So I am currently training for the Marine Corps Marathon in late October. This will be my fourth marathon, but first in six years (as well as first since my age began with a four and as a father). I wanted to see if my fellow Slowtwitchers had any helpful insights on the marathon (e.g., the course, how well supported it is, good spectating sights, logistics, etc.) Just by way of context my previous best marathon is 3:22:14 (Chicago 2006) and if I can stick with my training plan and stay healthy I am planning to make a run (no pun intended) at 3:20. Thanks in advance!
I was surprised when running with the 3:10 group that everyone was all amped up for the “hill” that was around mile 8. Supposedly the last real hill on the course. Having just run Baltimore two weeks before I was like, “Are you f’ing kidding me?? This isn’t a hill and it is the last one on the course???”
Worst part for me was the bridge to get back to Arlington I think around 21 miles or so. That part sucked as I was in a world of pain from all the racing I’d done in the two months leading up to the marathon.
But finishing was awesome and for the one time in my endurance career I cried. Mainly because my grandparents are burried in Arlington National Cemetary and I was running the race for my Dad since he couldn’t run any sort of distance anymore and had to cancel his registration for the MCM years ago when he was going to try to do one. Best part of the event was giving my Dad my finshers coin a few days later and saying it was to honor him.
I live in the DC area but didn’t run the race until last year. The Marines do an amazing job–everything is very well organized and runs smoothly. I took a taxi to the start and had someone pick me up at the end–Metro can be crowded and frustrating.
The course is fantastic for spectators. It changed a little bit this year. Your family can watch the start, then walk across Memorial Bridge and catch you again at mile 10.5 and 16. They can then walk back across and see the finish. The finish area is very crowded and it’s tough to cross the course, though.
There’s a long climb from mile 1.5 to 2.5. (I bike commute up that hill every day.) The second big hill has been eliminated this year. Miles 20-22 are boring because you’re on a bridge or in a concrete jungle. Crystal City, which used to be deserted, had a rocking crowd last year.
There’s a final hill at the end going up to the Iwo Jima statute, but it’s not as long as it was many years ago when the race went all the way up and around.
Great race. Logistics are what the Marines do so they are fantastic. Subways are the way to go and Cystal City is a popular spectacting site.
As to the race; miles 16-19 (Haines Point) are difffernet (lonely) as there are no spectators. I agree with Daremo that the bridge at mile 21 (where, as you know, most marathons “start” anyway) is just brutal.
But, be aware of the last 200 yards. Up a friggin hill to the finish. I always say “leave it to the Marines to kick your ass right at the end!”
Best Marathon I’ve ever done. Enjoy!
+1 for everything that has been said. Great race, and a lot of fun.
One note, I found the metro to be great in the morning getting to the race (albeit I hoped on at an early stop). It did get very crowded returning post race, but was definitely still doable. I did the race a couple years ago and Crystal City was rocking and gave a nice boost late in the race. Hey, there was even a home made Beer aid station around mile 23.
I’ve run it. Unless you are near the front … you will run “group speed”. Much of those first 6 or 8 miles becomes heavily congested and you have no options to go around. The last quarter mile of the finish was so packed we were forced to walk. It is not a course I would consider a PR type of course, unless you get near the front.
The Marines … awesome.
I did notice that the new course no longer runs in front of the around the Lincoln Memorial or the White House.
Thanks for all of the insights–very helpful! I am interested in the comment about how heavily congested the course is. There was definitely a bit of congestion in the first few miles of my first marathon (Chicago), but my second two (Chicago and New York) I had a preferred start so this was not at all an issue. If you don’t mind me asking which corral did you start in and what was your final time?
Thanks for all of the insights–very helpful! I am interested in the comment about how heavily congested the course is.
I posted this pic in the Boston thread. It belongs here. This is 2010 … mile 6 … the 3:30 pace group. There was simply no where to move. BTW, I looked the pics again and it broke up after mile 8 but mile 10 the road narrowed and it was just like this again. Plus, the finish line was similar.
I highly recommend you ignore the pace groups and get as close to the start line as is possible.
Wow, that looks BRUTAL for six miles into the race. Thanks for the insight and advice.
It’s notorious for people ignoring pace signs. I once read about a good way to seed yourself - look at previous results, and figure out how many people would have been in front of you if you run your goal time. Then try to line up with about that many people ahead of you.
The race is pretty well supported. Be prepared for lonely patches along the 14th St Bridge and up route 110, though.
This is an awesome race. I don’t recall anything all that difficult about it except the year I ran it was brutally windy so times were a bit slower. I looked forward to running over the Memorial Bridge at Mile 21 as that is where I was planning to start my final push. The last 3 miles were a real grind…not a “hill” but a gradual incline that make those last few miles tough but a very cool finish.
Tips:
I took the metro to the start and nearly missed the start of the marathon. I ended up climbing over a chain-linked fence to get to the start just in time…so I’d say take the metro but do it way earlier than you think you need to. The metro lines leaving from the finish were crazy long too but I didn’t care at that point.
I started at the front and had no problems. Everyone one seemed afraid to start near the front by the starting line and were all bunched up behind so I’d guess it was more crowded the further back you are. I’d say with your estimated time in the 3:20’s you are fine to start up close to the front and give yourself some room to run.
Good luck…enjoy it!
The finish line is straight uphill. Like vertical. Well, maybe not 90 degrees but it will feel that way after 26mi. If you have a time goal, give yourself a 15-20 second cushion. I went 2:50:17 in 2010… Thought I had a shot a 2:49:xx until I made the turn to the finishing stretch when I realized that no kick was going to happen and just cruised in.
Otherwise a fast course in the back half, though it can be windy when you return to VA.
I ran it last year in 2:59. I liked it a lot. It’s really very flat, apart from the gradual hill in the first couple of miles (no problem). I would say that the wind is a greater risk. Last year was the morning that Superstorm Sandy was lurking just a few miles away, and it was a little breezy, though we were mercifully spared the rain. It will get crowded on course if you’re in one of the more popular pace groups. But if you’re running 3:20 pace and not looking for big packs, then I think you should be fine.
For spectating, the Lincoln Memorial area is a good place. You can easily see the start, finish, and a couple of places in between. For runners, it’s also one of the best places to pass, because there are so many spectators there. The Hains Point loop is the most lonely part. Last year I was lucky to be able to tag along with a group that helped to shield me from the wind, and pulled me through from 12-16 miles without having to think much.
I used metro for getting to the start (Pentagon Stn). It was crowded by the time we arrived (I was probably on the first train of the morning), but no problem at all. For getting away at the end, Rosslyn Station can be either quite good or a total pain. I finished early enough that it wasn’t a problem for me or for my family members who were meeting me. But when we were leaving via the station the crowds who were arriving at Rosslyn were wall-to-wall. Again, if you’re at 3:20, you should be ahead of the worst of it.
Enjoy MCM. It’s a great race, and the Marines do a fine job. There’s no prize money, and so no super-fast elites. The focus really is on the everyday runners.
I was in that group (3:30) in 2010 and it did not seem as bad as the picture shows. The good thing is that everyone did spread out by mile 8 or 9. By the time you hit the last few bridges be ready for lonely pain. Then as stated that stupid uphill at the end. But the crowd support was awesome and loved all the bands out playing everywhere. Great race to run in.
X2 on ignoring pace groups. I was a good boy and positioned myself in the 3:15 crowd and I had girls holding hands and skipping in front of me after the gun went off. I had to run on the median to get by the slow pace
You’ve got to be patient with all marathons but especially with the MCM. They section thru Georgetown is screaming fast and its easy to get carried away. Be aware that the white concrete in DC is the hardest stuff on earth and really saps the energy out of your legs. I recall the sections on Independence and the 14th St. Bridge to be particularly hard. The final .2 up Iwo Jima is no joke.
And of course weather in late October in DC can be all over the place. It could be low 30’s at the start or mid 60’s - just be ready for anything. good luck!