Marine Corps Marathon

Great course. The lack of restroom facilities along the course was extremely distressing.

Take a small roll of toilet paper in your pack.

Try to get a hotel very close to the Pentagon.

Ran the 50th Anniversary MCM (2025) on a trip from California. Can't beat the scenery: Arlington, Potomac riverfront, Rock Creek Park (gorgeous!), East Potomac Park, National Mall & Capitol Building, finish at the Iwo Jima Memorial (but nasty quick uphill right there). The Blue Mile (display of fallen servicemembers in chronological order, right up to the race month) was very moving and everyone ran silently. Weather was completely lovely: dry, cool, mostly cloudy. A lot of the course is actually in the shade; I usually run with a hat but didn't this time and didn't miss it.

If you're running for a goal time, get to the start extra, extra early (there are portapotties near the start too) or be prepared to hike through the highway median for quite a ways and push your way into the front corrals. For me (arriving "on time") it was literally 20 min from the gun til when I went through the starting gate, it's truly that crowded. If taking the Metro (recommended) you get off at Pentagon not Arlington, and it's like a mile or two walk to the start (just follow the crowd). It took a while to get out of the station because of the crowds. Yes you need a Metro card, though they just left the gates open at Pentagon Station during the peak crowds.

The course felt more or less elbow to elbow for 20 miles. I decided last minute not to bring music and was glad I didn't, bec. being that close to others for so long means it's better to have full situational awareness. (Besides, I find constantly maneuvering around people works as well as music for mental distraction.) Definitely not nearly enough portapotties on course, so long waits if you need them (on the Blue Mile there's one round park restroom but then another one beyond that, so wait for the 2nd one). I think only 2 or maybe 3 fuel stops so definitely bring some of your own. Really fun crowds at numerous points of the course. Lots of very young-looking Marines in fatigues working the race and cheering you on.

So, if you're running your first MCM and/or you aren't prepared to take specific steps to get to the front corrals, I'd say run this one for fun and the scenery, and not for a goal time. I finished nowhere near the time I'd trained for but still enjoyed the race very much.

BUT--maybe they'll lower the registration limit in the future, that could change things a lot.

You'll prob get an email offering to match yourself up with a fallen servicemember. If you choose to be matched, they'll email you a nice memorial sign you can print out, you add the name you were given and pin that to the back of your top, it's a nice touch and definitely adds to the meaningfulness of running this race.

The family meetup at the end was fenced off and some distance from the finish, and completely mobbed. Any family planning to meet you there should arrive very early and probably plan to walk in from one of the adjacent Metro stops (e.g., Courthouse). The streets there are closed so Uber or Lyft would be very difficult. Bring a cell phone or be ready to ask a stranger to let you borrow one to tell your family where you are. It was probably at least a solid half-hour from my finish to when I got to the actual exit gate because it's just that crowded. After I finished I ended up hiking (uphill!) to Courthouse just to get on the Metro, because the Arlington station was so crowded. So: don't make any plans after the race that require tight timing, who knows when you'll actually get back to where you're staying. My wife planned to arrive in the family meetup area a bit before my predicted finish, and actually never got anywhere close (trying to get there on the Metro, through the mobs of people), so we ended up just meeting back at our Airbnb.

This was my first full marathon, and I chose it because I heard such good things about it. The iconic route around the national monuments! The emotional and inspirational blue mile! The great crowd support! All of those were as advertised.

The course was way to crowed. Whether you were looking to pass others or getting passed, there was a lot of congestion throughout the course. Spectators not being able to be near the finish line was disappointing. I imagined my family cheering me as I crossed the finish line on my first marathon and I felt I missed that experience. The crowds after the finish line funneling into the finisher village was very congested. The family meet up area was so congested that they needed to shut down the Roslyn metro station because it became a hazard.

The hill in the beginning is longer and higher than what I was expecting, but the rest of the course was fairly flat. The hill at the end was something I was concerned with but was not much of a hill at all with the finish line in site. The Marines were great! The Swag was great! The crowd was Great!

The runner's experience could be improved if there were fewer people running, or if they somehow adopted a staged starting time and extended the street closures to allow for later waves.

Enjoy the day and the sites to see in the capitol. I don't think it is a good race to look for a really good time. It is just too crowed.

Get there as early as possible in the morning. Don't spend a lot of time in runners village before the race. Head right out and look for a sign with your expected finish time. If you are not there early, it becomes too packed and hard to move up through the crowd before the start.

The course was much too crowded. I really couldn't find a groove were my stride felt smooth and natural because of the constant crowd. The scenery and the energy were great. Hydration and aid was abundant and well manned. The race was very efficiently run, as you would expect from the Marines. The area after the finish line was also extremely crowded. The metro station closest to the finish had to be temporarily shut down because the crowds became a hazard. If you want to do this race because you want to run with the Marines or honor a service member, don't let the crowds keep you away. Just be aware that it you probably won't hit those times that you are shooting for.

When registering for the race, the time you put in as your expected finish time will determine your bib color. You are supposed to corral yourself according to your bib color and your expected finish. If you do not head out to the start line early, the crowds will be too much to move up through. This makes for a lot of maneuvering around other runners throughout the race.

I stayed in hotel near the national mall. It was very quick and easy to use the metro to get to the start line.

While I can see how this race has a great reputation, running Marine Corps on the 50th anniversary unfortunately was a backfire. If they limit the field size back to 15,000, I believe it would be worth pursuing. However, the lack of communication with the metro system led to total chaos. The operator staff did not receive the memo that the trains were opening early, so it was a wild goose chase the day before to confirm that we could get on at 5am. When we got to our stop, they did not authorize an open gate policy, so we were stuck underground for 30 minutes while multiple trains poured in and runners could not exit. This left us with just enough time to use the bathroom once by the time we arrived to the village, check our bags and still not make it to our corral in time. I was a seeded runner and being stuck into the 4:15 pace group greatly impacted how I ran. The first 8 miles were bottlenecked and broke down my mechanics. I was honestly surprised that I could still run a BQ time, but I know at least several minutes were lost due to the poor logistics. At the village itself, the portajohn line was roughly 40 minutes and could’ve been prevented if volunteers more clearly marked an entire other section that wasn’t being used. One snag after another did take away from the race as a whole for me.

I will say, the medals are AMAZING!!! I am extremely grateful for our troops and their sacrifice and giving their best for this race.

I hope that years after are an enjoyable experience with the appropriate field size, but the volume doubled would be discouraged for future years.

Best marathon for first timer
Run Virginia and DC, tour the monuments
2500 US Marines on course plus 2000
volunteers- you will have the support
Excellent expo!
MCM, MCM50K and MCM10K

Run you race. You have a ton of time!

Use the metro and book hotels early
The MCM Four Star packages are well worth the $$

Poor communication from race.
Terrible expo. 90 min to get there/ hour plus in line Runner village equals portapotty People fell out left and right due to heat and humidity.
Volunteers on course know nothing. Post race support non-existent.
Do not bother- it's all a hype race.
Terrible

Take all your own food. Zero real food support afterwards.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

This race had/has enormous potential to be a top 10 race in the country, but until the event organizers fix the arrival and start line issues, I don't recommend this marathon to anyone.

I started out from my hotel (Le Meridien) about 3/4 mile away, at 5:30 AM for a 7:55 AM start. Took the Metro from Rosslyn to the Pentagon as suggested. Got there early. Stood on the platform and waited for the train that was supposed to be there at 6:00 AM. It showed up at 6:15, and it was packed door to door, front to back. Had to wait for the next train which showed up 15 minutes later. Got on that train and when I got off at the Pentagon stop, there were literally thousands of people trying to exit the metro platform using two sets of escalator stairs that were turned off. It took a good 10 to 15 minutes to just get out of the Metro building. Once outside the building, everyone had to walk about 2 miles to the security checkpoint, another 1/4 mile to the gear bag drop point, and then another half mile beyond that, to the start area. I arrived at my start position (no dilly dallying in between) with literally two minutes to spare. I had to use the porta potty before the gun, so I actually missed the official start. No time to warm up or gather myself mentally. In all, I walked about 3 miles before the race, and at least to me, walking is more taxing on my legs than running.

With 30,000 runners, and no true staggered corral starts, the course was too crowded. Shoulder to shoulder with other runners probably 80% of the way. I actually had a woman wearing earbuds, paying more attention to her music than those running around her, trip me and we both went down hard. Beyond that, it was a lot of ducking and dodging other runners and runners-turn-walkers all the way to the finish line. The other major problem with the course is my Garmin measured out my race at 26.73 miles and that was with me running the tangents the best that I could. Some friends of mine that are elite class measured out at 26.67 miles. So, I have to believe that the official measurements are not correct. I always expect to run about an 1/8 to 1/4 mile more than 26.2 miles, but a half mile is ridiculous.

Lastly, and just as critical, was the fact that one of the nutrition stops were out of Boom gels. The volunteers (who by the way were the best part of this race) were left empty-handed, and at this point in the race (16 - 17 miles in) to arrive at a nutrition stop to find it empty is not a good thing if you were banking on that being available.

WHAT I LIKED

Not much. The volunteers, marines and civilians alike, were fantastic. You couldn't get much more support than what was given. Aside from the empty nutrition stop I referenced above, the other stops were well-tended and supplied. Finish metals are attractive.

If you're registering for this race to compete, don't register. if you're registering for this event to cruise around DC and take some sites in while listening to music thru your earbuds, then sign up. If you sign up to try to compete, then the best advice I can give you is to study the course turn by turn ahead of time, and run the tangents the best you can. Bring your own fuel. Prepare yourself to be patient because you will need a lot of patience weaving in and out of other runners along the way.

Stay in Arlington near the Rosslyn section. Most convenient location to the start and finish line. I found a restaurant called the Tombs on 36th St. NW in Georgetown that was great. Actually the best part of my whole trip. Great food, great atmosphere, and great prices. Awesome! Le Meridien was a great hotel. A little artsy for my taste, but very nice inside. Very well appointed and clean. Helpful staff.

This is a great, well-supported race that I would travel to again. A previous reviewer complained about the start, but I walked the short distance from Le Meridien at 6:40am and was at the start line, with bathroom break by 7:30. The pacers were impossible to find, so be prepared to run your own race - my Garmin did clock in at 26.7 miles, like other runners, hmm? Its a great course with some early hills and the last 1/2+ mile uphill, but with good crowds, music and beautiful sites to keep you motivated.

It would be helpful if there could be 5 or 10 minutes more between the wheelchair and main start.

The expo is in a great space and organized, but for anyone staying near the start/finish with no carit is a 30 minute trip to Maryland with no public transportation.

Marine Corp was one of my favorite races, if nothing but to finish between a line of marines congratulating and cheering on each and every runner.

The first 3 miles are rolling/uphill, so pace accordingly - its hard to find space and pacers are very difficult to find - at least this year.

I walked to the race from LeMeridien (Rosslyn), easy and quick. Leave a little time to go through security. There is only one way in or out to runners village and start line. They will check all bags.

I loved everything about this race! Running along side marines, remembering those who gave their lives for us as you ran the Blue Mile, great crowd support, bands, aide stations and water/Gatorade/fuel stations. Marines everywhere encouraging and supporting you!

Cons: people peeing on the side of the course, complaints about the finisher shirt.... come on people! Think about what this race represented instead of being so picky!

It is a challenging course with a hill early on, a few later on the course and at the very end. Run the tangents as it was longer then 26.2

Likes:
- public, marines and volunteer support and enthusiasm
- beautiful views
- blue mile tribute
- DC stay and vibe


No thanks:
- Expo - distance to get to and the organization of get through it. It’s required to get your bib. Best to pay extra to get it mailed to you.
- shuttle pick up in the morning. Took over and hour to weave through the line for buses only to have to succumb to people cutting the line and jumping on busses down the line. It was completely out of control and resulted in getting to the start super late. When you get dropped, expect to walk another 20 mins to get to bag drop off and then another 15-20 to get through the crowds to even reach the start.
- Start line and first 6 miles. More chaos, crowds and stop and go running. There’s no organized corral of fast vs slower paced runners in start so you are constantly dodging slow runners or walkers the first 5 milesor so and in various spots throughout marathon until about mile 16.
- the distance. It’s not 26.2. Several runners with GPS watches, including me realized after mile 2 that the distance was off and remained incongruent until the finish. My watch and many others I compared notes with read 26.7. Don’t expect a PR with 1/2 mile tacked on.
- The finish. Expect to walk another almost mile or so after finishing to get your bags and meet up with family. The line for runners is gated off and corralled until you are almost to the UPS trucks for your bags.

Overall, I liked running the race and loved the crowd cheering and participation of the marines. But this will be the last time I do this marathon.

Pros: Scenery, well-organized expo, well-paced and enjoyable course, great camaraderie.

Cons: Metro doesn't open till 6am, so by the time you get to the Pentagon stop and get through security you have very little time before start.

You walk appx one mile to get to the start line.

Corrals are marked but not really "enforced."

Start slower than you think you should, walk through water stations to get all the liquid, motion with your arm when you need to stop/move to the side. Each water stop offers water and Gatorade.

Porta-John lines are very long, strategize so you don't need one.

The course has some inclines, but is comfortable overall. The last Iwo Jima hill is not as bad as people make it sound- steep but short. Course has great scenery and ambiance and supportive crowds, except on the bridge, where it is just you and the other runners...

I stayed at the Hampton Inn White House in DC- Hot breakfast, early morning coffee, close to the Metro- which is a breeze and takes you right to the marathon stop. I stayed around DC for a few days following the race and wanted to be w/ in walking distance to the Mall and not sequestered in VA. Great hotel.

Excellent course, great views, tons of fan support, multiple water and nutrition stations, Vaseline throughout the race... BIG HELP!

Expect 30,000 runners plus their family and friends, expect a fly over from the ospreys, expect heightened security (thank you Pentagon Police), expect the Blue Mile to be emotional, expect the scenery to be exceptional, expect the race to fly by with all that support.

Stay in Crystal City if you can. It's a 1 mile walk to the start. The bus brings you back to Crystal City after you finish. Plus the marathon runs through Crystal City.

The course was incredible with amazing views and stops if you want along the way! The runners span from elite to handicapped. Everyone was VERY friendly and everyone has a story. The support throughout the coarse was one of the best. Loved all the signs. The memorial mile was something I won't forget, followed by the flag mile. This is one of my most memorable marathons and will now be one I will do every year.

Know that the first couple miles have hills. I wasn't aware of this and questioned my pace, breathing, stride....

I stayed 3 miles away from the start. Took the Metro at 6am. Our stop was one of the first stops, gets very very full before everyone unloads at the Pentagon stop.

This is not a race to set a PR - reasonably well organized start not as well organized as Boston but not bad compared to previous years. Crowd support is tremendous and its a very emotional race many are running to remember a fallen brother/father/friend/ The blue mile is a powerful reminder. Race is very crowded even at the half it was congested and not until mile 16-17 did it open up. I was tripped numerous times by runners cutting behind me almost went down once but it was so crowded that the guy next me caught me and prevented a fall. Expo is OK if you like that sort of thing. The giveaway long sleeve turtleneck shirts were hideous. The support for the race was extraordinary the marines who do all the support could not have been better organized plenty of drink and gels stations , very visible medical support and the organization at the finish was superior to what I experienced in Boston. It was a memorable race and worth doing at least once if only to feel connected to the servicemen and families who have sacrificed much.

Best to be patient the race will eventually open up, the course is mostly flat a few hills the haul over the last bridge on the way to crystal city is tough at mile 22 especially if its hot. Do not burn yourself out trying to dodge slower runners

The hotels listed in the race site were all filled and expensive try staying at one of the airport hotels near Reagan Airport they are within walking distance of the shuttle to the race. I would not recommend staying at the Gaylord (Expo) it is really far from Washington and expensive

The crowd support was amazing!!

The is a pretty steep hill at the end! Just power through it!

It's an iconic race, a must-do for any American marathoner. I loved that the course was so diverse. Everyone talks about the monument and mall area but it goes through so many other cool spots as well. The blue mile at about 11 is worth it all by itself.

It doesn't have a lot of hills but there are enough that you need to be conservative to start. Also, get in the corral in time. It's a long slog to the start from the Metro or wherever else so give yourself a lot of time. Metro is best if you ask me.

I stayed at my daughter's house in VA and took the Metro. Made it very easy. My wife did the 10k and stayed on the Metro after I got off to go to her start line on the Mall. It all worked really well.

Loved that the race is so organized. The course was amazing, especially the Blue Mile, which brought me to tears. My only recommendation would be to train with hills ... which I didn't. Loved it and will be back in 2020.

Make sure and do a lot of hill training or you will be in for a big shock!

Ubers to race from hotel and you want to get their early as the roads start closing very early.

This is an extremely well-supported, beautiful course that makes you proud to live in this country. I grew up in MD and thought that I knew D.C. Now I feel sad that I took so much for granted as a child.

Start off slower than you think, the hills at the beginning are deceptive and more damaging than you think.

Leave an hour earlier than other races because of the crowds. Pick any Arlington hotel and take the Metro. Easy Peasy to the start and finish.

There are only 12 water stations. On a cool, cloudy day this would probably be OK, but the last 2 years have been warm (highs in mid 70s to 80s). There are 2 stretches where you won't have access to water for almost 3 miles.

The DC portions of the race are packed with spectators, but other parts may be pretty desolate. The 14th St. bridge is a particularly difficult section, mentally and physically - no access to water, no spectators and no cover from the sun.

Marines do a terrific job pumping you up, manning aid stations, and finish line duties. The race start is really cool too.

If it's going to be warm, bring your own container to refill at water stations if you want to hydrate every mile. Make sure to know where the longest waterless segments are so you can get extra before going into them. There were people handing out ice in Crystal City, but if you can get a family member to get you ice before that (especially before 14th st. bridge) that helps a lot. Most of the first half of the course is covered from the sun but most of the back half is not.

The climb on Lee Hwy is pretty tough, but it gets easier after that

We stayed in Rosslyn at Key Bridge Marriott and it was a relatively easy walk to the starting line and even shorter walk back from the finish line. Make sure to get there at least 30 minutes before the start. The placement in corrals isn't enforced, so getting onto the course isn't difficult if you are standing outside the barricades.

The MCM is a great marathon for first time runners. Great views, awesome atmosphere, and even better finisher medals.

Expect lots of people and support from the crowds, the course is definitely one that is worth the run.

Hotels are available throughout the area and most provide a shuttle to the train that takes you to the Pentagon.

Marines and sailors providing support at every food station, water point and medical aid station make you proud to be running this event.

Start easy at the beginning through Rosslyn and downhill on Spout Run. Enjoy the Blue Mile along Hains Point at mile 12 and continuing along East Potomac Park. The toughest stretch is after Beating the Bridge at mile 20 as you depart DC on the 14th Street Bridge returning to Virginia. The bridge has no cover or concealment from the elements and stretches nearly two miles before taking the ramp to Crystal City.

Stay in Rosslyn, but book your room early. If you are not staying in Rosslyn, take Metro as event organizers pay big bucks to open the subway as earlier as they are allowed.

Course is beautiful. Run through all monuments, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Jefferson and Martin Luther King, Jr. memorials, WWII, Vietnam, Korean War memorials, the National Mall, all while being cheered on by hundreds of US Marines. The spirit is great and the logistics impeccable. The pain of the last hill,though, to the finish at the Iowa Jima Memorial, disappears when a strong Marine puts the finisher's medal around your neck!

See above. It's easy to get carried away by the tremendous spirit at the start. Resist the urge to go out too quickly and make sure you have enough water/sports drink before you reach the 14th Street bridge just before the 20 mile marker. There are no water stops u til just before Mile 22. If it's a warm day, the bridge will take a huge toll on Runners who have no means of hydration.

Try not to stay too far out from the area of the run. The Metro is great.

Marines, location, Marines, Scenery, Marines, finish line, Marines, after party and did I mention Marines!

Just have a great time and let the experience was over you

This is the most meaningful, inspirational race that I've ever run. To have a marine lieutenant salute me and place the medal around my neck was the best feeling in the world.

Don't run for a PR. Enjoy the memorials, the crowds, and the feeling of pride.

Crystal City in Arlington, VA is a good place to stay.

Very well organized with excellent crowd support. Marines are at stations throughout the course which can deliver a pick-e up - especially when battling the wall.

There are a few hills throughout the race so include hills in your training plan. Parts of the race aren't shaded and, depending on the weather, the sun beats down on you- especially across the bridge.

Get to the start early as you do have to go through security.

Hands down the best race I have ever ran. Well organized and an honor to run with our Marines. The Blue mile is humbling and running alongside Wounded Warriors. All while running through our nation's capital.

Train on hills, so you are prepared to run the bridge.

The website provides great information about the race. Use the tips provided.

It's a unique opportunity to run through the nation's capital; however, I would only recommend this race for those without time goals who enjoy large scale races. The medal is cool, but the shirts tend to be a real toss up. The 2016 one was nice but too warm to run in. The 2017 one was fine if you like salmon. The 2018 one was TERRIBLE. Google it.

I ran it in 2017 before they instituted corrals and there was clearly confusion on how to line up. My pace group was dodging left and right for over 8 miles to get around folks running much slower and even walking in the first few miles. None of these runners should have been lined up ahead of the 3:30 pace group.

I refused to run it in 2018, but my husband wanted to run it for his 3rd year. They announced they would have starting corrals, so I was interest to see how it went. He lined up per usual for the bus to the start from Crystal City. They were only loading 1 bus at a time. He has never had an issue getting to the start with PLENTY of time to spare, but in 2018 despite doing the same thing as previous years he was dropped off by the bus with less than 10 minutes until the gun. To add on to the issue, the bus dropped them off a mile and a half from the start, further away than previous years. He started running as soon as he got off the bus, but he didn't make it to the start before the gun went off. He ended up at the back and struggled to get around people the whole race. He said that's the last time he'll run the MCM.

On top of that the whole race is a logistical pain. Packet pick up is in National Harbor which is awful to get in and out of. The streets were not made for that volume of vehicular traffic. The kid's race is at the Pentagon and it is not well marked on how to get from the parking lot around the Pentagon to the start. We missed our son's heat in 2018. After the marathon there's no easy way to funnel back out the metro. In 2018 they made it even harder to locate your runner/family by pushing the fencing our further and creating a choke point that had not previously existed.

What a fantastic race. From the support of the Marines to the spectators, the absolutely touching memorial mile at 10-11, this race is unforgettable. The hills are tough - but just know that they are there!

Shuttles to the race are fantastic.

Great crowd support and beautiful course.

I wish someone had told me this was not a course to PR on. There are too many hairpin turns and it's too crowded to run the tangents. I'd recommend this Marathon for a first-timer because the course isn't too hilly and the support is great! The marines do a great job. It's really cool to run by the monuments. I just wish I had known not to hope for a PR! :)

The expo was at the Gaylord this year, and traffic getting in/out was a nightmare. Expect it to take a while.

We stayed in Rosslyn. Perfect location for getting to the start and back after the finish.

Many changes over the past few years due to the Boston Marathon events, weather (rain affecting metal detectors for runner screening) and Metro's unreliability. Despite this, the MCM is a highly organized event. Very worthwhile if you want to run in a big race. And there are 10,000 US Marines cheering you on the entire way.

A generally flat course with a few caveats. The first 3-4 miles are deceptively uphill, so starting out slow is key. The 14th street bridge is at mile 19-20, and is another slight uphill (feels worse than it is b/c it is mile 20). The finish line has a hill at the end - short but at mile 26, runners need a little extra energy to finish. The weather is always key - late October can be as cold as the 40's or as high as 80's. Getting to the start line early with layers of insulation is good advice.

If the expo continues at Gaylord National, I would stay there for ease of travel (runners shuttles to the start line). Plan on arriving at the Pentagon security screening area around 6 AM. This ensures plenty of time for security, bag drop and getting to the start line.

Inspiring and powerful to run with the Marines. The Blue Mile will remind you to keep your fortitude as you continue, keep running, and push through the marathoner's simple issues. But the logistics of the Gaylord (where the Expo was located and where we stayed) were not so good. Adequate hotel at best. Cramped expo, making for crowds and waiting around.

Shuttles to race start were great, but getting back was a nightmare. FOUR times during the race we had to turn around a cone! This messes with pace and is hard on the body. It's cool to run by the monuments, but you'll see DC better on your own run when you visit as a tourist instead of an athlete. To make up the distance from the course change they have you running in a huge exposed parking lot (ugly too) and on cobbles in a cramped Crystal City shopping area (and those darn cone turn arounds).

The Finisher's Festival was a joke, more like a death march. I had to mingle around the Iwo Jima monument finishing area pretending to be busy while I waited for other runner friends to finish so we could get our picture together there. They won't let you sit down. No bag, no food, nothing, because once you leave the finish area you are stuck in the "Festival" where you are exposed and bored. The recovery "food" they gave you was nothing a runner would want to put in their body, especially during that important recovery window. It reminded me of a "Lunchable." Forget about waiting to buy finishers gear the line is long and there isn't much available. One you finally make it to the end to get your bag of dry clothes, you are so far away from where ever in the world they had the beer that you just leave in frustration. And then there is nowhere to change anyway. I wiped down and changed in the bay of a parking garage risking arrest for indecent exposure! It was super hot and humid this year, but it would be equally miserable if it were cold. Marines are great. The race, not so much.

If you are a faster runner it is neat that you will queue up pretty close to the start. Beware it is self-seeded corrals and has a lot of first time runners, but I didn't have pacing trouble with these factors and the energy of the first timers was great. Practice running hard up a short and steep hill at the end of all of your long runs. And the practice of holding back the first several miles is also key in this race.

If you have the luxury of having supporters that can be near the finish, have them hand you a protein recovery snack for after your finish!

Arrive early to everything to avoid lines, not have gear sold out, etc. The Westin is the nicest hotel nearby the Gaylord. Most of the runner deals for hotels were not much better than what I found at the hotels themselves. The Carbo Load dinner before hand was really nice, sit down buffet, inspirational speakers and video. Sign up for that if you are staying at or near the Gaylord.

Traffic is horrendous in DC, as in all big cities, so plan your arrival and departure accordingly to miss peak times, or just give yourself lots of time.

One plus of the National Harbor area, where the Gaylord is situated is that there are lots of restaurants that appeal to runners. We made a reservation for Sunday night at one of them, but probably didn't need to have it. There is so much dining!

Pros: Great crowd support, very well organized, scenic course for the first 18 miles.

Cons: the course this year was altered slightly, and an additional mile put in around Pentagon City. This was all concrete, full of turns, no coverage from elements, and no spectators - all at mile 20-21, so a terrible spot in the marathon for those pieces. Having run three Marine Corps Marathons now, this change was not welcome or helpful to runners.

The first 2.5 miles are uphill - conserve energy. Enjoy the support from the crowds. Be sure to run your tangents - there are a number of turns and slightly-windy roads, and if you're not careful you will end up running a lot more than 26.2.

Excellent location, amazing support, crowds are great, fantastic scenery.

This is an experience race, and not a PR race in my opinion. It was incredible. Enjoy the monuments, and say thank you to as many marines as you can. It was a very hot day this year, so that was not expected, but all other things made this my most memorable race to date.

The course was quite crowded throughout, so try to adequately seed yourself with your pace at the start. Otherwise you will find yourself frustrated if you have to do a lot of weaving to pass people or being the subject of other runners' frustration. Enjoy this race. It is an experience.

If you aren't from the area and aren't familiar with the metro system, familiarize yourself before hand as it can be a bit confusing to navigate with "marathon brain" and a few beers under your belt after the race. I also found it helpful to have a metro card with funds prior to the race. It got me around the giant crowd trying to leave the station nearest to the finish line.

The experience is incredible. The course great until the end. Crazy amount of turns and switch backs in the last 4 miles.

After shuttle situation was a nightmare!! Luckily I was staying with local family that was able to pick me up.

Loved this marathon! Great energy, nice course, fantastic support!

Very well attended and supported. Awesome medal.

Very well organized. Need to start later so that we can take metrorail.

Need to start in front. Too many people blocking,

Lots of support from the marines plus spectator, the beauty of DC.

The last 4-5 miles are not pretty, no spectator so be prepared...and there is no shade so if its hot, it will be brutal.

By far the best supported and well cheered on course (for all 26.2 miles I might add) I have ever run. The aid stations were constant, the cheer stations were more constant and the entire community supported this event. Its well organized and a wonderful course to boot! My favorite marathon and I highly recommend - especially for anyone doing a first time marathon.

Stay local and use the shuttles to the start and from the finish. The are prompt and there are a lot of them that are less than half a mile from the start and finish lines and from your hotel in most cases.

Book your hotel through the website - you get a great discount and late checkout!

Wonderful shirts, bibs and medals! Great race to run, very organized!!

This is the BEST Marathon - in a class of it's own. Best for 1st timers, best on course support with the Marines, Navy and many many volunteers!

Do this one, you will never look back

listen to the MCM Staff, they will guide you to a successful race day.

Very well run race. A lot of crowd support. Plenty of aid stations.

Start slower the first couple miles because of the hills.

I stayed in Alexandria at the Hilton Mark Center. It was a great hotel and a quick Uber ride to the start.

Great runner support by Marines, great beautiful inspiring course, great expo, great organization

Stay in Arlington hotel

Spend a few days after the race

Fly into Reagan and stay in Arlington

This course starts with a climb for the first 3 miles and then a few downhills so be conservative with your energy. The first 18 miles of this course are great with plenty of sightseeing along the way. Once you get to the bridge there is no crowd support and it feels like the bridge will never end. The crowd support picks back up in Crystal City for a few miles. It was very hot this year and towards the end of the race the water stations were running out of cups and water. Once you get to the bridge there are no water stops for a couple of miles so if it's going to be hot you might want to carry water with you. The finishers village is a joke. Once you finish they try to push you out before you can even get a picture or wait for other runners to finish. They provide very little food wise and it's nothing you would want to eat for that matter.

The morning of arrive at the bus stop early as there are a ton of people in line and it takes a bit to load the passengers and drive to the runners village.

If you only do one marathon, this is a good choice. The course is well laid out, minor hills, mostly at the start. The 11th mile seeing fallen soldiers is emotional yet motivating. Crowd support is great. Lots of free goodies at the end. Water stations and portalets are ample.

Use public transportation! I stayed in Crystal City which made getting around by metro easy and affordable.

I liked the location of the race. You get to experience Washington DC and see all the sites while running

The first couple of miles start with a hill so conserve your energy and run smart.

If you are out of town its best that you find a hotel near the race which is Arlington Va.

Be prepare for the emotions of the Blue Mile.

Be prepare for the emotions of the Blue Mile.

Running a marathon in DC is fantastic. While you don't run among any of the actual monuments, you can see some of the from a distance while running. Water stations were done well, finisher shirt and medal best I've received.

Start slow as the biggest hills are from miles .5 to around 4.0. Bear right at the starting line and it eliminates one hill.

The logistics are horrendous. I just ran the 40th anniversary race and it was like they had never done this before. 30 minute wait to get through security at the expo, 1 hour wait to buy any MCM merchandise and a 1.5 hour wait to enter the starting area. These folks need to get pointers on how tom handle a large event, clearly they don't have a clue. The finish line area was also a disjointed mess.

Be ready for some hills but the atmosphere of this race is one of my all time favorites.

I liked the organization and the beautiful scenery. We had great weather in 2015. I PR'd, improving from 4:26 to 4:02. The after-race party was absolutely fun because they kept pouring free beer for us. The support from the Marines was awesome.

Get there early and make sure you are in your corral. I got there late and had to weave people for about 10k

AirBnB and Uber... hands down.

Crowd support was great.

Park near the start line and walk there. Do not rely on the Metro to get you there.

Loved the scenery, the preparation, the crowds. Nothing bad about it except for the wait to get through security before the race.

Get to the security checkpoints early!

I love the extra burst of energy you feel as you run along the National Mall and see monuments and museums. Best photo ops of any marathon I've done! It's also a very moving/symbolic/personal race because of the Blue Mile, military remembers running with full gear and packs, and countless others wearing shirts honoring loved ones who have lost their lives serving our country.

Steepest downhill is at mile 4. Rock Creek park out and back is fun because you get to see other runners. Prepare to get a little emotional in the Blue Mile. Miles 16-20 are along the National Mall and that really perked me up! Great scenery! The 14th street bridge after mile 20 felt like the longest part. Few spectators, and it went forever. Mile 22 in Crystal City had a misting machine -- aah, unexpected treat! Save room for the donut holes (Munchkins) at mile 24, to get you through the last miles where you're running through the same section you ran through at the start.

Great crowd support and fun for spectators. This course doesn't require friends and family to do a half-marathon of their own to cheer for you. They can see you at multiple locations and the website even has a spectator guide.

Loved this marathon and would definitely run it again. Beautiful course, super well organized, the best scenery which makes the race go by fast and of course Marines handing you your medal at the end! Absolutely fantastic way to see DC is to run this marathon, it crosses back and forth between VA and DC

Wear sunscreen! It was unseasonably warm in 2014 when I ran it and there's a lot of open areas where there's no shad so I definitely got some sun that day.

Take the METRA and get off at Roslyn, not Pentagon on race day. Also plan ahead for security line at packet pickup and race day.

Amazing race. Spectators line the route almost the entire way. Beautiful course through our nation's capital... This year (2013) they didn't let you use backpacks because of the tragedy in Boston. I had planned on running with a Camelbak and the last minute notice of this policy change was upsetting.

It is a very crowded race. Make sure you get there early so you can join up with a pacing group. Don't get too antsy with the crowd. The first couple miles will be slow... Midway through the race (miles 10-14) are along a quiet stretch. Don't get caught up in the moment and push too fast [like I did] during these miles. Relax and enjoy the beauty of DC.

*Note: There are pacers for this race now!

Arrive early. Book a hotel far in advanced. Use the metro: too many streets are blocked off/shut down the day of race.

Awesome! Best marathon, hands down!

Awesome! Best marathon, hands down!

Amazing course. Very well organized and start to finish a great experience.

The ability to go sight seeing while running a marathon.

Enjoy the serenity out by Hains Point after the noise and congestion near the Capitol.

I love this race (I have done 92 marathons) for the views and things to do in the city for days and days in our nations capital.

Don't go crazy for the first 2/3, because Haines Point will kick your butt.

Find a hotel close to a subway. I like the Key Bridge Marriott as it is a short walk from the finish line.

Loved the support from the public
Course was perfect- marked well
Had plenty of drink and bathroom areas
Supportive marines all along the course
Music everywhere
Finish area had nice vendors

Get there early to get your spot for your pace goal.

Barely any hills. No significant inclines.

Georgetown, the mall, many of the memorials, rock creek... to finish at the Iwo Jima. I have run 8 different beautiful marathons, with better times, but this is special, is the one to enjoy.

It is not an easy course and for that I was not thinking in a BQ. Probably because of that I started very conservative and finished strong (almost 5 minutes faster the second half). The aid stations are more than adequate.

The organization is outstanding and when I run in 2013 it was very easy to get by metro to the start.

Expo was great with many vendors. Course was challenging enough. The blue mile will give you chills and choke you up. Probably my favorite marathon

Flat course a zillion spectators and loop through the park makes easy for family to see. Lovely scenery too.

Hope for cool weather. No shade!

Take public transport in and out.

Great organization. Fun course through DC.

The bridge back to Virginia seems interminable: break it up into sections and promise to run hard through each.

Start on the road away from the river. It is less crowded and there is cover if you need to use the woods at the last minute.