The Marine Corps Marathon will offer 1,000 guaranteed entries into the 28th Marine Corps Marathon being held on Sunday, October 26 to registered runners of the now-cancelled Washington D.C. Marathon.

"The Marine Corps Marathon feels terrible for the runners who have trained so very hard over the winter months in preparation for their marathon dream," said Marine Corps Marathon Race Director Rick Nealis. "Two years ago, after 9-11, when the Air Force Marathon cancelled, the Marine Corps Marathon offered a similar opportunity to those runners to run in the then-closed race. War and other concerns of external aggression should not stop us from living our lives and achieving our goals."

The Marine Corps Marathon conducts an online registration lottery to fill the field of 18,000 runners. The event has sold out for four consecutive years. Registered runners in the cancelled D.C. Marathon can avoid the online lottery and secure a guaranteed spot in the 28th Marine Corps Marathon by sending a letter requesting entry accompanied by a copy of the official registration confirmation from the D.C. Marathon. An application for the Marine Corps Marathon will then be sent to the runner. Only the first 1,000 applications received by the Marine Corps Marathon office will be accepted. Send registration request with confirmation to:

28th Marine Corps Marathon
c/o Marathon Goodwill Entry
PO Box 188
Quantico, VA 22134

Registration for the 28th Marine Corps Marathon costs $80. All entries are non-refundable. Transfer requests will be accepted until September 4. A $20.00 fee will be charged to transfer a runner's entry.

The 28th Marine Corps Marathon will be held on Sunday, October 26, 2003 in Arlington, Virginia. Lottery registration continues through May 19, 2003 with entry drawings beginning on April 15, 2003.

For registration information, please contact the Marine Corps Marathon registration office at 1-800-RUN-USMC, or visit www.marinemarathon.com.