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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 791 to 801]
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K. C. from Austin TX
(10/27/2003)
"Metro was a disaster" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I was not only disappointed but very frustrated by the train to the race. It was advertised as the way to go but turned out to be a complete nightmare. 3 trains passed me that were so full that no one could get on. I finally squeezed on one but had to separate from my group. The expo was organized but overcrowded. Ultima is awful! I thought the course was good except it looped in circles. Marines were awesome. I think I will stick to the less crowded/smaller marathons in the future. | |
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c. c. from Vermont
(10/27/2003)
"Hot, humid and highly disorganized!!!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 I was really looking forward to this race... in the nation's capital, etc., and it was my 10th marathon(I was surprised that it was the MC's 28th). The start was insane... no control over who was in front, etc... the course did a lot of twisting and winding and we'd see runners up and down on various ramps and turnabouts and wondering if I had come from 'up there' or am going up there. Also I noted a lack of fluid when we needed it most out in 20-21-22-mile land, when you're crossing a metal gridded bridge in the blazing sun (ouch to the feet). The spectators were great when they were bunched together, but I was really looking for more verbal support from the Marines... maybe the loud one are overseas. I may return, but not for the race... to visit DC. | |
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E. L. from Long Valley, New Jersey
(10/27/2003)
"Still one of the best!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is my first visit to Marine Corps in about ten years. The race is less competitive than it was and has since grown by 25%, but is still one of the best organized races, and one of the best major marathon courses in the USA. Watch out for the weather, however, it can still get humid in DC in late October! | |
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T. M. from Cleveland
(10/27/2003)
"Never Grow Tired of This Marathon--One of the Best" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 As always a tremendous race. I run a lot of marathons, but this is one where people seem to have the most fun. The course scenery is second to none. The race director is the best in the country. It is the deepest staffed race around. Before, during, and after the marathon the Marines treat the runners like they were all five-star generals. In future years it would be helpful if the runners were released to the start by bib # and according to proven capability. It would be tough on the volunteer staff (no race in the world has a tougher group of race workers than the US Marines) but it will be necessary to avoid accidents caused by slow runners and, worst of all, walkers. Releasing both sides of the divided road at the same time is a big part of the problem. This is the only flaw in a true gem of a race. This event is a real credit to the Marine Corp and our nation. | |
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L. CHARLES WIMER from Coatesville, PA
(10/27/2003)
"SORRY, BUT I EXPECTED MORE" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 After reading all the hype about this race, I found myself counting the days to this marathon. Let me say this: I left this marathon a bit disappointed. The expo was fair at best, so crowded in such little space. The souvenirs by Brooks were poor, they really failed to take advantage of the Marine Corp Marathon logo. The course was okay. Not many hills. Here is my problem with this race: As a race walker, I started in the back. It took nearly 25 minutes to actually get to the starting line. I was required to get to the 'Bridge' within 5 1/2 hours, which is easy for me - if this was based on CHIP TIME, not START TIME. This is extremely unfair to those who start in the back of the pack. The Marines along the course were extremely pleasant, except for the strangler bus -- he was a total *%#&@%$ -- I'll leave it at that. The start line needs to be controlled. The finisher's medal was disappointing -- I received the same size medal as a 5K finisher. For $80 I expected more. Once is enough for this proud Navy veteran. Yes, I finished, but I'm also finished with the Marine Corp Marathon. | |
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P. B. from Philadelphia
(10/27/2003)
"VERY disappointing" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 This was the most disappointing race I have ever run. With all the hype about race organization, I was shocked at the anarchy I was greeted with. 1. The Metro: Only way to get to the start (no parking anywhere near the race). Arrived at 7:15 am. Wasn't able to get on a train until 7:55!!! Mind you, race start is at 8:30 am and there were thousands of people behind me. Major backup putting the stupid tickets through the entry. 2. The start area: 18,000 runners. No corrals and no anticipated time signs. Friends and I were unable to find each other. Only pace signs were from Galloway's pace groups and the 3:20 guy started behind the 3:40 guy. What a mess. 3. Finish: After the race you have to stoop down and literally dig through the baggage check (lumped in piles of 100) to find your bag on the ground. Bags were in no order at all. 4. Metro (after the race): Same story. Trains run on their normal Sunday schedule. Every 15-20 minutes, a packed train would come by and if you were pushy and aggressive enough you could wedge your way in. My group (20 of us with over 100 marathons between us) universally agree that this was the worst marathon we've ever run. God bless the Marines, but it's not worth it. | |
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L. A. from Delaware, USA
(10/27/2003)
"OUTSTANDING, I'll be back next year!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Thank you for a incredibly moving & motivating marathon. I now know why it is called 'The Peoples' Marathon'. The moral support from the spectators throughout the course was something I have never experienced. The runner support throughout the course was fantastic thanks to the numerous amount of water & aid stations. The course itself was motivating, winding through the nation's capital. All of this greatly overshadows any of the congestion found at the start and at the finish. I would enthusiasticaly recommend this marathon to any one interested in running a marathon. | |
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J. L. from NY
(10/27/2003)
"Too Much Asphalt and Too Crowded at Finish" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The course rates about a 3 out of 10. Just way too much ashpalt and freeway miles. The organization is not bad but the finish area is way too small to handle the number of runners and spectators. You could not take an unimpeded step once you left the offical finish chute/area and this was only after about 15% of the runners had finished. On a positive note - the spectator and fan support rivals NYC. | |
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David Leech from Brooklyn, NY
(10/27/2003)
"Boring, Boring 19-25" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 It's billed as a scenic race, and indeed the first 19 miles of this race were great... but once you got off the mall, you ran on flyers and highways with zero spectators for the most critical miles, 20-25. What a shame. If they could get spectators out there, it would probably make all the difference, but instead, as my legs gave out, there were no crowds to get me going again. The Marines did an awesome job though. No cocky teenage soldiers here, but men, treating every single runner with respect and enthusiasm. | |
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B. L. from USA
(10/10/2003)
"I felt I was running on concrete the entire race" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 I was very disappointed with the course... after running two NYC Marathons, I was looking forward to this 'scenic' race, but all I saw were concrete highways and overpasses. Plus, the start was chaotic with wheelchairs mixing with the runners... very poor planning. Crowds were great. |
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