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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 11 to 21]
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T. E. from Alpharetta, GA
(12/14/2017)
"Bucket List Race - but come w proper expectations" (about: 2017)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Marine Corps Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 Second time I have run the MCM. Unless they make some changes to the start time and corral system, sadly I think this will be my last run at the MCM. There are many things about this race that are top notch. The best way to approach this race is to look at it as a very scenic marathon, unbelievable crowd support and such a strong and emotional military presence that is awesome to witness. The course is hilly to start and then settles into a mostly flat course, so it is definitely challenging. The Wear Blue Mile is hard to put into words. It is such an emotional part of the race and worth looking into as an organization. Great reminder of the price many have paid for our freedom. Well stocked aid stations, huge awesome crowds, challenging course. Issues/Challenges: 1. Need a proper corral system and a staggered start. The race starts on two sides of the highway and then eventually merges into a bottleneck, where we actually came to a stop a couple of times. Takes at least 5k before you can fall into a good groove, but still running with a ton of runners until probably mile 8 or 9. This should be easily solved with giving folks a corral to start in and then stagger the corrals by 5 minutes or so. It would make a huge difference. 2. Start time needs to be moved to 7AM or 6:55. Historically the race starts at 7:55AM. With the warm up each fall lately this race is becoming too hot to run as the morning moves on. At the start this year (and 3 years ago when I first ran) it was cool, many people shedding clothes. However, very quickly the temps warm up and by 9:30/10:00 it is low 70s. Many runners struggled with the heat the last 10k of the race. Maybe with all the security required the early start time is just not possible, however, it would really make a difference on the success of people's goals and overall finishing times. 3. Expo - I am not sure what to say here. A few years back the expo was at the DC Armory - smaller location, but easily accessible by the Metro. They have moved it to Fort Washington in the Gaylord Hotel. Not as easily accessible by Metro and a lot further from downtown and Crystal City where most people stay. I took a Lyft right from the airport at 10AM when I landed and got in and out, so I have little complaints, however, many others I spoke with had a lot of logistics issues as the day went on with the crowds and traffic. The National Harbor is a very nice place, but it isn't set up well to handle a lot of flowing traffic. I suggest you find another place or go back to the Armory. If you have time to enjoy a long weekend in DC and come in with some patience and proper expectations (don't think PR), then it really is a premier event and should be on your marathon bucket list. The race directors need to make some changes (please at least fix the corrals with a staggered start) to make the run a lot better. Also, if you can, I suggest use the shuttles in the morning and the Metro after the race to get back to hotel. Long walk back to the buses after the race and with traffic getting out, it was 40 minutes to get to my hotel. I wish I just hopped on the metro, would have saved me 30 minutes. Thank you to all the military support, very inspiring. | |
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J. G. from FL
(11/1/2017)
"Outstanding" (about: 2017)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 An outstanding race, the organization was terrific. Expo: Easy to get to using Metro and shuttle buses. Didn't purchase any gear, overpriced like every race. Transportation: Stayed in Crystal City near the start, MCM shuttle buses from Crystal City to the start were excellent and convenient. No waiting. Start: No corrals, but I found that most people seeded themselves correctly. Plenty of porta-potties. Race: Crowded for mid-packers, felt like a giant Thanksgiving Turkey Trot for 20 miles. Not a complaint, just an observation. Sights: Awesome monuments, Blue Mile Finish: The Marines, great medal, transportation by bus back to Crystal City was very well organized. | |
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P. R. from New York, NY
(10/30/2017)
"Very Good Marathon with Room for Improvement" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Marine Corps Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 The MCM expo is so-so with mostly familiar merchandise for sale; very little sampling or things new and novel to learn about. The journey by public transportation to the expo from DC is arduous, to say the least; why not a more accessible expo location? Metro service to the race start begins at 6:00 AM (from the terminals). The first trains arrive in central DC towards 6:30. Upon arrival at Pentagon Station there's a long hike to the start village and another hike to the start, allowing little time for a pre-race routine, even if you caught the first train. The start is back-loaded and based on the honor system. There was a lot of dishonesty! If you're a latecomer it's impossible to muscle your way to an honest start position. It may be time for assigned (and enforced) corrals based on a previous marathon time, where possible. The start of the Marine Corps Marathon is crowded and wide, using both sides of a divided highway, and at mile one it gets suddenly narrower and more congested as you enter the streets of Rosslyn. Perhaps wave starts and narrower start chute(s) would relieve crowding. Wheelchair athletes are given too short a head start and the runners catch and conflict with them in mile two (uphill) and three (steep downhill). Course fluid support is good, but only at two-mile intervals. The Blue Mile and Honor Guard is a great way to make an otherwise desolate stretch in East Potomac Park more enjoyable. Crowd support is at times very good; at times scant. Finish area and support are excellent. I recommend the MCM as a one-and-done. | |
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R. S. from lisbon, Portugal
(10/29/2017)
"A must do" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Very crowded on the first 3 miles. A course very hilly with a 2 miles finish very hard. The marines were very cheerful along the course. A good organization, a very nice experience. | |
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M. A. from Louisiana
(10/27/2017)
"Great Race" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 As far as the Marathon this was a bucket list race. Wonderful support and encouragement from our Marines. Definitely need more water stations when the weather is going to be warm like this year. Need to get to the start line early if you want to run fast because no corrals at this race. Expo was OK but DO NOT stay at the Gaylord. The Gaylord was a big disappointment. Most of the staff was unaware that there was even a marathon or expo going on. Could not find any staff that knew anything about the shuttle busses before or after the marathon. Poorly organized on their part. I highly recommend that you stay near the finish line. Overall a good race but you will need to put some planning into your race day transportation. | |
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K. L. from Saint Louis, Missouri
(10/25/2017)
"A Five Star Event" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have always said that I prefer NOT to run the same marathon twice!! Well, that slogan is now HISTORY. I'd run this marathon again, and plan to train with my wife so that she can complete it as well!! I've run marathons in Berlin, St.George, Chicago, New York and etc...... and the MCM ranks at the top. Well organized, a seamless start and a terrific finish for sure. Every marine was both courteous and professional. I've read plenty of reviews on various marathons, and there have been some 'not so good ones' on the MCM. Well.....it appears that they listened. There was an excellent 'snack box' at the finish that contained fruit, grains, sweets and more), plenty of water and more. The long sleeve marathon shirt given to each runner at the expo was very colorful and of great quality...one of the better ones I've seen thus far. Overall, the experience was great......it's really what YOU make of it. By the way, this was my slowest marathon thus far. Why? I began to experience unbearable pain across the instep of my right ankle at mile 16. I visited the First Aid tent, where the PT's provided an assessment, taped me up, and sent me on my way. (They did everything that they could). The pain was still there, so I literally ran/limped the remaining 10 miles.....not finishing was not an option. This is such an emotional marathon, I could not imagine having a DNF!! An ice pack was taped to my ankle at the finish. Another Marine saw me limping, read my bib number, and saved me significant steps by retrieving my personal bag from the UPS truck. Nicely Done; from the beginning to end. | |
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T. D. from New Orleans, LA
(10/25/2017)
"Great race" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first Marine Corps Marathon, but not my first marathon. I read alot of negative comments. This is definitely a race to do. I thought the organization was excellent, the course was a good course that if the weather cooperates, you can run a fast time. It was inspiring to see our service men organize this race. The only recommendation I would make is for them to have more fluid stops in the later part of the race (miles 15-26.). There is actually a lot of shade during the first 15 miles, but once you get to the mall, from then on, not much shade at all. It was warm in the later part of the race which affected a lot of runners. The last bridge heading back into Va (Crystal City) was unexpectedly long. Overall, this was an outstanding race to be a part of with great crowd support. | |
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J. M. from Indianapolis, IN
(10/24/2017)
"Mixed bag, overall great" (about: 2017)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 So many good things, with a few significantly bad ones. Overall very fun, cool, awe-inspiring marathon. Not sure about repeating it though. Expo: mostly your average expo experience (lots of hubbub, a few freebies, and ready to leave under an hour). Once you get there that is. National Harbor is a highly inconvenient location unless you're paying the big bucks to stay at the Gaylord hotel there. Organization: great, as expected from the Marines. It's hard to coordinate anything for 30K runners and their supporters, but MCM got the job done. Course: wonderful tour of DC and Arlington. Monuments all over, several fun neighborhoods, and a couple of natural areas too. Hains Point was both moving (blue mile) and meh (no spectators beyond blue mile). Only 12 or 13 water stations the whole race, needed more on the second half. Beat The Bridge (back to Crystal City) was rough without water or spectator support for ~2 miles after 19-20 miles in. Odds & ends: good job with communications. Great buzz and support around city. Truly encouraging to see several challenged athletes participating. Very spectator-friendly course (saw wife and sister-in-law 9 times). Expect a few extra miles combined walking pre- (from Pentagon Metro to start line) and post-race (finish line across the bridge to bag pickup). Overall: if you're interested, know what you're getting into: a fun mega-race with its flaws. The high points above carry the race and outweigh its flaws. As a destination race, not sure if it will merit a 2nd running. | |
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G. A. from USA
(10/24/2017)
"HUGE disappointment" (about: 2017)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I had high expectations for this race based on feedback from so many people. However, I thought it was terrible. The course was FAR too crowded to be safe. I spent the first 7 miles weaving, being boxed in, and trying to avoid being cut off by other runners. There were no corrals at the start, so 30,000+ people lined up on the honor system. Big mistake. It took 11 minutes to get to the start line, for one thing. More importantly, I should not have to pass walkers within the first mile! Having corrals and a staggered start would solve most of these problems. The road was severely canted for several miles, making it very uncomfortable for someone with hip/glute issues like me. On the plus side, the spectator support was amazing, and the Marines and volunteers were great. But I would never do this race again and never recommend it to anyone else. What a disappointment. | |
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L. M. from Wellington, fl
(10/23/2017)
"Beautiful Hard Well worth it" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Hard course and if you want easy race it's not for you. It's a challenge. Be ready. So much to see along the way. |
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