Team relays and a Team Challenge are two new features to be incorporated into the second annual Washington DC Marathon scheduled for March 23 2003. These opportunities have been created due to a high interest of past and future participants of the marathon.

Team relays will allow runners who feel they can't complete a full marathon yet but who would like to feel the marathon experience to participate in the road race. Relay teams will be comprised of two to four runners with all members receiving the same premiums as full marathoners. Runners who are not members of a team can find other unattached runners on a bulletin board posted on the Washington DC Marathon website. A maximum of 500 teams will be accepted into the marathon and all names of teammates are due upon registration.

A Team Challenge will also be introduced into the 2003 marathon. Corporate, government, legal, association, and non-profit groups have the opportunity to form teams to compete with all members of the team running the full marathon. All team members from the top three placing teams will receive a commemorative gift. Two divisions will create the competition. The Corporate Team Division is open to all employees of eligible corporations, businesses and financial institutions and the Open Team Division is open to all other groups.

Teams may enter a minimum of three and a maximum of five runners per team. There is no limit as to the number of teams a company or group may enter and one member of each team must be assigned as the Team Captain.

"These are two very exciting features that we believe will allow for a more diverse and competitive marathon," stated Angela Casey, spokesperson for the Washington DC Marathon. "The greater sense of community should lend itself well to the competition," she said.

Full information on both the Relay Teams and the Team Challenge will be available on August 15 by clicking onto the Washington DC Marathon webpage.