Marine Corps Marathon – Guaranteed Entries to Sold Out MCM Among Prizes at Irish Sprint 10K – Lucky runners to claim gold finisher coins and win on Saturday, March 26, 2011

QUANTICO, Va. – Runners desiring to gain entry to the sold-out Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) may still have a chance to secure a coveted spot by participating in the Irish Sprint 10K on Saturday, March 26, 2011. The Irish Sprint 10K, organized by the MCM, will be held on Marine Corps Base Quantico.

All Irish Sprint 10K participants will receive "lucky" gold finisher coins that will be used to exchange for a variety of prizes. Among the prizes are Brooks running apparel, Mix 107.3 prize bags, online marathon training programs, framed print from Prince William County, Geico gift cards and guaranteed entries into the 36th MCM that sold out in a record 28 hours and 4 minutes on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011.

"The Irish Sprint 10K is sure to thrill those lucky runners with great prizes and access to the sold-out MCM," says MCM Director Rick Nealis.

After completing the 6.2 mile event through Quantico, Irish Sprint runners will claim their gold finisher coins and proceed to the Finish Line Tradin' Post, located adjacent to runner hospitality at Quantico's Butler Stadium. Each lucky finisher coin will be individually numbered and correspond to various prizes. Not all lucky coins result in an entry into the MCM.

Kids ages 12 and under also can join the fun by running the Luck O' the Leatherneck One-Miler that will immediately follow the Irish Sprint 10K. Once the kids complete their run at Butler Stadium, they can spin the "lucky prize wheel."

All runners participating in the Irish Sprint 10K and Luck O' the Leatherneck will receive a commemorative T-shirt, post-race hospitality and be treated to on-course entertainment to include the Northern Virginia Firefighters Emerald Society Pipe Band, the McGrath Academy of Irish Dance, mascots and DJs playing popular music.

The 2011 MCM Event Series is coordinated by the Marine Corps Marathon and sponsored by Geico, Brooks, Marine Federal Credit Union and Prince William County/Manassas CVB. No federal or Marine Corps endorsement implied.