With Shutdown Over, Marine Corps Marathon Will Go On as Planned

With the government shutdown over, the Marine Corps Marathon will go on as planned, marathon director Rick Nealis announced Thursday morning.

"A special thank you to MCM and MCM10K participants for your patience during the recent period of uncertainty," read a statement from Nelis. "It is with great pleasure that the MCM can officially announce we are on. We are SO on. See you at the start line!"

Earlier in the week, planners had cautioned that the event, one of the nation's largest marathons, was in jeopardy of cancellation if the government standoff wasn't resolved quickly.

Planners had targeted Saturday as the date to notify runners of the status of the event.

The "People's Marathon," as the race is nicknamed, has the maximum 30,000 runners signed up. It sold out in a record 2 hours, 27 minutes in March.

The 26.2-mile course passes the Washington Monument, Lincoln and Jefferson memorials as well as the Pentagon. Those memorials are closed due to the government shutdown, and preparations for the marathon have continued with hopes of a resolution in time to hold the event without impact, though some partner agencies on furlough have not been able to contribute to those preparations.

Events planned around the marathon include the Healthy Kids Fun Run on Oct. 26. There's also a 10K race in which runners parallel the marathoners for part of the course.

For complete information on the 2013, Marine Corps Marathon, visit the marathon's web site.

There's no word yet on whether the changes and cancellation for the Best Buddies Challenge remain in effect. Check back with NBCWashington.com shortly for more.

NBC4 Washington is a broadcast sponsor of both the Marine Corps Marathon and this Best Buddies Challenge.

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