After writing my Marine Corps Marathon recap, I realized that I was pretty critical of the race. While it was definitely not my favorite (read more here), I do think it’s a good race and would encourage others to run it. I thought I’d share five things to love about the Marine Corps Marathon. There are many, but I limited this list to just five.
- Running in DC is awesome. It is very easy as a DC resident to get jaded about running in this city. The truth is, most weekends, my runs take me past monuments and memorials. Since I’m so used to seeing them (I can literally step into my street and see the Capitol Building), it can sometimes seem common place. However, I know that I am blessed to live here and that to many folks seeing the monuments of DC can make the race. This is a definite highlight and makes the race special.
- The military is awesome. I’m a military brat so anything military related fills me with pride and respect. Having a marine place a medal over my neck was incredible. Seeing so many military men and women running, cheering and serving the runners was an incredible experience – words can not even say how powerful this was.
- The blue mile is gut wrenching. The blue mile is the stretch during mile 12 where the course is dotted with pictures of fallen service members. It’s a quiet and stark reminder that we are running for something much bigger than ourselves. It was all I could do to hold back tears.
- The course isn’t easy. There’s a certain respect you garner when you tell folks that you ran the Marine Corps Marathon. Folks know that anything the Marines take part in ain’t gonna be a piece of cake. I kind of like that!
- The crowd support is fantastic. There were very few quiet parts of the course and I appreciated that. Having spectators cheer and clap and yell can make a huge difference in a marathon. Once you get off Haines Point, there are spectators all the way up to the bridge. And then once you (thankfully) get off the bridge, Crystal City is packed with folks. It really helps!
What is something you love about your favorite race?
I would love to run the MCM. The Blue Mile, the most meaningful mile, is my favorite portion of the Seattle Half Marathon. I bet it was amazing running this race, and right there in DC. Honoring the Marines is also my favorite part of the Laguna Hills Memorial Day Half Marathon.
diane recently posted…The First 5 Things I Learned About Trail Running
I feel that the most amazing thing about a race is always the crowd. Running through a new city is always fun. I have never raced in DC, it seems that it would be pretty awesome. I will try to squeeze a DC race in my schedule soon!
Nadia recently posted…FIVE Things to have in your PAIN CAVE
Yea, DC is a great city to run in. I think folks are surprised at how green it is!!
Sounds like a good one! It is definitely on my list of marathons to run! Fantastic crowd support makes a race great.
Sherry recently posted…Friday Five: Five Halloween Quotes
The spectators were one of the best at MCM. It keep you motivated to continue on when you hear all the energy from the crowd.
It really is one of the most amazing courses! You are so lucky to get to run around such amazing sites every day!
Marilyn recently posted…FIVE THINGS FRIDAY – DISNEYLAND EDITION
I really need to come run in DC-it looks so amazing!
I think you’d LOVE it!!
I love MCM. I’d run it every year if it was a spring marathon LOL. Such a great course and amazing spectators!
MCM Mama Runs recently posted…5 Things I Learned from 5 Marathons
Lol. So what’s your spring full?? 🙂
All 5 reasons are perfect for this race! I’ve never run it, but if I was to pick a marathon… this might be it. Congrats!
Patty recently posted…My Favorite Halloween Costumes | Friday Five
Running past all those monuments would definitely be wonderful. While your experience wasn’t great I can fully understand why people would love this race. Have a great weekend !
Karen @ Fit in France recently posted…Friday Five : I survived !
I don’t think you were being overly critical! It sounds like a tough race, and it’s hard to be super excited about things that you see every day. I realized that running races here in Anchorage is not as much fun as I thought it would be because all the races take place on my usual running routes so I just feel like it’s another day out on the trails. I am super jealous you get to see so many amazing things on your daily runs!
Kristen recently posted…Friday Five: Five Things to Do This Halloween Weekend
I’ve heard so many great things about this marathon – I really hope I can do it someday!
Karien @ Running the race recently posted…Five Must-do Running Adventures
I thought your recap was fine, but you nailed the great reasons to do MCM. I can imagine the Blue Mile would be so emotional.
Coco recently posted…Five Reasons To Cheer On Marathon Runners
My favorite race moment was seeing my 88 year old mom at the halfway point of the Boston Marathon this year. Getting a big hug from her helped power me to the finish!
Pam and Christine recently posted…Goals for NYC Marathon
This is funny because running in DC made my Friday Five this wek! I ran my first full in DC back in March. I also agree up in the military family and it was an amazing experience. The wear blue mile during my marathon really stuck with me. MCM is on my bucket list, I hope to run it soon!!!!
Jess @ Jess Runs Atlanta recently posted…Friday Five: Favorite Runs
I agree the crowd support at MCM is fantastic. I think that is what powered me to my marathon PR in 2013. Good recap of the event highlights! Thanks for sharing!
Kelli recently posted…Run-fessions after a running hiatus…
It sounds like despite everything you had a really good weekend. I’m really happy for you and this does sound like such a great race!
Hollie recently posted…Blogging Through Life
It totally agree with you that these are 5 reasons that MCM rocks. I loved that race, though there were some things that could have been improved (as with just about any situation). I am behind in catching up due to vacation, but congrats again, and now I have to read your recap to find out what happened!
Susie @ Suzlyfe recently posted…Copycat Gluten Free Vegan Chorizo Recipe and Grand Rapids Friday Favorites!
Yes to all of these! While I know you didn’t love your MCM race this year, I think it’s a race for everyone’s bucket list. Definitely a very unique race experience.
Christine @ We RUn Disney recently posted…Analyzing my Marine Corps Marathon
I’d love to run in DC but I don’t see if often. I’m bored with Dallas since I see it every day. I love racecations since I can see the cityscape and love running through it without getting used to it. That happened in Boston and I didn’t appreciate running in Boston until I visited after moving.
Lesley recently posted…Favorite Halloween Costumes
These are all a lot of the reasons why I plan to run it one day.
Many times I’m in DC, I think how awesome it would be to live in the city and run past them. I often look at areas and think “this would be cool to run. ooo… that over there too!”
John @ run. geek. run(disney) recently posted…Why to Apply to be a BibRave Pro | #FridayFive
all excellent reasons!! The Blue Mile was definitely the most heartwarming and emotional point of the race for me last year.
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Friday Five: Embracing the Taper
Great list! The MCM is definitely on my bucket list!
Betsy recently posted…Fashion Files Friday: Happy Halloween!
I’m so conflicted about MCM. It’s my pie-in-the-sky bucket list race. But I hate… HATE… big races and huge crowds. I get a lot of pre-race anxiety and all the people make it even worse. BUT, I love DC. I love honoring those that serve our country, and I just feel like it’s my race to run.
Happy Friday!
Rachel recently posted…5 Things I’ve Learned About Myself Through Recovery [Friday Five]
I’m very highly considering running a marathon next fall as a way to help motivate myself to get back to running again after the baby is born. Sadly, I don’t think MCM is going to work with our calendar (our deferred Wine and Dine Half Marathon is the following weekend). But maybe I’ll run it down the road!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Friday Five – Potpourri v. 7
Ooooohhhh that’s exciting!! What races are you considering??
These are all great things about the MCM! I really love all the crowd support and how easy it is to spectate. It’s definitely a fun race for cheering people on as well. And running in DC is awesome. I forget about that sometimes but it’s a good thing to remind ourselves.
Chaitali recently posted…Friday 5 – motivational running songs
I don’t think I could hold it together for the blue mile. Wow. What a great way to honor our fallen service members. I think I’ve shared that my husband and both brothers-in-law are Marines so this race holds a special interest for me and would love to run it some day. Thanks for sharing your favorites!
Angie @ Pace with Grace recently posted…Link-Up ~ Friday Favorites
Oh then you pretty much HAVE to run it, girl. It’s so special in so many ways. The blue mile was so intense. Have a great weekend!
I would love to come visit DC sometime…perhaps not for the race, but to just visit the city. Maybe 10 or 11 years ago my friend and I had a trip planned over US Thanksgiving to visit but we had to cancel when she had to go out of town for work. Hopefully there will be an opportunity in the future!
Have a great weekend!
Leana recently posted…Five Friday Favorites
I did the Marine Corps Marathon in 2012 and absolutely loved it!! It was such a beautiful and inspiring race. I was amazed at how many people were lining the course cheering & all of the very entertain race signs! I am hoping to make it back there to do it again in the future.
sounds like a great race, and just reading about mile 12 made my stomach clench. so moving. my favorite part of my favorite race is running through the castle at the disney half. i’m disney obsessed, so it was so cool to get to do!
brittney @ corral b recently posted…friday five: things to do on halloween
Sounds like a great experience! The blue mile definitely sounds like something that truly makes this race special! I love races because they are always in different locations I get to be at and enjoy a variety of views on my run. My recent race was right by the beach! So it was nice to see the view of the waves so calm and seagulls flying over head. Happy that you found positive things about a race you didn’t enjoy too much at the beginning!
Caroline S. recently posted…Thursday TryOuts (1) – Halloween Horror Nights
One day I’ll get there! It sounds like such an amazing experience.
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…Runfessions – October 2015
Hi Courtney,
I ran just ran MCM-my first ever Marathon. I loved DC, the Marines, the crowds, and the course, so I could not have picked a better race to be, as Barry White would say, “My first, my last, my everything”. I read your recap of MCM post, and I agree the start and finish were not as organized as I expected from what I had read online prior to, but never running a race of this magnitude before I didn’t have anything to compare it to, so It seemed par for the course. I finished saying I would NEVER run another marathon again, and I was told many times, “do you know how many people have said that and yet they line up for MCM year after year. I don’t like the marathon. I’ve done one 1/2 , and I like that distance. Having said that, the first thing I did when I got home-yep, looked up the Philly marathon. I don’t think I can pull off 2 marathons back to back, nor do I want to put myself through that distance again, but I am seriously considering the Philly 1/2. The course for both races is awesome. Besides the 26.2 (I clocked 26.97 at MCM), I don’t want another marathon to ‘cloud’ my memory of MCM, especially right now. That race was an experience and memory that equates to my wedding.
I love your insight! I would love to run DC soon – applying for the Cherry Blossom lottery as soon as it opens, so maybe this will be the year 🙂 I honestly can not imagine running the Blue Mile – I cry at every military homecoming video I have ever seen despite not having a close friend or family member serving. Alligator tears, for real. I am not sure I would be able to function during that last mile with all the pictures along the way. Talk about inspiring though! Congrats on your finish!
Brandi @ Java & Sole recently posted…Friday Five: 80’s Throwback
I loved MCM! Must respect the distance, No words to express running the Blue Mile…Weary at the end but it’s the Marine Corp Marathon so what did I expect . ..I would run it again especially since you gave me 5 more reasons !
It seems like MCM is a lot like Chicago…big race, lots of crowd support! I’d love to do this one!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Runfessions: Hold on to that feelin’
I’d love to run the MCM sometime! That blue mile would kill me! I get so emotional when I run anyways and I’m sure I’d be a mess. Thanks for sharing such a great race!
Kate @KateMovingForward recently posted…Friday Loves: Choosing Joy
I can only imagine how touching the blue mile must be. Only being to DC a few times in my life, I think I would really enjoy the sights at this race!
HoHo Runs recently posted…Five Runfessions (October)
I love many things about NYC – especially the crowd support in every borough. My fave mile is #8 on Lafayette Street in Brooklyn and the finish in Central Park.
Erica @ Erica Finds recently posted…Friday Finds: My Top 5 NYC Marathon Tips!
Agree!!
I just said that the Blue Mile was the most memorable mile that I have EVER ran. Seeing those signs along the road made me want to cry. Then to come out into the sea of American Flags and the high fives from those in Blue was more special that I can fully articulate.
I am so beyond blessed to be able to say that I ran the Marine Corps Marathon!
I love races with great crowd support, and it would be so amazing to run in DC for such a great cause!!! 🙂
Emily recently posted…Exploring My Favorite National Park
MCM is the only marathon I have run to date. As a military spouse, it was a really special event to take part in and I’m not sure how other marathons would measure up to it. The Blue Mile is gut-wrenching and so, so powerful. So, if I ever decide to run another marathon, I think I will stick to MCM simply because of the strong military connection and vibe you get from start to finish.
Lisa @ Lisa Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…Five Reasons to love your BOSU Balance Trainer!
As you know this is my favorite race. The sense or Patriotism at this rate is not to be missed. Definitely powerful and bigger than any of us!
After hearing about so many great things about that race, I am really really wanting to run it now! Maybe in the next year or two, after I get a few more marathons under my belt.
Tedi @ Running with Infertility recently posted…Things That Are The Dreaded Two Week Wait
All of this is why I want to do MCM again one day.
Abby @ BackAtSquareZero recently posted…Loving Lately – October 2015
Yeah I think I’d do it again!
I did the Jacksonville Marine Corps Half Marathon in October and I agree it was an awesome experience. Anything that celebrates America and the people fighting for it is fine by me!
Faith @ Run the day recently posted…Recap of Evergreen Pumpkin 5k
Exactly!! Sounds like that was a great race!
Last Sunday I posted my ten favorite MCM memories after running this race ten times, and we’ve got some of the same things!
Thanks for the linkup!
debbie @ Deb Runs recently posted…What? Deb In A Costume…
I loved your post!