The first Marine Corps Marathon was run on November 7, 1976 and has grown since into the 4th largest US Marathon and the 8th largest marathon in the world. But the MCM may be most notable as the largest marathon in the world that doesn't offer any prize money.

Runners began the running of the MCM in front of Arlington National Cemetery and ended the race at an ideal location, the Marine Corps War Memorial, commonly referred to as the Iwo Jima monument. The course, nearly 27 miles long, winds through Arlington, Virginia, along the Potomac River and aound the nation's capitol past familiar and historic scenery. It is a beautiful course and aptly nicknamed "The Marathon of the Monuments."

Over 18,000 participants finished the 33rd running of the MCM in 2008. The event attracts nearly 100,000 spectators to Washington, DC each year.

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