Author: Charlie Ban

Six weeks before a marathon is a good time to take stock of how training is going, but even moreso because Sept. 14 is the last day Marine Corps Marathon runners can legally transfer bibs for the race.

The good news for runners on the fence is that as one of the most popular marathons in the country, demand for their bibs is high, and they can almost certainly recoup their registration fee. In addition, for local runners, who don’t have added travel and lodging commitments, there’s less of a financial sunk cost in bailing on Marine Corps, making it easier to fall back, take a few more weeks to train and take a shot at a later marathon, in Richmond, Philadelphia or Rehoboth. 

An old standby long run route is going to look different for a while thanks to some infrastructure improvements in Bethesda and Rock Creek Park.Purple Line construction in Maryland will close the Georgetown Branch Trail for 4-5 years starting Tuesday, Sept. 5, sending runners and cyclists onto a detour through Bethesda and along the narrow Jones Bridge Road sidewalk.

Current plans are to reopen the trail, paved, alongside the light rail system.