Photo: The start of the 2004 Marine Corps Marathon

Runners, families and spectators are invited to set sail with the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) for an afternoon or evening of sight seeing, festive dining, pre-marathon motivation and live entertainment while cruising past the skyline of the nation's capital on the Potomac River.

Spirit of Washington will host the first ever Marathon Spirit Cruise on Friday, October 28 for dinner and Saturday, October 29 for lunch. Scheduled guest speakers include Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee (Friday night dinner cruise) and dynamic sports nutritionist and author Lisa Dorfman (Saturday afternoon cruise). "The MCM Spirit Cruises are a great way for runners to socialize before the marathon, enjoy great food and sight see in a unique manner during their visit to Washington, D.C.," said Rick Nealis, MCM Race Director.

The Friday evening, three-hour dinner cruise boards at 6:30 p.m. and costs $65 per person. The Saturday afternoon, two-and- a-half hour lunch cruise boards at 12:30 p.m. and costs $38 per person. Both cruises offer guests a bountiful buffet with meal choices including several entrees, vegetables and salad selections. Cruises will depart Pier 4 at 6th and Water Streets. Space is limited. For tickets, call 1-866-211-3811. For more information or to view menus please visit the Spirit Cruises Web site.

"We are proud to be a supporter of the Marine Corps Marathon," said Sal Naso, Regional Director of Spirit Cruises. "This is the first year Spirit has been involved and we plan to deliver a quality event and good time to the runners and participants."

Mike Huckabee became governor of Arkansas in 1996. Now an avid outdoorsman and runner, Huckabeee began his quest to get healthy by shedding more than 100 pounds after being diagnosed with diabetes in 2003. He completed his first marathon, the Little Rock Marathon in 2005, with a time of 4:38:58. He recently wrote and published his 4th book based on his experiences with getting in shape, titled Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork.

Ms. Dorfman is the Sports Nutritionist for the University of Miami and the author of 3 books including The Vegetarian Sports Nutrition Guide. A licensed nutritionist, psychotherapist and certified coach, Dorfman is president of Food Fitness International, Inc., a company that provides professional guidance on food, physical and psychological issues for athletes, the public, and the press. She has been a competitive athlete since 1988, placing top 10 in numerous marathons including the MCM (PR 2:52:32), and competed in the Long Distance Duathlon World Championships for Team USA in 2004.

The Marine Corps Marathon continues a combined tradition of dedication, sportsmanship and patriotism. Since its inception, over 300,000 civilian and military runners from all walks of life have participated, deservingly earning the event its nickname "The People's Marathon."

The 30th Marine Corps Marathon will be held on October 30, 2005. Visit marinemarathon.com for more information. No federal or Marine Corps endorsement implied.

See a story from the 2004 Marine Corps Marathon.