The coronavirus pandemic has forced the cancelation of yet another event. This time the Marine Corps Marathon has fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the first time in the race’s 45-year-history, the race, which had been scheduled to be run on Oct. 25, will not happen, The Washington Post reported.
At least not in the traditional way.
Organizers are giving runners the option to run the race virtually, WUSA reported.
The 2020 MCM Weekend events will shift to virtual-only status due to ongoing public health concerns and the guidelines of local governments.▶️https://t.co/Nf1RXPNYpe
— Marine Marathon (@Marine_Marathon) July 20, 2020
The races, which include the marathon, a 10K, a 50K and the fun mile run, must be completed between Oct. 1 and Nov. 10, which happens to be the birthday of the Marine Corps. The entry fee is $45 for the marathon and 50K. The 10K is $33 and the fun mile is $20. Participants will get a shirt for the race in which they are registered, commemorative bib, patch and/or a finisher medal, WUSA reported.
As for the 30,000 estimated runners who were planning to run the race in person, they could defer their entry to the 2021, 2022 or 2023 Marine Corps Marathon or the 50K or get a refund, race officials said.
Runners who had been signed up for the traditional race have until Aug. 5 to submit their plans to marathon organizers, WJLA reported.
The Marine Corps Marathon was the latest large race weekend to be canceled due to the pandemic. The Boston Marathon was postponed to September but then was canceled. New York City and Chicago marathons were also canceled. The Honolulu Marathon is still scheduled to happen on Dec. 13, The Washington Post reported.
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