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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 551 to 561]
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L. S. from Roswell, GA
(1/19/2006)
"Ran This One for MY Marine" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 When my son shipped off to boot camp two years ago I decided to run this course on one of the many sleepless nights I experienced shortly after he left for Parris Island. I finally lucked into a registration form and fulfilled my goal in '05. The course was mostly awesome - it's not everyday you get to see the capitol building and Washington Monument on your running course.... The few things I would fix would be: 1) The staging area was a mess - stood in line 10+ minutes only to find out there was no space for my bag??? 2) My purple shirt is awesome - BUT there were NO SMALLS - so now I have a "sleep shirt" or a miniskirt but definitely this is not a shirt I can wear, and that is really disappointing to me.... 3) Wheelchairs mixed in w/ runners??? Dumb, dumb, dumb.... Anyway, I loved this run and I will be back out of love and honor for this wonderful country and its marines. | |
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D. H. from Valencia, California
(1/17/2006)
"Great overall race!!" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This was a fun race to run, if not a bit crowded. The spectators make the race. You know what I mean if you have ever run a smaller marathon with no one on the sidelines! I agree with most of the comments on the wheelchairs; we spent a lot of time dodging them. Also could have used pace groups, and more water stops. The metro was a BAD idea; we almost got shoved off the platform trying to get on with two little kids... scary at best. Overall, though, this was a great run and I'd do it again. | |
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T. M. from Atlanta
(1/5/2006)
"Good overall race, but disappointing" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Maybe my expectations were too high given the reputation of the MCM. This was my first marathon, although I've run a couple of well organized half marathons, including the Country Music Half Marathon. It may have been that the increase in runners this year overwhelmed the Marines. I started in the second wave of runners and arrived at the staging area about an hour and 45 minutes early, just in time to see the last of the water being handed out. There was no more water available at the staging area! As we moved to the starting area, we passed some water tables and managed to grab some just before the start. At the starting area, there were no time corrals. I was told that I would be able to find the pace group by looking for the balloons. I never saw anything indicating where the pace groups might be starting from, but I did see one pace leader with a couple of small balloons on a short stick about 15 miles into the race. I enjoyed cheering the wheelchair racers as they started a few minutes before the second wave. We passed some of the wheelchairs on the inclines and then tried to dodge them on the downhills. Not exactly an ideal situation. Water stops were good until late in the race where it seemed the road was blanketed with cups. There was also an orange peel obstacle course late in the race. I can't blame that on the Marines, but maybe this race was a little too large this year. Finish area was wildly overcrowded, making it difficult to get much to eat and drink. I also never saw the photo area at the end. Probably too intent on getting food and fluids... and certainly wasn't going to fight my way back through the crowds for a picture. Despite my complaints, I enjoyed the overall experience, but I don't plan to run this one again. | |
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M. O. from Washington, DC
(12/29/2005)
"My first marathon. Great experience!" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I agree that they should have started the wheelchair race at a different time. Other than that, I have no complaints. I think it was well-organized otherwise and would run it again. | |
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B. S. from Atlanta, USA
(12/28/2005)
"Proud to be a Marine" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Only fellow Marines would design a course that finishes uphill... makes me proud (if not somewhat masochistic) to have enjoyed it. The marathon website did a tremendous job of providing pre-race tips for navigating the expo and getting to the race. Brooks needs to plan their inventory a little better as one of their employees told me that the 25% of runners that came through on Friday bought 60% of their gear. Here's my biggest and only real complaint: Michelob Ultra had advertised for months in all the running publications that they would have a beer tent following the race (having experienced one of these following the Atlanta Peachtree Road Race I was truly looking forward to it). Upon finishing, no beer tent! I can deal with the crowds and the chaos, but no beer hurt. The split emails to friends' cell phones was simply awesome, allowed a group to track both me and my friend who started in the second wave and finished an hour behind me. | |
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R. O. from Boston, MA
(12/14/2005)
"First marathon, great race!" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, and it was fantastic! I was apprehensive about doing such a big race first, but D.C. is my hometown, so I thought I'd try it. After reading nightmare accounts of 2004's expo, I decided to fly in a day early and go to the expo Friday afternoon. Had my race packet in 5 minutes flat. Honestly, if you do your research, follow the tips provided (ex. leave 2 hours before race start to give yourself plenty of time) and are patient and pragmatic about the whole thing (c'mon, there are 30,000 people + spectators in one defined spot -- yes, metro's going to be crowded, and the post-race area will be a little tight) then you'll have a fantastic time. I ran my goal time, saw all the friends and family I was hoping to see, got my bags fine, and even made it to a surprise baby shower for my sister that afternoon on time! I definitely plan on doing this race again next year. Only thing I'd suggest is that they move to water stops every mile after mile 20 (please put one on the 14th Street Bridge!). | |
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Rick Dorsey from San Antonio, Texas
(12/13/2005)
"A great run with lots of room for improvements" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This being my first Marine Corps, I am excited to have run the People's Marathon and am honored to wear the purple turtleneck. Here are things I hope the race director takes into consideration for next year: 1. I'm not sure the Metro stations at Arlington National and Rosslyn are capable of handling so many people pre- or post-race. The reliance on these provide unneeded stress for everyone concerned. How about shuttles from the Crystal City area? 2. While the course proved challenging and scenic, I'd like to see more of DC incorporated into it. Maybe a trek down Embassy Row or Adams Morgan. More of Georgetown. Anything to eliminate the stretch around East Potomac Park. The out-and-back on Rock Creek Parkway is also dull. This could possibly be a dynamic course with a few tweaks. 3. Please, never again start the wheelchair athletes after 12,000 runners have started. I'm surprised there wasn't a serious injury. 4. The finisher's area is not equipped for 30,000 runners and even more spectators. Either reduce that number or change the finish line location. What about the Pentagon parking lot as an alternative? 5. A little complaint with the official photographers: None of the pictures distinguishes this being a race in D.C. How about positioning cameramen to get pictures of folks running with the monuments or Capitol in the background? 6. There are finisher's shirts available? Had no idea. As a Naval aviator, I'm grateful to serve our country, and grateful the Marines help stage a fabulous race through our nation's capital. Everyone should run this at least once. Hopefully these suggestions will prove helpful. Go Navy! and Semper Fi! | |
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David Rafal from Brampton ON Canada
(12/8/2005)
"Excellent water stations. Too many cheaters." (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Marine Corps Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I enjoyed being able to run at my own pace throughout. Never had to worry about water stations. | |
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b. b. from usa
(12/7/2005)
"grossly unorganized" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 I'm not sure where to begin. The start area was terrible and unorganized, the finish area was terrible and unorganized, the expo was terrible and unorganized, in several places crowd control was non-existent and spectators blocked the way of the runners. Worst of all, they started the wheelchair participants after the runners! All around this was a horribly unorganized race. | |
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J. M. from Lansing, Michigan
(12/6/2005)
"The Marines were most supportive and polite." (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Marine Corps Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Went to the expo really early Friday morning as advised by friends who have run this race before; no lines and easy to get close to the vendors. The race itself was very well organized, and the Marines were kind, pleasant, supportive and helpful. However, having wheelers mixed in with us 2nd-wave runners was SO dangerous for both them and us! Spectators were TOO close to the runners in many places, and you could not get through the course easily as a result. Wonderful aid stations and abundant porta-potties. Finding my family at the end was confusing, but my gear bag, food and water were easily retrieved. Did not know there were finisher's shirts until today (how about if Brooks emails everyone who might want one, and print more of them if you must?). The logic of putting first the slower runners who needed the extra half-hour to beat the bridge escaped me since fast and slow ended up all mixed together anyway. The metro back to the hotel, even with pre-purchased tickets, was a disaster. Please add extra trains on race day if possible! I would run this race again if wheelers and runners weren't mixed together in the same wave since I just did not feel safe at places in the course where we were together (primarily in the first six miles). |
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