Prince William Co. to host new Marine Corps Marathon event

QUANTICO, VA - Prince William County will be home to the Marine Corps Marathon’s new Crossroads 17.75K Race, the Corps and the Prince William County/Manassas Convention & Visitors Bureau announced today.

Registration for the June 12, 2010 event will begin online Nov. 18 at noon.

With a distance of 17.75 kilometers (11 miles), the race pays tribute to the year 1775 – the year that the United States Marine Corps was officially formed. The Prince William County/Manassas Convention & Visitors Bureau is a founding sponsor of the event.

The last stretch of the historic new race will end at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, which celebrates 231 years of Marine Corps history. Built in 2006, the museum is adjacent to Main Gate of Marine Corps Base Quantico – know as the “Crossroads of the Corps.” On the day of the event, runners, family members and fans can take advantage of early entrance into the museum and enjoy its world-class interactive exhibits. Nearby, families can pay homage to fallen heroes at Quantico National Cemetery and explore Historic Brentsville Courthouse, part of the Prince William Civil War Heritage Trail.

The course begins on Virginia Highway 234 before heading north into Prince William National Forest Park for miles 2.5 to 8. The course re-emerges from the forest on Joplin Road, passing under I-95 before turning on Route 1 and finishing at the museum.

Before, during, and after the race, runners and their families will enjoy the splendor of Prince William County – “Where History Loves Company.” As home to 25 preserved historic sites—including the Manassas National Battlefield Park-- and more open space and park land than any other destination in the Greater Washington, D.C. region, there are a multitude of activities for visitors to enjoy.

“Prince William County is extremely proud to honor the Marine Corps and to host the Crossroads 17.75K. We are thrilled to host the thousands of visitors who will travel to Prince William County for this race, and we look forward to providing them with a warm welcome and southern hospitality,” said Sharon Cavileer, interim executive director of the Prince William County/Manassas Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Participants in the Crossroads 17.75k will make their way through one of the most historic counties in America, a fitting setting for this historic new celebration of the men and women of the Marine Corps and their extraordinary service to America.”

Runners can register for the Crossroads 17.75K on November 18, 2009 by visiting www.marinemarathon.com. Registration for the Crossroads 17.75K is $45 and limited to 3,000 participants. All runners will receive a short sleeve shirt as a thank you, and to commemorate the day. For accommodations, dining and attractions information, guests can log onto www.visitpwc.com or call 800-432-1792.

In addition to the Prince William County/Manassas Convention & Visitors Bureau, other founding sponsors include: Navy Federal Credit Union and the News & Messenger. The Hampton Inn Dumfries/Quantico will act as host hotel for the event.

The non-profit Prince William County/Manassas Convention & Visitors Bureau markets, develops and promotes Prince William County and Manassas as one of Virginia’s top tourism, vacation and corporate destinations. The CVB’s goal is to enhance the lives of their citizens, businesses and visitors, while also stimulating economic growth. CVB Headquarters is located at 8609 Sudley Road, Suite 105 in Manassas, Virginia 20110. The CVB also operates the Tourist Information Center on Mill Street in historic Occoquan, Virginia off Interstate 95.