Laptops and High-Speed Wireless Support Runners and Fans In Annual Marathon
When runners hit the pavement Oct. 26 for the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) in Washington, D.C., HP was behind them every step of the way.
HP Enterprise Services once again provided technical support to the MCM and for the first time, sponsored the “Check Your Runner” stations. HP provided laptops and backup batteries, and full-time customer support for four days – three days of preparation as the network was installed and race day. For HP, it was a natural fit.
“We always look for opportunities to support the Marine Corps, and the marathon is a great event,” said Bill Chaplin, HP Enterprise Services Marine Corps Account Executive. “It lets the Marines know that our commitment and support extends well beyond IT services.”
HP deployed 81 laptops at locations around the course and set up a high-speed wireless network to link each computer terminal. The primary use of the laptops was to support “Check Your Runner” stations at the start and finish locations and at other sites along the course to enable family members and friends to see where their runners are and to project finish times based on their current location and time. The machines are also used to help administer the race, including registration, first aid support and timing. Clinton Crockett, an HP customer service representative at Navy Annex (Headquarters Marine Corps), worked as the on-site tech for the four days.
HP also volunteered to establish a new “Check Your Runner” tent in Rosslyn, Va., near the Finish Festival area. HP provided four laptops for runners or their supporters to check on times logged at intervals over the course of the race. The station included an added feature of HP printers to print race location information and finish times for runners of the 10K race or the marathon. The laptops had Internet access from Verizon wireless air cards.
A team of HP employees were kept busy, helping runners and spectators check race statistics, available on the MCM Web site, and providing printouts of runners' results. An average of 100 people per hour lined up to check times and to get other race-related information.
HP Supporting the Marine Corps
HP Enterprise Services' involvement in the MCM grew from its existing business supporting the entire Marine Corps, including through the Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI), the largest intranet in the world.
Three years ago, Mike Warlick, then an HP Enterprise Services Client Executive in support of the Marine Corps, visited the MCM headquarters to meet race director Richard Nealis with a goal of offering ruggedized laptops to support the annual marathon. Nealis said the marathon had an opening for sponsorship of the “Check Your Runner” stations. Warlick volunteered to offer laptops and customer support to fill the void, and HP Enterprise Services' support grew from 72 laptops in 2006 to 81 laptops this year, plus the addition of the HP team support for the joint “Check Your Runner” and “Print Your Runner” station.
“The Marine Corps is about mission and taking care of its people,” Warlick said. “Providing HP sponsorship and support for the Marine Corps Marathon team and to the thousands of runners, family members and friends accomplishes these goals and further exposes HP to a much higher level of recognition than simply the NMCI contract. The MCM Committee is extremely happy with our support and counts HP as one of their team members.”
Greg Lockett, HP Enterprise Services Customer Services Leader at the Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia, serves as the principal on-site coordinator of the MCM each year and ensures that all planning is in place prior, during and after the race.
“We are lucky to have the Marathon Committee as one of more than 30 customer organizations and commands that we support at Quantico,” Lockett said. “The staff there is an absolute pleasure to work with and it is extremely rewarding to go the extra mile for this first-class event every year.”
The laptops to support the “Check Your Runner” stations are provided by the NMCI program each year. The laptops are sent from Mechanicsburg, Pa., where they are quality control certified. Once they arrive in Quantico, they are provided to the MCM Committee for distribution to support the race. HP employees in the Washington, D.C., area volunteer at the event.
Stephen White, HP TSG Federal Marketing Manager, was happy to have volunteered and has ideas of how HP can provide even more service next year.
“Runners, friends and family were very appreciative of the service HP provided and it was fun and rewarding to give something back to the community,” White said. “Next year, I could see HP graphics and video products being used to inform and entertain, building awareness for HP global citizenship. We could also use SNAPFISH photofinishing and HP online store coupons to make the moment last for everyone.”
This year also represented the inaugural “Marine Corps Historic Half” marathon held May 18 in Fredericksburg, Va., with 3,824 runners participating. HP Enterprise Services sponsored the event with laptop computers supporting the “Check Your Runner” stations in a similar fashion to the MCM. This race is expected to grow in popularity with runners training for the MCM.
History of the Marine Corps Marathon
The MCM, known as the “People's Marathon,” is the fourth-largest marathon in the United States and the seventh-largest in the world in 2008. Historically, the MCM draws some of the largest crowds viewing the race due to its location at the Nation's Capital. It also hosts the largest number of first-time marathon runners.
The MCM featured 18,266 runners in the full marathon, with first-timer Andrew Dumm of Washington winning the men's portion in 2:22:44. Cate Fenster of Wooster, Oh., also a first-timer, won the women's race in 2:48:55. For Dumm, it was a family affair with brother Brian placing 6th at 2:26:00 and father, Kenneth, finishing his eighth MCM in 3:19:33. Approximately 12,000 other runners took part in smaller portions of the race.
The MCM is typically held a few weeks before the Marine Corps birthday, which is Nov. 10. This will be the 233rd year since its founding as the Continental Marines during the Revolutionary War. All money raised in the marathon supports various Marine Corps charities. Learn more about the history of the MCM.