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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 531 to 541]
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A. W. from Washington, DC
(10/30/2006)
"Great fans and marines, but poor post-race" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 The weather was great and the marines are a credit to our country - good support, and lots of water stops and porta-potties. Pretty good course. BUT the finish line should have been at the same spot as the start, AND there were no signs to get to the metro (or signs of ANY kind). The tight exit corridor caused a 1/2-hour wait to get out - this after running 26 miles! Putting the vendors in the middle of an over-packed exit route was an awful idea. I love the marines, but I won't run this next year. | |
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Christi Gowen from New York, NY
(10/30/2006)
"Terrific in all respects - until the end" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This was my first MCM and my 8th marathon. I found the course, the crowd support and the overall experience to be first-rate. The organization at the start and on the course was very good; the port-a-potties at the start were especially ample and I never waited more than 5 minutes. The marines were friendly and helpful. I really enjoyed the experience that this race has to offer. That said, the finish line area is a complete disaster. We somehow managed to miss both the blankets and the finisher photos, despite the fact the whole finishing area is way too small. The crush of people is completely overwhelming, and it only gets worse once you get out of the finish area itself and into the public festival area. The food tent was disappointing (adequate, but barely) and finding the baggage trucks was diffult because there weren't any signs directing you where to go (ditto for the family reunion area). It all created a very stressful situation, which is hardly the most desirable environment after 26 miles. I would do this race again, but I would recommend that the organizers reconsider the site of the finish line - it was a frustrating and unpleasant end to what is a generally terrific race. | |
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M. A. from Charlotte
(10/30/2006)
"awesome totally" (about: 2006)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I have been planning to run a marathon for the last three years. After being able to check on other friends running in this year's race and reading others comments, I will be there next year to run the race. I have a year to plan so I will be able to take my time and train for it. Great job on letting us track the runners. | |
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J. C. from Chicago, IL
(10/29/2006)
"2006 Needs some Improvements" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 The Marine Corps Marathon is a great but definitely very hilly race. Spectators on the course are definitely as good or better than Chicago. The course itself is also very hard to beat for overall scenery. That said, 2006 needs some significant improvements. 1 - Water tables should be 2-3 times as long. 2 - The runner meet-up area is a disaster - avoid it at all costs, and find a Roselyn intersection to meet your family/friends instead. 3 - Public transportation could be exceptionally convenient if it weren't for the huge lines. Nothing like standing in a herd for an hour after the race. Suggestion: take an early train to the start and linger at the finish expo or explore Iwo Jima if you don't want to wait in the herd. | |
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J. D. from Schwenksville, PA
(10/29/2006)
"Marines Rule!" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Marine Corps Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second marathon and my second MCM. This one was twice the size of the one I ran in 2003, but it was better organized. Try to cut down on the distance runners have to walk for baggage retrieval - I needed a rest, not a hike, after the finish. Overall a great event; the Marines are courteous and respectful to the runners, the scenery and spectators are great, and I'll be back. | |
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J. D. from Birmingham, AL
(10/29/2006)
"Poor, poor, poor organization of finish area" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 Everything about the marathon was great until the very end. Race organizers changed the link up area to a small area on an overpass that could not handle in any shape or form the number of runs and spectators by any stretch of the imagination. It was pure chaos. Need to rethink that next time. | |
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Sabine Peters from Colorado Springs, CO
(10/10/2006)
"Incredible Experience!!!" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The weather was perfect, the crowds phenomenal, and the scenery... simply spectacular. The only problem with this race is that (unless you're an elite runner) you're stuck in a clump of runners for the first five miles or so and you lose a lot of time. Having two starting waves certainly helped, but there are just soooo many people. The crowds are incredibly motivating and running past all those memorials is pretty emotional - especially after making that final turn up to and past the Iwo Jima Memorial... alas, the finish line. Fantastic!!! | |
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D. A. from North Carolina
(8/2/2006)
"Awesome to be there in 2001" (about: 2001)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was an awesome, emotional experience for all of us. The nation and DC were covered in battle gear, and still unsure from the recent attacks. Emotions were high and the cheers coming from the workers who were cleaning up the debris by the Pentagon were very powerful. Never will forget the experience. | |
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Rose Camero-Gill from Canyon Lake, Texas
(7/19/2006)
"I had a wonderful time and loved all of the marine" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This was my 3rd marathon. My USMC son was killed in Iraq prior to this race and Texas Recon ran as a platoon to honor him and another marine. I had a fractured foot and was running with a cast. The buses that pick up stragglers have to go - I was injured at the end, and the buses were speading their fumes and making the runners sick. No one would listen to make the buses stay away from the runners. I have run the Motorola in Austin, TX and the stragglers are picked up by police cars - NOT BUSES. In my opinion, this race is for elite runners and not beginners, which is wrong; everyone should be able to participate. I found that the marines working the race were the best. I had two marines help me to finish, one by pushing me for one whole mile and another doing a three-legged-fireman-type race with me. I will forever be grateful to these marines. The pace car was a joke; the marine in that car was mean and could have cared less if I had finished. How many moms run on a broken leg with a cast to honor their son? Anyway, it was an experience and for the most part the marines working the race were wonderful. PLEASE GET RID OF THE BUSES THAT PICK UP STRAGGLERS AND PICK THEM UP IN INDIVIDUAL JEEPS. - ROSE GILL, Gold Star Mom, KIA Cpl. Steve P. Gill, USMC Ziadon, Iraq 21 July '05 | |
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Brian Eisenmenger from Wheaton, IL
(6/29/2006)
"Great for patriots" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 This was my fourth marathon so I only can compare this to Chicago (2) and Houston (1). As a fan of history, this marathon is great. There is nothing like running by all of the historic monuments. The only bad thing about the course was running through what appeared to be a desolate golf course around mile 17. Sergeant Lee Emory (sp) was there to give high fives around mile 25. Whoever came up with the idea to have the wheelchairs start in the 2nd wave was an idiot. Crowd support was okay but let's face it - most of them are probably tourists wanting to see the same monuments we were running around. Shirt - best shirt I have ever received for running a race. I swear I'd run it again just for the shirt. |
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