This is a must do marathon if you ever want to see the nation's Capital by foot. You apply when lottery registration opens, and then wait to see if your name is selected. If not, you can always find a bib for sale closer to the race (Sept/Oct), and pay for the bib and transfer fee. I got in via the latter method.
The expo is very large and has many vendors we don't see here at the Honolulu expo. It's a shopper's paradise, so bring lots of cash or credit cards.
The race begins at 8 am. The start line is just outside the Arlington National Cemetery, winds through parts of Virginia, then crosses into Washington D.C. in Georgetown. You tour the mall from the Lincoln Memorial, past the Washington Memorial, up to Capital Hill, and back down past Smithsonian's Museums. Note, there are hills at mile 3 and 8. During the stretch on the Potomac River, President Obama buzzed the race course in Marine One helicopter.
There is a 4 hour pace requirement to beat the bridge at mile 20, otherwise you get swept by the sag wagon bus. Once I made it across the bridge friends were at the end of the bridge, with a full beer, soda, food station. I stopped for my elusive red cup (ahem Alvaro), and talked story, and took pictures for at least 10 minutes. From there you do an out and back through Crystal City, Virginia, then go past the Pentagon.
The race finishes at the Iwo Jima War Memorial. Beware, the last few hundred yards are uphill, about a 80 foot climb. From there it flattens out, and your 50 yards to the finish line. The spectators and Marines form a gauntlet at the end, and it's super loud from all the cheering.
The course is supported entirely by Marines. Lots of aid stations, including water, Poweraide, an orange station, Cliff Shot station, and a Jelly Belly Sports Bean station. After the race, you are handed a Poweraide, bottle of water, and a baggie with pretzels, banana, bagel, Cliff bar, and Jelly Belly Sports Beans. Medals were beautiful, gold with a red lanyard, and the image of the Iwo Jima Memorial.
Oh, and the race temperatures were 50 degrees, with a slight wind near the stretches of water. I recommend you stay in Rosslyn or Arlington area, and walk to and from the start/finish area. Following the race, the Rosslyn streets are turned into the finish festival.
The Metro trains are the easiest way to get around the area, and we made use of a weekly pass that got us everywhere.
This was my last long run before Honolulu Marathon in December. I finished in a easy 4:50, having paced a friend through 14 miles before losing him in the crowd.
http://www.marinemarathon.com
Aloha,
Jeff
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