The Marine Corps Marathon
'The People's Marathon' through the monuments of Washington, D.C., organised by the U.S. Marine Corps and run without prize money.
Sunday 25 October 2026
About 17 weeks away · 119 days · projected from the usual race weekend
Training for the Marine Corps Marathon comes down to two things: building the right work in the weeks you have, and pacing it sensibly on the day. Our free generator counts back from race day and sets your plan length to suit how much you are running now — so you are neither under-prepared nor stretching a short build over too many weeks.
If the Marine Corps Marathon falls in a warm part of the year for you, plan for the heat: even a few degrees changes a realistic goal pace. Our heat adjuster shows how much to give back, and our course pacing guides cover the elevation and race-day strategy for marathons we have profiled in full.
- When is the Marine Corps Marathon?
- The next Marine Corps Marathon is projected for Sunday 25 October 2026 — it is usually held in October. Confirm the exact date with the organiser before you travel or book.
- How long should I train for the Marine Corps Marathon?
- Most runners do best on a 12 to 20 week block, with the right length depending on how much you are running now. Our free plan generator counts back from race day and sets the length to suit your current fitness, flagging if the timing is too tight.
Run Marine Corps. Trained for it.
Build a free, coach-designed plan that counts back from race day and fits the time you have.