Press Release - Twin Cities Marathon - 1/23/03

      The Unofficial Inaugural Urban Challenge Washington DC Marathon

An unofficial Washington DC Marathon will be held on Sunday morning in 
place of the canceled official marathon. The event is being organized by 
local running groups and many of the registered runners. 

Runners registered for the marathon were shocked to find that the official 
Washington DC Marathon was canceled Wednesday night "due to security 
issues". Nearly 7000 runners were signed up to participate, and there are 
many runners who would still like to run.  

Runners will meet at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday at the DC end of the Memorial 
Bridge. The unofficial marathon will start at 7:30 a.m. Participants will 
be able to use the same course as the planned Washington DC Marathon 
Course, but runners will need to use sidewalks and obey traffic laws. More 
volunteers are needed to help at the event. Volunteers will need to be at 
Memorial Bridge at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday.

A marathon in the District of Columbia brings together runners and 
supportive friends, family, and other community spectators. This great mix 
of people provides tourism benefits to the City.  Some of these benefits 
are economic, helping restaurants and hotels.  Others benefits help sustain 
the community itself.  By hosting a marathon, DC appears to be a friendly 
place for tourists and other residents of the region.  The marathon course 
shows that the DC neighborhoods are welcoming to runners, and that people 
can go to places in the City other than the most famous national monuments.

Canceling the marathon makes DC appear as a scary place.  Though 
cancellation conveys a message of concern for the runners and the 
community, it sends a message to participants and citizens throughout our 
country and the world that our national capital is not a place where people 
can gather together.  It says to DC residents that people from other places 
are afraid to visit the place that they call home.  By participating in the 
Unofficial Washington DC Marathon, runners will show that even in times of 
war, community events can take place. 

                                 # # #