Read the 2003 Marine Corps Marathon report by Drew Woodrich.

Look at the 2003 Photo Gallery

"Cheers" with Award Winning Jefferson Vineyards
The Marine Corps Marathon has partnered with Jefferson Vineyards, Virginia's leading boutique winery, to produce three commemorative 29th Marine Corps Marathon wines--a 2003 Cabernet Franc, 2003 Riesling and a 2002 Chardonnay Reserve. The bottles, featuring labels designed with the 29th MCM artwork, will be on sale during the Marine Corps Marathon Runners' Expo at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City or can be ordered now through the Jefferson Vineyards website www.jeffersonvineyards.com.

"They're great wines, especially the Chardonnay," says Jefferson's winemaker Frantz Ventre "I'm so happy we can offer them for this event because they're a pretty good look at what we can do."

Email and phone pre-event orders will be taken and held until October 18th, when orders will be shipped. If Jefferson is unable to ship to a particular state, wine can be pre-ordered for pick up at the MCM Runners' Expo at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. Expo hours are Thursday, October 28 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, October 29 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, October 30 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

"These are three of our top selling wines under our own labels," stated Chad Zakaib, Jefferson Vineyard Sales Director. "The partnership with the Marine Corps Marathon allows runners to purchase these high quality wines under the Marathon's commemorative label."

The 2003 Cabernet Franc is a light, fruit-forward red made in an easy drinking style. The 2003 Riesling pairs sharp acidity with strong flavors of melon and grapefruit in a slightly sweet white wine. The 2002 Chardonnay Rsv. is a Burgundian-style white, full flavored and aged in oak for one year. The bottle is stenciled with the name of the wine and Thomas Jefferson's signature under the 2004 MCM artwork.

Shipping is limited to the following states and shipping fees do apply: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Additional ordering information is available at Jefferson Vineyards website.

Free Mini Race Director Networking Workshop
The Marine Corps Marathon will be offering a Free Mini Race Director Networking Workshop to be held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in the Kennedy/Jefferson Room from 7a.m. to 8:45a.m on Saturday, October 30, 2004. Topics to be covered consist of race operations, technology, catering and security. Speakers include Rick Nealis, Marine Corps Marathon Race Director, Greg Gordon, Cisco Systems, Sylvia Konkel, EU Services and Major Jon McDaniel, Marine Corps Marathon Race Security

For further information or to reserve a space please contact Heidi Basie at the Marine Corps Marathon office 703-432-1167 or email baisehl@nt.quantico.usmc.mil . After Thursday, October 28, 2004 sign up at the Maine Corps Marathon Solution Center at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel. Reservation will be taken until class size of 80 race event coordinators is reached.

The 2003 winner, Peter Sherry, spoke with MCM Hall of Famer Jim Hage after the race.