning pickup. The MCM 8K and the MCM Kids Run take place in West Potomac Park the day before.

Previous edition results — 2025

Course Highlights: 01Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery: the start on Route 110 sits between them.
02Georgetown: the course runs through Georgetown after leaving Rosslyn.
03National Mall: the route tours the Mall before heading for the bridge.
0414th Street Bridge: runners must reach 14th and D Streets by 1:15 PM at Mile 20 to cross back into Virginia.
05Crystal City: the late miles pass through Crystal City, home of the final gauntlet.
06Marine Corps War Memorial: the race finishes uphill at the memorial.
Boston Qualifier: This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event. Achieve your qualifying standard here on a verified course.

Entry Methods: General registration at the standard rate of $240 USD through the official MCM website.
Charity entry: runners can secure a bib through an official charity partner until July 31.
Refundable registration through TEAK is offered as an optional add-on at registration.
Eligibility: All participants must attend packet pick-up in person or by proxy; there is no pickup on race morning.
Runners must hold a 14-minute-per-mile pace and clear all three gauntlets to be official finishers.
Required Documents: Runners must bring their e-Card and a photo ID to packet pick-up.
A proxy can collect a bib with a hard or digital copy of the completed e-Card, the runner's photo ID and their own ID.
Parents may sign the waiver and collect packets for children under 18.
Cancellation & Refund Policy: All registrations are final and may not be transferred to another person or deferred to a future year.
Refundable registration is available only through the optional TEAK add-on.

Book Stay

01: There is no finish-line time limit, but runners must hold 14 minutes per mile and clear three gauntlets: DC Gauntlet by 12:33 PM, Beat the Bridge at Mile 20 by 1:15 PM, and Crystal City Gauntlet by 1:49 PM.
02: A runner who misses a gauntlet is diverted off the course and is not recognized as an official finisher.
03: Wheelchair athletes start at 7:05 AM and duos at 7:07 AM, ahead of the 7:20 AM runner start.
04: The MCM 8K and the MCM Kids Run (0.8K, ages 5 to 12) take place in West Potomac Park the day before the marathon.

Questions about the Marine Corps Marathon 2026

When is the Marine Corps Marathon 2026?

This edition ran on Sunday, October 25, 2026. The 2027 date is to be confirmed.

Where is the Marine Corps Marathon?

Arlington, VA, United States.

What is the Marine Corps Marathon elevation gain?

240 m (787 ft) of total elevation gain. Net elevation change: +10 m (33 ft). Moderate rolling hills.

What is the Marine Corps Marathon course like?

It passes Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery, Georgetown and National Mall.

What is the weather like at the Marine Corps Marathon?

Race-day temperatures are usually 8–20 °C (46–68 °F). Feels mild.

How many runners does the Marine Corps Marathon have?

30,191 participants. World-class event.

Where are the Marine Corps Marathon results?

The official 2025 results are on the organizer's site. Official results

Is the Marine Corps Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event.

Prepare for This Race

Pace CalculatorPlan splits for marathon Race PredictorPredict your marathon time BQ CalculatorBQ-eligible course Fuel PlannerPlan nutrition for marathon, moderate weather Difficulty Analyzer787ft gain, 59°F avg, marathon Training PacesTraining zones for marathon

Running this race?

MarathonOS puts your race countdown on your Lock Screen and keeps every race-week checklist on your phone. Checklists and your race report are free for your first race.

Scan to download

Community

Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.

Community Reviews

Learn from fellow runners and share insights that will help the next person toe the line.