Government Agrees Just In Time

18 Poncans have hit the pavement running, literally.

A group has been training for the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C since July.

The 26.2 mile run was suppose to be held next weekend, but was in jeopardy of being canceled because of the government shutdown.

Melody Young, a runner said the Marine Corps Marathon contacted them about the pending cancellation via email on Tuesday.

“ If the government doesn’t get it together they will make the decision by Saturday 19th they will notify us and let us know if the marathon is going to happen or not ,” Young said.

And it looks like the government got it together in time for this run to happen.

Young says the group begin researching other options just in case.

“Just last night, a friend of mine and I looked for marathons we could go to that same day," Young said. "And there is one in St. Louis that same day. The thing is there are other marathons that are later on, but we have already done our long run of 22 mile, two weeks ago. So, if we wait another month we are going to have to do another long run and frankly I am tired of long runs and I don’t want another long run.”

The group has been training at 4 a.m. for this marathon, so they’re trying to make their time worthwhile.

However, it doesn’t look like an alternate plan will be needed.

The Ponca City group signed up through an autism charity.

Each runner was required to raise $600 for the charity, equaling more than $10,000 overall.

The local 5K, Carter’s run was a fundraiser for these runners.

If the marathon was canceled more than 30,000 runners from around the world would’ve been left hanging less than a week before the run.