

If you missed the initial registration, you can still participate. In other words, if you want to be a part of the MCM, be ready to register as soon as possible.

The fastest ever registration happened in 2005, when the race filled in about 62 hours. That's not even the fastest sell-out time. Keep reading to find out more about the MCM and how you can add your name to the long list of finishers. Out of the 30,000-plus runners, organizers said that, each year, one-third of them have never completed a marathon before. In addition to its reputation as environmentally friendly, the race is also welcoming to new runners. Finishers receive an electronic certificate instead of a paper one. Also, as part of other environmental initiatives, the MCM has a paperless application process. In one year, organizers reduced the race's landfill waste by 32 percent. In an effort to make the race more sustainable and environmentally friendly, the MCM took great effort to reduce trash generated at the race. The CRS gave this certification to the MCM after evaluating the race on five criteria, including Health Promotion, Community & Outreach, Materials & Equipment, Climate, and Waste. The marathon is also the largest event to earn a silver-level certification from the Council for Responsible Sport. Amateurs - rather than professional racers - often win, lending even more of a laid-back feel to the event as a whole. What's more, for a marathon of this size and prestige, there's a noticeable lack of professional runners. Many consider the MCM to be one of the most family-oriented marathons in the world, in part due to its emphasis on good organization and sportsmanship.

It's now the fourth-largest marathon in the country and the eighth-largest in the world. Since then, the race has only gotten bigger. The very first MCM featured nearly 2,000 participants. It didn't take long for the public to get excited about the race, either. He passed along the concept to his superiors, who were immediately convinced that his idea had merit. Fowler thought that a military-sponsored race would engage the public interest and, as a result, help boost the military's popularity, too. On the other hand, recreational running was enjoying a huge resurgence. Jim Fowler, who knew that after the Vietnam War, the military wasn't popular in the United States.
