Government Shutdown Threatens Marine Marathon

If the federal government shutdown continues through the weekend, it will likely force the cancellation of the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., according to race organizers.

"It just floors me that it's come to this," said Arlington runner Julie Gresens, who has been training for months. 

Gresens, a nurse, said she has already paid her race fee and booked her flight and hotel for the 26.2-mile run around the nation's capital.

The marathon, which regularly features a field of 30,000 runners, is the fifth largest marathon in the country. The event, called "The People's Race" because it is open to any participant, is largely run on land managed by the National Parks Service, which is why it could be affected by the shutdown.

Event organizers announced Tuesday night that the race could be canceled. Gresens said she paid attention to the shutdown but did not consider it to be a threat to her scheduled run until the days crept closer to its scheduled day of Oct. 26.

"But I'm thinking, 'Surely, by the end of October, this will be resolved,' so I'm not feeling too happy today," she said.

A final decision on whether to run the race or not will be made Saturday, according to the Marine Corps Marathon's website.

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