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Jul 4, 2024

Marine Corps Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Marine Corps Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.5

Organization 3.9

Spectators 4.6

Number of comments: 937 [displaying comments 121 to 131]

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F. S. from NYC (10/31/2011) "Trully the people's marathon!" (about: 2011) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Marine Corps Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my third marathon. Aided by the weather and crowds, I bested my PR by 30 minutes! I think anyone running marathons should try to get into this one. Yes, the crowds are huge and at times hard to manage, but that comes with the territory. You are running in the nation's capital with 25,000 runners, many service men among them. Yes, the food at the end was not the best it could be, but hey, it had all the required mixture of carbs, protein and good fats sources. Just eat your calories after run, and do the celebratory gourmet in the evening. The crowd support was phenomenal. Military aircraft flying overhead, the parachute jumpers landing at the start lane, the fallen heroes remembrance, all that reminded me that we leave in a great country (I am a naturalized citizen). The times are a bit tougher now than before, and we need moments like this, for reflection. Run the MCM and be proud of our country!
K. P. from DC (10/31/2011) "Pure awesomeness" (about: 2011) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Marine Corps Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My 2nd marathon but this one made me smile. I couldn't keep it off my face even when things started to hurt. Beating the bridge nearly brought a tear to my eye. Overall it was an outstanding race with fantastic spectators for every inch of the 26.2. Even the others runners were great. It was like running with 20,000 of my closest friends. OORAH! Marines!! Thank you!!! Nothing negative to say except who puts a hill of that degree after a 26 mile run? Whatever, it was cool getting my pic in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial.
B. B. from Pittsburgh, Pa (10/31/2011) "Fantastic!" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Marine Corps Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 A flawless race. After reading past comments about the choas at the fininsh, I was prepared for the worst, but it was great. I finished at 3:46 and there was no congestion at all. It was a long walk to the family reunion area, but it kept foot traffic moving. The start was very orderly (except, like every race, the folks who ignore self-seeding instructions). The water stations functioned perfectly and there was plenty of food. The crowd support was tremendous and the course was very scenic. It was quite hilly through the first 7 and the finishing hill was really tough, but the Marines made us earn the beautiful medal. I love the shirt and will wear it often, but not when running. I have nothing but praise for all elements of this inspiring race. If you want to run it, make sure you register on the first day as it will continue to sell out quickly. If I ever repeat a race, this is one that I would definitely consider.
D. L. from Washington, DC (10/31/2011) "Fantastic marathon" (about: 2011) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Marine Corps Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a great one. The course is stunning (except for the Crystal City component; why not race through some DC neighborhoods instead?), the organization top notch; thank you, Marines, and the whole event has a great spirit. The biggest downside are the endless lines after you finish, first to get food and get out and then to get the shuttle back to the parking garage (and I suspect the lines for the subway were just as bad). It was 2 hours between the time I crossed the finish line and the time I got in my car, and I didn't do anything at the finish festival, just tried to get home. That's a painful amount of time to still be on your feet after running 26.2. This year's race started in unusual cold and that was tough to wait around in. Once the sun came up, however, it was perfect marathon weather. The medal was great and the baggage dropoff and pickup were seamless and quick. The course is more challenging than I expected. The early hills weren't bad but the famous bridge is actually several bridges that go on and on with no support. And that final hill is so steep its funny. ('They expect me to run up that? After all the running I've already done?') I wish they could do something about the finish area, but they seem wedded to the idea of finishing at the Iwo Jima, so I don't see how that will change.
J. T. from Raleigh, NC (10/31/2011) "Great event, logistics after are tough." (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Marine Corps Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 Really enjoyed this event. If big marathons are your thing you will want to do this one again and again, if you like smaller events you'll still want to do it once. Huge Expo - take the Metro to it. Don't expect to be able to buy cool MCM merchandise on Saturday afternoon, they will be sold out of all the good / interesting stuff so go early if you want to shop. The marathon itself is a great way to see some of the high points of the DC area, and the crowds are great - a lot of fun to run through the big groups cheering you along. Starting order is on the honor system MCM. Which means if you start in your appropriate corral you will be dodging past slower runners (and walkers) for 26.2 miles. I advise ignoring the corrals and starting as close to the front as you can (like everyone else does). I parked and rode the shuttle buses to the start, got the shuttle about 6:00am with no issues and maybe a 10 minute wait. After the race it took me 2+ hours (waiting in line and then riding the bus) to get back to my car. I don't think folks that take the Metro fare much better.
r. j. from oregon usa (10/30/2011) "Great Scenic Course. Awesome Spectators!" (about: 2011) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Marine Corps Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Being in the military I always wanted to do this race but It will be a while until I do another major city marathon again. The course is about medium difficulty with some good climbs and descents in the first 9 miles. It pretty much flattens out after and time goes by fast as you get some good sight seeing, but there are still some slight inclines along with a lot of turns and the painful last .2 uphill which seemed to be the steepest hill on the entire course. If you run smart though, a PR is attainable. The spectators along the course are great and really keeps you going and the aid stations were set up the same each time which was helpful. The only negatives about the race is that it is not easy to get to. I luckily had my parents drop me off near the start and they walked down from the hotel which was about 1.5miles away and walking back to the hotel which was about 2 miles from the finish was not fun along with mile walk you have to do to the finish festival. I did not hit the wall so I was ok with a little cool down walking but it was probably awful for some people. Then finding our way out of DC area was a marathon in itself.
S. B. from Vermont (9/30/2011) "Awesome Race!!!" (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Marine Corps Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is by far the most awe-inspiring race I have ever ran in or heard of! The course was just amazing, every bit of it was scenic, lined with spectators, extremely well supported with Marines at every aid station. There was more than enough nutrition at the stations and the finish. Every one was enthusiastic. The medal is terrific, nice quality and design! The shirt is nice, but not a tech shirt, it's cotton, but I like the long sleeves. The finish is dreadful with the last .2 uphill, but something about that seems right. If you have the chance to run this race, then do it!!
p. w. from Virginia, USA (4/7/2011) "One of the last few races on the National Mall" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 6+ Marine Corps Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Run this to see all of the sights on the National Mall: The Washington Monument, the Capitol building, the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, and much more. Organization is good except for the starting line, which is often more chaotic than it needs to be. Finish line food is pre-packaged and frankly pretty low-quality compared to many other races. There are 25,000+ runners. Many people leapfrog corrals to avoid the walker crowd. This is a very big first-marathon race. Enormous crowds at the end of the race after the 5-hour mark. Plan your exit.
G. L. from Houston, Texas (2/15/2011) "Great course, but chaotic at the end" (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Marine Corps Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 You have to love the course. It's difficult on the first third of the race, but the sightseeing compensates for your suffering. However, trying to go out of the finish area is a huge nightmare; we had to wait for over an hour and a half to get to the shuttles, or the option was to walk all the way to Georgetown (something you don't want to after running a marathon). A friend of mine went through a similar experience trying to get in the subway. This experience will keep me away from +20,000 runners races, with the exception of a few (Houston included), and definitely I won't come back to this race again - too much suffering after the finish line.
K. B. from NYC (2/14/2011) "well organized, great course, great expo" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Marine Corps Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Great race! Expo was one of the best I've been at and was really easy to get to had a metro stop right at the convention center. The expo had a great mix of big and small name vendors and getting your number from a marine was cool. Getting to the start was also really convenient. There was a shuttle a few blocks from my hotel that I took to and from the race. I recommend staying in Chrystal City. The marathon even ran past my hotel (twice in fact because of the turnaround). The course was not as easy as I was expecting. Some steep hills in the first 8 miles or so, then rolling hills with slight ups and downs throughout the course that were not too bad (but certainly not the flat course I was expecting) and that extremely uphill just before the finish was MAD steep! You don't see it as you approach the 26 marker because of the crowds but then it hits you (it's around 26.05 to 26.15) and then you head in to the finish. Georgetown area was awesome! I got really pumped over there. The crowds are really great and I'd say they are out there for majority of the course (none in the Pentagon parking lot or on the highway but in most areas pretty pumping). The race was very well organized - after all, it is the marines! Getting water from the marines was cool and seeing many on the course running was also great. Weather was perfect and it's a great time of year because the leaves are all changing colors. The course is really beautiful and you see so many different areas/neighborhood. It's cool to see all the monuments (Washington and Lincoln) and the capitol and the White House and the Iwo Jima right at the finish. Lots of great music along the course - the crowds at the half point were the best, with dancers and lots of energized spectators! Cool mile markers with those spinner guys! Nice medal. Not many negatives but here they are (at least in my opinion): - The shirt. Not a fan of the mock turtleneck, but I guess its part of the marine corps theme. I prefer one I can run in - I have yet to wear this one! - The finish was VERY congested. It took a really long time to get out onto the road and it smelled REALLY awful. Great destination marathon. I'd definitely do it again!

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