Government Shutdown Puts Marine Corps Marathon in Jeopardy

By Susan Larson

The 38th Marine Corps Marathon may be canceled due to the government shutdown.  It is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 27.

"Without a resolution to the government shutdown this week, the Marine Corps Marathon as planned is in jeopardy of being canceled," MCM organizers wrote on the  Facebook page.

"While still considering and exploring all possible options, the MCM has targeted this Saturday, October 19 as the date to officially notify runners of the status of the event."

More than 60 percent of the marathon's course is on National Park Service land, Marathon spokeswoman Tami Faram told Runner's World Newswire.

The shutdown already postponed the Wilson Bridge Half Marathon from Oct. 6 to Nov. 10.

MCM weekend generated $31.7 million in spending for the Washington DC Metro area in October 2006, according to a report from the George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies.