Marine Corps Marathon to Celebrate Battle of Marathon
MCM embarks on multi-city tour with Marathon Flame marking origin of distance running

E-mail this page  Printer-friendly page Related info: Running USA

Posted Thursday, 7 October, 2010

From Ryan Lamppa, Running USA

QUANTICO, Va. - (October 6, 2010) - The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) will celebrate its 35-year history while commemorating the 2,500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon and Pheidippidies' legendary run. To mark the occasion, the MCM will receive the Marathon Flame from the Municipality of Marathon, Greece, and embark on a multi-city tour beginning on Thursday, October 21 and concluding at the MCM on Sunday, October 31.

The MCM will present the Marathon Flame in four locations including Hopkinton, MA; Boston, New York and Philadelphia in ceremonies to include U.S. Marines and Sailors, Marine Corps veterans, members of the Greek community and MCM runners. Located in Marathon, Greece, the flame is a perpetual reminder of those who died in the Battle of Marathon between the outnumbered Greeks and attacking Persians.

"It is only appropriate that the sport with military roots be celebrated by the United States Marine Corps," says Rick Nealis, MCM Race Director. "The Marine Corps Marathon will celebrate the origins of the sport by visiting cities important to the history of the Marine Corps."

The MCM will receive the Marathon Flame on October 21 during a ceremony in Hopkinton, MA, the sister city of Marathon, Greece. The ceremony to include the lighting of the Marathon torch will begin at 10:00am outside the Hopkinton Police Department at 74 Main Street.

The next stop on the MCM tour is Boston. The MCM will hold a ceremony beginning at 2:00pm on October 21, adjacent to the USS Constitution. U.S. Marines and the U.S. Navy crew of the USS Constitution will join the event while celebrating the ship's 213th birthday from its homeport at the Charlestown Navy Yard.

On October 22, the MCM will make an early-morning stop in New York City. From there, the MCM staff and Marathon Flame will continue to the Philadelphia Vietnam Veteran's Memorial located near Tun Tavern, the birthplace of the United States Marine Corps, for a 3:00pm ceremony.

Following the last stop in Philadelphia, the Marathon Flame will arrive at Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA, to be incorporated into a variety of programs throughout MCM Weekend. In addition, Dimitri Kyriakides, official representative of the Municipality of Marathon will present "The Battle of Marathon: The Sport's Greek History" at noon on Saturday, October 30, during the MCM Speaker Series presented by Nissan. The Speaker Series will be held at the Health and Fitness Expo presented by GE on October 29 and 30 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.

For media information regarding the Battle of Marathon-Marathon Flame tour sponsored by Dasani or the MCM Weekend of Events, contact Tami Faram, Marine Corps Marathon Public Relations Coordinator at (703) 432-1840 or tami.faram@usmc.mil.

Voted the best marathon for families, the Marine Corps Marathon honors the dedication, sportsmanship and patriotism of its participants. Runners from all walks of life participate in the largest marathon not to offer prize money, earning the name as "The People's Marathon." The MCM is the fourth largest marathon in the United States and the eighth largest in the world. Visit marinemarathon.com for more information.