You start between the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery with Marines at the line and a field of roughly thirty thousand around you. The route pushes through Rosslyn, crosses into the District for Georgetown and the National Mall, then asks you to beat the bridge at mile 20 before the 14th Street crossing back into Virginia. Pace yourself for that: the gauntlet times are firm, and your finish only counts if you make them. There is no prize purse here, which is why this is called the People's Marathon, and the crowd reflects it; most of the people around you are running for a charity, a unit, or a first finish. Save a little for the end. The last stretch climbs, yes, uphill, to the Marine Corps War Memorial, and the flag-raising statue comes into view as you grind up it.
Starts between the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery, loops through Rosslyn, Georgetown and the National Mall, crosses the 14th Street Bridge back into Virginia at mile 20, and finishes uphill at the Marine Corps War Memorial. Course map ↗
General registration opened April 6, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET (official event page). Official 2026 event page describes general registration (standard rate $240) plus windows for Active Duty, Runners Club and charity partners, with several bundles marked sold out and 'limited spots left' as of mid-October 2026. No lottery is mentioned for 2026. No transfers or deferrals are permitted for 2026 events; optional Refund Protect available at checkout. Register ↗
- Known as 'The People's Marathon' because it is the largest marathon in the world that does not offer prize money. ↗
- Runners must hold 14 minutes per mile and clear the 'Beat the Bridge' checkpoint at mile 20 by 1:15 p.m. to be scored as official finishers. ↗
- The 2025 race (the 50th MCM) recorded 30,127 marathon finishers, up from 16,184 in 2024. ↗
- The course has about 699 ft of gain and 653 ft of loss, and the final stretch climbs to the Marine Corps War Memorial. ↗
- Oprah Winfrey ran her first marathon here in 1994, finishing in 4:29:15; the women's course record (2:37:00, Olga Markova, 1990) still stands. ↗
Checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site before booking travel.