Update at 2:55 p.m. — After a registration process beset by technical problems, the Marine Corps Marathon officially sold out as of 2:27 p.m.
On Twitter, marathon officials acknowledged the frustration of would-be registrants, many of whom reported issues accessing the registration site and getting their registration to go through.
“Thank you runners for your enthusiasm for the MCM and, just as important, for your patience today,” the marathon tweeted.
Earlier: Runners in Arlington and across the country are getting ready to exercise their index fingers in the mad dash to register for the Marine Corps Marathon.
Registration for the marathon, which starts and ends in Arlington, opens at noon today. Last year the marathon sold out in 2 hours and 41 minutes. Organizers are hoping that registration goes smoothly this year despite the crush of online visitors vying for one of the 30,000 entries.
“To best support the high demand and heavy volume of online traffic, the MCM has been working with the
online registration service to test system capacity to avoid delays and server issues,” said Rick Nealis, the race’s director. “We expect runners will have immediate success on registration day.”
The marathon has released a series of tips for registrants.
- Once the registration form has been opened, fill out all fields thoroughly and completely and consider which items you want to purchase. Brooks training shirts and hats, Carbo Dining-In tickets, the MarathonFoto super coupon and the MCM Online Trainer will additionally be on sale on MCM registration day.
- After submitting registration payment, a confirmation message will appear on screen. Print the message as it includes each individual runner registration ID number.
- Don’t freak out if you fail to receive a confirmation email immediately after completing the registration process. The distribution of confirmation emails will be purposely delayed to reduce stress on system throughout open registration.
In advance of registration day, organizers released a video (seen below) highlighting the training and dedication of those who run the “People’s Marathon.”
The Marine Corps Marathon, now in its 38th year, is the third largest in the U.S. and the eighth largest in the world. This year’s race will take place on Sunday, Oct. 27.
Photo (above) courtesy Wolfkann