Back to Marine Corps Marathon Information & Reviews
Rob Lathrop from Plainfield, IL
(1/15/2003)
"I have a new favorite!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Marine Corps. marathon is the 10th marathon I've run this year, and my 16th marathon overall. I am attempting to run 12 marathons in 12 months. Until now, my first marathon (Chicago 1999--I'm from the Chicago area) was my favorite. As the title says, this race has edged out Chicago in my own personal rankings. Washington is a beautiful, inspiring place to run. The course winds around the Pentagon, then up and down the Capitol Mall by all the monuments with a finish at the Marine's Iwo Jima memorial. Crowd support was good, especially in the Mall area. The Marines are the ones that man the water stations, and this was well done as well (please replace the Ultima sports drink with something else, however!). The shirt is the best shirt I have ever received from any race, and the medal was decent as well. I will run this race again in the future if I'm able to get in. I got into this one by a drawing from the Mardi Gras Marathon in February. One little thing: weird expo set up. Part of it was in the parking garage of the host hotel, and it wound around the central core of the building. That was a minor thing, however, and my whole DC weekend experience was one I'll always remember. If you are planning on running more than one marathon, put this on your 'Destination Marathon' list--it's a must-do. Last month: Twin Cities Marathon (Minneapolis, MN) Next month: Oklahoma Marathon (Tulsa, OK) | |
D. I. from Chicago, Illinois
(1/9/2003)
"Be sure to run this one!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Spectators are absolutely great. Doesn't hurt that cute Marines in uniform are handing you your water. Crowd was really in to cheering on any racers with names on their shirts. Running around the Pentagon did get a bit old, but definitely something I can deal with. Long sleeve finishers shirt is 1st class, and the medal and patch are well worth it. I'll definitely be back next year. | |
A Runner from Upstate, New York
(12/9/2002)
"All around great event" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Awesome fan support throughout most all of the 26 miles. Organization was very very good, signs everywhere. Large field and the course is flat (except the finish) and it is interestng (Pentagon, Capital, National Mall,Georgetown, etc.). Highly recommend! | |
chris from Washington, DC
(12/2/2002)
"Do we have to spend so much time in Arlington?" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The organization and support is everything you'd expect from the Marines - an EXCELLENT job, especially given the number of runners. I did not particularly like the course, though. We spent WAY TOO MUCH TIME running through Pentagon City and the Pentagon parking lot. It's odd that the 'marathon of the monuments' did not even enter DC until mile 8 or 9. The 14th bridge was brutal, and no fan support (who could blame them?). Otherwise the fan support was fantastic. | |
A Runner from Long Island New York
(11/29/2002)
"What a blast!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a terrific race! Running through the street of D.C., through Georgetown, past monuments and thousands of enthusiastic people was tremendous. The race was very well organized-excellent water and gel stations. Good finish line. Easy access by the metro. This was my second marathon-I ran the NY marathon last year and this race handled the crowd very well. | |
A Runner from East coast, USA
(11/19/2002)
"Great Support, Great Fans, Great Course" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Well organized. Beautiful course. Great fans. Best 1st marathon course I know. Thanks to all the Marines & volunteers. JC's review below... realize the Marine you called an idiot could very well be taking a round through the chest for you right now. Everyone is human, makes mistakes. Have some respect. | |
Chuck George, Exec Dir, New Orleans Track Club from New Orleans, Louisiana
(11/14/2002)
"Class act:" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Like the U.S. Marine Corps, the Marine Corps Marathon is a 'class' act. Well done.! Ran it in 1998 and in 2002. Even more spectators throughout this year and Rock Creek Park is a good alternative for Haines Point. Thanks to all who were part of putting on this event. | |
Keith Whited from Alexandria, VA
(11/11/2002)
"PLEEAASE ! ! ! NO MORE ULTIMA ! ! !" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 I have run the MCM every year since 1995 - 8 times. The course is spectacular and the spectators are fantastic. Unfortunately I refuse to give the Marines more than two stars for one reason & one reason alone. Year after year after year MANY people have requested a different sports drink. This is 'THE PEOPLE'S MARATHON'! Ultima may be adequate for elite runners, but FAR to many 'PEOPLE' who participate in this end up sputtering to the finish line on an EMPTY TANK because ULTIMA is the sports drink the MCM insists on using. Based on the information provided on the Ultima label it averages only 16 calories and 8 mg. of sodium per 8 fl. ounces serving when properly mixed. This is 1/4 of the caloric content and 1/20 of the sodium content recommended by 'American College of Sports Medicine Position Stand: 'Exercise and Fluid Replacement,'. Besides that it gives far to many runners an upset stomach and it tastes terrible. Further Ultima's Proprietary Ionic Trace Mineral Blend contains unspecified amounts of metals which are toxic or radioactive and have no recognized nutritional value: beryllium, cesium, gallium, thallium, thorium and zirconium. I have run 24 marathons in the past 26 months. Three of them MCM's and Two Richmond Marathons (both Ultima sponsored races). Although both races are run on relatively flat & easy course my races times for these races are among my very worst. The Marines have to turn entrants away every year - they have no reason to care. But since they DO promote this as the PEOPLE'S MARATHON would it be too much to ask that a fluid replacement drink PREFERRED by the PEOPLE be provided. MCM, I ask you again! Conduct a survey - - you have the entrants e-mail addresses. Take a poll! If ULTIMA wins I promise to shut up and never complain about Ultima again! Otherwise, A darned FINE race. | |
A Runner from Norfolk, Virginia
(11/11/2002)
"It was a great day to run." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It was a privillage to run the MCM. The weather was spectacular for my first marathon. The fans dynamic and the sites awesome. My thanks to the Marines who did a fantastic job at organization and course support. I had a great time and a wonderful day - thank you! | |
A Runner from Houston, TX
(11/7/2002)
"The People's Marathon is OUTSTANDING" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this race. The Marine Corps Marathon compares favorably to Boston, New York and Chicago. The organization is second to none. Despite over 14,000 runners, the start was not noticeable congested. The course is fantastic- it does go around the Pentagon a bit too much, but I got an extra burst of energy running through the Mall area of D.C. The course finishes going up a fairly steep hill at the Iwo Jima monument. This is one of the GREAT marathons run in the US and a must-run for anyone who participates in Marathons. I stayed at the Hyatt- Rosslyn which was walking distance to the start and finish and two blocks from the Metro Train station. The hospitality was tremendous. |
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