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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 421 to 431]
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F. S. from Texas
(12/14/2006)
"Great course but horrible organization" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 The course is phenomenal. Running MCM makes you proud to be an American for at least one day. Seeing the history of our great nation is quite moving. Finishing at Iwo Jima was nice. The problems with the race this year were the expo and the finish line. I'm sure both are caused by the size of the race but arrangements should be made to correct them for next year. Having the spectators mingle with the runners immediately after the race was awful. After running 26 miles, I just want to go grab a drink and stretch for a minute. I couldn't get anywhere for the people trying to find their runners. It was very troubling and took about an hour to get out of there. The expo took an hour to just get inside. I was proud to run this race but probably won't do it again. | |
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Steve Payne from Oklahoma, United States
(12/7/2006)
"A great, patriotic marathon experience!" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Runner Has Incredible Patriotic Experience While Running The Marine Corps Marathon! I completed my first Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) in Washington DC! The MCM came after many months of hard training. This foot race consisted of a simple run of 26 miles and 285 yards through the downtown streets of Washington DC with screaming people. What an incredible experience, running through the streets with thousands of cheering, screaming people. I was wearing my bright-colored red, white and blue USA bike jersey to help me connect with the crowds in the streets. When people would see my bright patriotic jersey about 50 yards out, they would start chanting, "USA, USA, USA!" Most of us truly love the United States of America. When hearing the cheering chants, I would hold up my right hand to touch the crowd and high-five many, many people along the streets of DC as I ran the marathon. Talk about a true runner's high, this running experience was unbelievable! The adrenalin pushed me running at a pace like I have never experienced before. No pain - just speeding through the streets on a cloud-like feeling. I was wearing no watch; I was just riding on an incredible adrenalin cloud. I also was privileged to hold a VIP pass, which allowed me to display a very low bib number - a typical professional runner's number - when I lined up in the front of the pack of 34,000 people in this race. I lined up with military generals from the Pentagon, professional runners, senators (a few), FBI agents, athletic marines, army, air force, coast guard, Navy Seals and a male and female Olympian. This was truly unbelievable. After the race, when approaching the VIP tent, a young marine with a weapon said, "Stop." I displayed my VIP pass and the Marine said, "Proceed through the gate, sir!" The VIP pass also allowed me the privilege to have lunch with many of these distinguished guests; the local adventure guy from OK was having a patriotic experience. I am not here to say the MCM was a grueling event; you decide for yourself. As I understand it, 34,000 people were registered to start the race in two waves of 17,000 each, but eventually 14,000 people dropped out of the race along the way due to injuries or pains. Two unfortunate souls even suffered physical collapse during the race. The last few miles to the finish line looked like a war zone on foot. There were many, many men and women sitting on the curbs rubbing their legs and burning feet. I was running on an adrenalin high for most of the race until the last couple of miles where I too experienced burning feet, yet I pushed on to the finish line reminding myself along the way that pain is just weakness leaving the body. Another entertaining thing that took place was at the aid stations where the runners would get our Gatorade and water. After drinking one of each I would turn and say to the young marines, "There is just one more thing I need before departing down the road again - I need a good 'oohrah'!" The young marines would turn and look at me and shout, "Oohrah! Sir!" Off down the road I would go smiling from ear to ear. I hold the highest respect for these young military men and women who are truly great Americans! Remember the military battle cry: "That which does not kill you makes you stronger." I was also told, "Pain is only weakness leaving the body." Adventures keep us young, so choose this day - are we to be couch potatoes or vibrant, strong, athletic people seeking adventure and a sense of greater endurance training to be prepared for stronger community service? As the young marines would shout, oohrah! We take a moment to remember all of those serving us, and Semper Fidelis. (Latin: "Always faithful.") This recent experience has been a renaissance, a reawakening of my sense of adventure and strengthened patriotism. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to experience the Marine Corps Marathon! | |
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W. M. from Washington, DC
(12/2/2006)
"Crowded but enthusiastic" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 3 Marine Corps Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I've run this marathon three times, in 1998, 2001 and 2004. It's a giant exercise but the organization is usually top-notch. And the spectators are enthusiastic. Towards the end in 2004 I was limping and in significant pain, but the crowd kept me going. I thought about hamming it up by falling to the ground and crawling across the line, but it wasn't quite necessary. | |
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S. M. from USA
(11/30/2006)
"Great First-Time Marathon" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I guess it is called "The People's Marathon" for a reason. It was a wonderful course with tons of spectators all rooting for you! The course was well planned and I had a great time running this race. It was my first and I highly recommend this race. There were frequent and well stocked food/water stations! I loved the overall experience! | |
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R. M. from Texas
(11/23/2006)
"Shamefully poor organization" (about: 2006)
50+ previous marathons
| 3 Marine Corps Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 The congestion at the finish line ruined what had been a pretty good experience. It was like a crowded subway - solid block of people, not moving. Did the marines turn the finish line over to 2nd graders? | |
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R. B. from Pennsylvania
(11/20/2006)
"Overall experience - proud to participate" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 2006 was my first time running this event and I was very pleased overall. The course itself is a must do for any marathoner. To be able to run through the mall area, capital hill, and end up at the Iwa Jimo Memorial was not only a pleasure but an honor. My previous marathon experience was at much smaller events and the idea of 35,000 entrants seemed like an exciting experience and I was not let down. Not only was the number of entrants a positive experience, the number of spectators was a tremendous motivator. I was able to high five many young children along the way and just soak in the good will everyone showered upon the runners. In addition to the high volume of spectators, I was very grateful to all of the Marines who manned the water stations. Not one water station was unprepared. The Marines made direct eye contact with you as you approached and went above and beyond to get you a drink without disrupting you and other runner. The music throughout the course was another unexpected plus. My only complaint about the entire event was completely out of control of the race organizers. The fierce wind was truly difficult to deal with from Potomac Park to the finish. Two-foot white caps on the Potomac should have been a sign to us all. I was on pace to run my goal time of sub 3:00 up to mile 20 but the wind beat me down. I was still able to run a PR of 3:11 even with the harsh winds. The hill at mile 26 is rather sick though. I highly recommend this event to anyone who wants to run a large event with the greatest fans and scenery available. As a proud brother of a US Marine who returned from Iraq three days prior to the marathon... I ran this for you, Rob. | |
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Sergio Estrada from Guatemala
(11/19/2006)
"Course is nice. Organization is terrible." (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 The course is nice and the support is OK. The organization is terrible. Long lines in the expo, no guidance at the start line, and super crowded finish. | |
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G. F. from Greenville SC
(11/17/2006)
"Great. I loved it!" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my fourth marathon and the best of the four. I had no problems with the organization or the course and the spectators were great. The only problem was the Metro, but otherwise, of the four, I would do this again. As a former marine, i thought it was the coolest thing in the world to have marine officers and enlisted men/women giving out water at water stations on the course. No doubt I am biased but I was proud of these young men and women. Every marine that I spoke to (and I made an effort to speak to as many as I could) was amazing.... "Yes sir," "No sir," "Can I help you, sir?" - they were great. We should all be proud of them and what they give up for us. Semper Fi.... | |
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N. C. from Pennsylvania
(11/16/2006)
"Mixed feelings, but mostly positive" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 Like most everyone else, I found the two hours after I crossed the finish line (which is about what it takes to get from the finish line onto a Metro train at Rosslyn) to be very frustrating and potentially dangerous. But otherwise I had a great experience, and ran the time I was hoping for. Here is my advice for future runners: - Go to the expo on Friday if you can. I went on Saturday afternoon and waited an hour just to get inside. - Wear disposable outer layers, skip the runner's village, and take the metro to Arlington Cemetery instead of the Pentagon. It will save you a lot of walking. And you'll have a better shot at starting at the front of the gold wave, if that's where you want to be. - 16,000 people put 4:08 or better on their app (and started in the scarlet wave), but only 5,500 people actually ran that time or better. So keep this in mind when completing your app. - If you want to run 3:50 or better, you might want to subtract 15-20 minutes from your goal time on your app to get into a good corral (see evidence of dishonesty in previous note). If you want to run 4:00 or so, just put a bad time and just start at the very front of the second wave. It's much better than starting at the back of the scarlet wave, which was a massive pack for at least nine miles. Those people had no chance at a good finishing time. I got there at 7:20 and was able to position myself at the very front of the gold wave, and it was nice running without much obstruction for the first 8-10 miles, and the pack was somewhat manageable after that. Even better yet, just run a different race if you care about your time - this is more of an "experience" race than a "performance" race. - Do not have your fans rely on the text messages for splits. My supporters only got splits at five and 10, and some only got them at five miles. However, the emails worked fine. - Develop your own plan to link-up with your family/friends. This year half of the lettered link-up flags blew away. There is a Burger King directly across from the Rosslyn metro - a good meeting place that is easy to find. - Buy an all-day metro pass for everyone in your group, including yourself. It is more expensive, but after the race they were letting all-day pass holders in via a separate entrance, which bypassed the masses of people waiting to go through the turnstiles. It will probably save you at least 30 minutes of standing. Overall, this is a fun race if you plan carefully and prepare yourself for the masses of people. | |
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V. M. from Piqua, Ohio
(11/15/2006)
"Crazy" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 The hilliness of the course caught me by surprise, but where I live is really flat. The finish area was a zoo. It took an hour for me and my family to find each other, and another hour to get out of the area. The course is beautiful: the cherry blossom trees, the Smithsonian, the Mall, Rock Creek Park, Georgetown. |
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