Columbia Business School Brings Executive Challenge to Marine Corps Marathon

he Marine Corps Marathon Organization (MCMO) and the world-renowned Columbia Business School in New York City are together hosting the Columbia Business School Executive Challenge — a new component of the 42nd Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) on Sunday, October 22.

The Executive Challenge encourages senior business executives and commissioned military officers who register to run the 42nd MCM to compete for "bragging rights" as the fastest executive in the event. The winning male and female executive will be celebrated in an advertisement in The Washington Post the day after the MCM. 

“Training for and running a marathon involves so many of the same disciplines required of successful leaders,” says Rick Nealis, MCMO director. “That’s why we are excited to introduce this new element to this year’s event.”

Prior registration in the MCM is required to participate in the Columbia Business School Executive Challenge. Once accepted into the MCM, business leaders from all industries and commissioned officers from all service branches are encouraged to register for the Executive Challenge directly through the Columbia Business School website. There is no additional cost to participate.

In addition to all the great benefits MCM runners receive, participants of the Executive Challenge also can enter for an opportunity to attend a two- or three-day in-person program or an online program at Columbia Business School Executive Education, a Columbia Business School Executive Challenge T-shirt, and a subscription to exclusive thought leadership from Columbia Business School.

“The Columbia Business School Executive Challenge is going to be friendly race-within-a-race among the MCM community. This drive and spirit is what energizes us at Columbia Business School which is why this is such a great partnership,” says Julie Rademaker, senior director of marketing at Columbia Business School.

The 42nd MCM will be held in Arlington, VA and throughout the nation’s capital with MCM Weekend occurring from October 20-22, 2017. The MCM Lottery is open to the public from March 22-29, 2017. Registration for the MCM Lottery will be available at www.marinemarathon.com.