New system includes drop off location in Runners' Village and pick-up at Finish Festival
The Marine Corps Marathon announced today new procedures for UPS Baggage drop off and pick-up at the 31st MCM, to be held October 29, 2006 in Arlington, VA.

Runners participating in the MCM will receive an individually numbered UPS baggage sticker in the runner package provided at packet pick-up, part of the MCM Health and Fitness Expo. This sticker contains a number (1-40) corresponding to a runner's designated drop-off UPS truck. Runners are requested to securely affix the sticker to the clear, plastic Brooks goodie bag, also received at packet pick-up to allow for ease of storage and retrieval by UPS personnel.

On race morning, runners who wish to stow belongings can take Metro's Blue and Yellow lines to the Pentagon station for easy access to Runners' Village in the North Pentagon parking lot. The 40 brown UPS trucks will be parked in numerical sequence for ease of drop off.

Following the start of the MCM, the UPS trucks will caravan to the baggage retrieval location and park in sequence on Lynn Street from North Fairfax Drive to Wilson Boulevard in Rosslyn, VA. Runners will cross the finish, make their way through hospitality, enjoy the fun at the Finish Festival and pick up their bags from the same numbered truck as drop off.

"UPS is the perfect package delivery company to accept the runners' personal bags because we safely deliver more than 14 million packages per day," said Chad Baker, District Retail Sales for UPS. "We load the runners' bags with the same care we use to load daily packages, and ensure runners bags are delivered back to them immediately upon finishing the race."

UPS is in its second year of sponsoring the MCM.

E-confirmation card required for marathon runners at MCM Packet Pick-up
The Marine Corps Marathon announced today the 2006 E-Confirmation Card is now available for download at www.marinemarathon.com. The card contains vital runner information including bib number assignment and is required for packet pick-up at the MCM Health and Fitness Expo at the DC Armory on Friday October 27 and Saturday, October 28. The card also details a runner's wave assignment. The Scarlet wave will start at 8:25 a.m. and the Gold wave will start at 8:40 a.m. on Sunday, October 29.

Runners can easily access the E-Confirmation Card by clicking on the confirmation link on the MCM Web site home page. To retrieve the card, simply input the runner confirmation number, received in the post-registration e-mail, and date of birth. Follow the instructions to print the card and present a copy at Packet Pick- up to receive race materials and the coveted MCM mock turtle neck competitor shirt.

"The card features mandatory runner information and instructions for packet pick-up at the MCM Health and Fitness Expo," said Rick Nealis, Director. "Most important for the runners is their bib number so family and friends can register for Remote Runner Tracking services to follow a runner's progress."

Runners are asked to verify all information on their card and contact the MCM office or call 800-RUN-USMC with any corrections.

MCM 10K and, for the first time, Healthy Kids Fun Run confirmation cards will be available beginning in September. Participants in MCM hosted-events will be required to present an e-confirmation card to receive race materials.

For race information go to www.marinemarathon.com