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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 621 to 631]
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J. S. from Sterling, VA
(10/31/2005)
"A little fine-tuning needed" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Marine Corps Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my tenth marathon overall, and my third MCM. It was neither my best nor my worst, but was enjoyable, because all of my first-time trainees managed to 'beat the bridge.' [I'm a 'penguin', a.k.a. back-of-the-packer, and the folks I coach are all back-of-the-packers. So that's my view of the race, for better or worse. Hey, we pay our $85.00 just like everyone else!] Despite the increase in runners from last year (27,000+ vs. 17,000) the MCM did well on most of the logistics. Water stations were well-stocked and well-staffed, all the way to the end. There were plenty of Clif-Shots still left at the halfway point over 3 hours in to the race. And so long as you could beat the bridge, you had 2 full hours to run, walk or crawl the last 6.2 miles. The course was well marked (though everyone I talked to missed seeing the 24 mile-marker), and the crowds were enthusiastic, though they seemed a little bit thinner than I remember from previous years. The 'revised' (since 2004) MCM course has most of its hills in the first 4.5 miles, so as long as you pace yourself properly at the start, you get them out of the way quickly. This year (unlike the past three), the weather cooperated, and I understand there were no heat-related injuries reported. But on a warm day, miles 16-22 (around Haines Point and across the 14th Street Bridge) are very exposed. Bright sunshine beaming down on one's dehyrated self at that point in the race could be problematic in another year. There are two areas where MCM really needs to improve for next year, IMHO: 1) the starting line and 2) Port-a-jon placement. Perhaps given the stellar reputation for coordination and logistics the MCM has (and deservedly so), these two situations stood out glaringly as problems. The MCM tried a two-wave start this year, bib numbers 1 through 12,000 at 8:15, the rest at 8:45, wheelchair racers in between them. I personally think that an early start for the faster runners makes no sense, as most races with that feature provide it for folks who otherwise would have difficulty finishing in time (a disproportionate number of whom are first-time runners, charity fundraising runners, or both). While back-of-the-packers are used to being passed, not so our faster brethren, many of whom hindered the wheelchair racers who were forced to start behind them. I heard of some wheeelchair races who had to come to a full stop because Boston-dreaming runners refused to budge. Plus, the staging area for the second wave was a full 1/4 mile away from the starting line, so any semblance of grouping by pace in the second, larger wave (15,000+ runners) disintegrated by the time folks actually got up to the line. And, surprisingly, there was little, if any, policing of who lined up in which wave, with lots of yellow (second wave) bibs starting at 8:15. All together, I'm not surprised about complaints from folks having to run around much slower people in front of them in the first few miles. There's enough real-estate along VA-110 to get a decent starting procedure for 17,000, 30,000 or even 50,000 people, so long as everybody not already out of the way an hour early is lined up by pace, with the wheelchairs up front. Hopefully, the MCM organizers can get it right next year. 2) And there were far too few port-a-jons positioned throughout the course. Lots and lots of them at the start/finish area, but few on the course. On the old course, you passed the starting area again around mile 6, so those units were well-placed. But on the 'new' course, you don't hit them again until mile 25. At one point, near mile 11, there were a whopping two (2) port-a-jons, and a 15-person line for them, after one of my trainees (a female) heard nature's call. [These were the first we had seen in nearly 4 miles). Despite my slowed pace on the mall, she didn't catch up with me until after mile 15. For years, I have heard horror stories from female runners about lines at MCM bathroom facilities, and this is one area that any large marathon needs to address. But apart from those concerns, the course support and finish-line amenities were in full strength to the end, and this is a great race for any first-timer who can keep at least a 14.5-minute-per-mile pace through mile 20. Large marathons are different than smaller races, and nobody should expect to PR on them. If MCM can fix the two problems I noted, I would recommend it to any marathon runner, new or veteran. | |
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R. Y. from PG County, MD
(10/31/2005)
"Amazing for 30,000!" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 3 Marine Corps Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have to admit I was a little scared about how this race would turn out with 30,000 participants. But from the expo all the way till the end, this race went very smoothly. Kudos to the race organizers for the shuttle from RFK Stadium. Very convenient for those of us on the MD side of the city. I was in the first wave, so I experienced almost no course crowding. Just a little congestion in Crystal City as the second wave started to catch up with me. Echoing the previous comment, the line (or shall I say mob) for the food was very long. This was mainly due to family members going the OPPOSITE direction through the crowd. I saw 5 people faint/collapse while standing in the crowd. Finally, one of the volunteers began stopping the people going the wrong direction, which helped the congestion (seriously, do some spectators not get it that we just ran 26.2 miles and do not need to be jostled and pushed out of the way?). I was a little confused about the wheelchair racers starting behind the first wave. The leaders did have a police escort, but the others had to deal with us runners. I enjoyed seeing the wheelchair racers, especially the members of the Achilles Freedom Team, but I did feel bad that they were constantly yelling 'on the right.' Overall, the marines proved once again they know how to put on a first-rate race! | |
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Richard Cooper from Pickering Canada
(10/31/2005)
"Beautiful day, beautiful course, supportive fans" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The start suffered due to the lack of corrals. Use Chicago as a template. Elite, preferred and general. There were really slow runners in the first wave. A race this size needs corrals. The wheelchair entrants should have started first. Too many people ignored the request to let them through. They really inspired me though, as they made it up the hills. True grit. It must have been really frustating for them to be impeded by the ignorant few who refused to move over to let them through. The supporters were FANTASTIC and really supportive. The marines were so encouraging and even though I am not American I felt extremely proud of them. The end was a problem because the chips were tied using the laces. Why not tie wraps? The friends and families should not have been allowed in the finishing pen as they were impeding the flow to get water, food and assistance. They were also taking the food and not eating it. It was a great race but due to the start arrangements difficult to achieve a PB. All that said, a fantastic day and all involved should be very pleased with their achievements. | |
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M. P. from Fairfax, VA
(10/31/2005)
"Good Race" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 First marathon. Good race. Good specators (my parents, who have watched here and Chicago, gave the nod to the Marine Corps for being spectator friendly). Good organization. At least good organization until the very end of the race. Should have enforced the area to meet family and friends as runners were cattled through overly eager family and friends who did not wait at the assigned area. Having to force your way through a crowd is not pleasant after 26.2. That is my only complaint, though, and thought it to be a very great race. | |
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M. S. from New Yorker living in Washington
(10/31/2005)
"a good marathon overall" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Marine Corps Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I have run this twice now (2004, 2005), and my views on the virtues and vices of the race have solidified. First, you won't find better spectators anywhere. They're awesome - encouraging, enthusiastic, and there're lots of them. The problem is that the crowds taper when you need them most. They're well-scattered throughout the first 14 miles of the race. They reappear with a vengeance at mile 20, and they're so loud that your ears pop (not that this is a bad thing; the support is well-appreciated, but they disappear almost immediately when you cross the bridge in the hot sun with nothing to look at but cars going in the opposite direction on the other side of the divide. The spectators return at Crystal City, and the cheering helps, but the problem is - well - Crystal City is absolutely hideous. It's the ugliest stretch of strip-mall scenery you could imagine. The most beautiful part of the course (by the monuments, by the water) are gone after the first 18 miles. However, most of the course is very nice. Unfortunately, the hardest part of the course (last 6.2 miles) has almost no visual distractions. The MCM organizers fixed an important problem from last year in the 2005 race - they filled the cups with less fluid (about 4 ounces per water/Powerade station as opposed to 8 or 12 from last year) - if you're severely dehydrated, you can always take two cups, but this portion control saved me from hyponatremia, which caused big problems for me last year. The marines are amazing, pure and simple, and course support is nearly flawless. My biggest problem with the course is the finish line - that you can't see the damn thing until you're under it!!! The way in which you wind up the hill for the last 200 meters makes it impossible to see the arches that mark the finish. Everyone keeps telling you that you're practically there, but you can't help but think, where is the darn thing??!! In your daze, it gets very frustrating. If you could see the arches from a ways back, it would motivate you and get you up the hill that the runners finish on. Okay, that's all. Overall, I like this course a lot, and the weather was perfect this year, unlike the horribly hot and humid race day of '04. It really is a perfect race for a first-time marathoner. | |
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Paul Zavodnyik from Washington, D.C.
(10/31/2005)
"Try it - you'll like it. " (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 While I wasn't pleased with my performance, I must say I was very pleased with this race. The organization is outstanding. Plenty of water stops, no traffic problems, nice shirt. I was concerned about the organization going in given that they doubled the size of the field. No problems. The course is pretty scenic. You run along the Potomac River, Rock Creek Parkway, the National Mall, and East Potomac Park. Much more scenic than New York or Chicago. The fan support was outstanding. As good as any race I have run. I'm not crazy about marathons with huge fields but this one is about as good as you can make it. The finish is way too crowded and the wheelchairs were a problem. But all in all, a quality marathon that deserves your consideration. | |
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B. A. from Rochester, NY
(10/31/2005)
"Depends on your priorities" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Truly a different type of marathon. Don't run this if you want to be free to set your own pace, run your own race, and get your PR. Do that at a smaller marathon where it can be all about you. Do run MCM if you want to see the sights and experience the dedication and professionalism of those marines. When a 20 year-old marine in his wheelchair cranks by you alone and way behind the main pack of chairs, it changes your appreciation of your sore legs. And those two old soldiers carrying the Marine Corps and American colors may still be on the course, but they weren't going to quit. The priorities are different here. | |
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K. P. from VA
(10/31/2005)
"Confusion at the end" (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 3 Marine Corps Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 There were too many spectators constricting the line of runners on the way to the food tent and beyond. Several people waiting with me were passing out as we tried to move through the flow of people. Marines (thank you) were there trying to push spectators back and vector people to the food tent but they should have been posted beyond the food tent to vector runners to the UPS trucks and link-up areas because of the absolute throng of people mixed up. Spectators should be kept back and away until runners clear the food tent. | |
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M. J. from dc
(10/31/2005)
"27.2 miles?" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I had my GPS system with me and it read 27.2 miles at the end of the race. It could have been off, but I ran the army 10-miler three weeks ago and it read 11.3 - the exact distance of the revised course. Anyone experience something similar? | |
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D. H. from US
(10/31/2005)
"Great experience" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I was nervous about running with the estimated 30,000 runners entered in this marathon. I was amazed to find that it was no problem thanks to the organization. I was able to see my support crew at least 4 times on the course. The food and water was plentiful along the course. I gave only 4 stars because I felt the wheelchairs should have started much sooner than the runners. I hate running in cities but the views of the monuments made this course interesting and motivating. The marines were wonderful. I truly can't say enough about them. Everything went smoothly. This was an incredible experience. |
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