general ryan embraced the idea of a marine marathon and submitted it to then marine corps commandant general louis h. wilson jr. for approval. with general wilson's backing, the planning process for the first mcm began. with news of the inaugural marathon quickly spreading, gunnery sergeant alex breckenridge, a member of the 1960 olympic marathon team, soon lent his support. with gunnery sergeant breckenridge acting as an ambassador for the marathon effort, local jurisdictions approved of the event.