Marine Corps Marathon: 'We are SO on'

With the federal government shutdown finally over, Marine Corps Marathon Director Rick Nealis sent a short and simple message to the 30,000 runners expected to participate in it: "We are on!"

"It is with great pleasure that the MCM can officially announce we are on. We are SO on," Nealis said in a statement to runners Thursday. "See you at the start line!"

The marathon is scheduled for Oct. 27.

The shutdown, which closed federal buildings, monuments and parks, threatened to affect the annual marathon, with organizers announcing earlier this week that "all options" were on the table — including canceling the event or a potential route change.

More than 60 percent of the marathon's course is on National Park Service land.

"The course hasn't changed," marathon spokeswoman Tami Faram told Patch on Thursday. "We're excited."

The marathon's Facebook page added a short video message from Nealis announcing the news Thursday morning.

Marine Corps Marathon weekend generated $31.7 million in spending for the DC metro area in October 2006, according to a report from the George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies.

The shutdown also threatened a course re-route for the Army Ten-Miler, which is Sunday.

Thursday morning, there was no indication from that run's organizers that such a change was any longer necessary.