Six days from now, tens of thousands of runners will line up on Route 110 in Arlington, Virginia, for the 51st Marine Corps Marathon. It's Sunday, October 25, 2026, and it's one of my favorite traditions the Corps puts on all year.
The People's Marathon
The Marine Corps Marathon is the third-largest marathon in the United States and the largest in the world that doesn't offer prize money. That's how it earned the nickname "The People's Marathon." Nobody's running for a check. They're running for a buddy, a cause, or to prove something to themselves. Marines run the whole operation, from the water points to the finish line.
Race weekend at a glance
- Expo and packet pickup: October 21 through 24 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.
- MCM 8K and Kids Run: Saturday, October 24, in West Potomac Park.
- Race morning: The wheelchair and hand-cycle division starts at 7:05 a.m., duos at 7:07, and the marathon at 7:20, with a March on Colors and the national anthem before the start.
- Roads: Arlington County and D.C. will close a long list of roads over the weekend, so check the traffic alerts before you drive in to cheer.
Why it matters
The course goes through the heart of the nation's capital and finishes near the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington. The Marine handing you your medal could be a lance corporal who volunteered to stand out there all morning. If you're running, thank the Marines on the course. If you're watching, cheer the runners at the back as loud as the ones at the front, because they're out there the longest.
Good luck to everyone toeing the line Sunday. Semper Fi.
Sources: Marine Corps Marathon · Arlington County traffic alert
