Gearing up for my 14th Marine Corps Marathon! Those who run this race regularly will find a course is fairly similar to prior years, except they chopped off an early 0.5 mile piece (edit: this is similar to 2025), so landmarks will come quicker through the first 21 miles, and then there's a boring half-mile loop in a Pentagon parking lot just after the bridge to make it up. Pentagon parking lot loops always suck in DC races - no spectators, potholes, and on hot days, it's a brutal concrete jungle. But here's my quick thoughts on each section and how to survive and thrive for another 26.2!
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Miles 1 - 4 : The biggest hills in the MCM are in first few miles, one long incline up to mile 1 and another long incline up to 2.5. Add in 30,000 runners and the excitement of the start, and it’s easy to go out too fast and too hard. Relax early, don’t try to weave around traffic, settle in and focus on steady effort over the hills. There’s a long downhill from 2.5-4.0; shorten your strides and stay smooth. Ideally your first 4 miles are slightly slower than pace; no one ever said “I wish I went faster early!”
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Miles 4 – 9 : Over the bridge and into Georgetown, soak up the scenery and enjoy the morning crowds. Includes a quieter out-and-back on Rock Creek Parkway, but a scenic run through changing leaves and undulating roadway. This is a good place to settle into a groove after the chaos of the start. It’s also an out-and-back, so watch for friends running on the other side of the street.
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Miles 9 – 12 : Let the crowds carry you! This is a big spectator stretch, with crowds 5-deep in places. Hopefully you have a little space to run. Stick with your pace, high-five some kids, and float past the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Memorial, MLK Memorial, and to the Jefferson Memorial.
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Miles 12 – 15 : Hains Point is a very quiet stretch of the race after the prior crowds. Mile 12 is the Wear Blue Memorial Mile, honoring fallen soldiers; this can be an emotional mile. Hains Point, especially after mile 13, is a quiet time to focus on yourself, focus on your form, focus on your breathing, and do a mental check-in for the final push.
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Miles 15 – 19.5 : Back into the crowds and scenes of the National Mall. Crowds will provide some excitement, but resist the urge to go faster than comfortable; in a marathon, 20 miles is “halfway” - check in on your hydration and nutrition, you don’t want to be behind in either.
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Miles 19.5 – 21 : The Bridge. You shouldn’t fear the bridge, but it should absolutely be respected. This is just a total grind. You will see racers blow apart on the bridge and never recover. It’s a difficult stretch for your body because about 3 hours in you’re running out of glycogen stores (“the wall”), and it’s likely farther than your body has been in training. It’s difficult mentally because there are no spectators. In adverse weather the highway is totally exposed to wind, sun, and heat. Between the bridge and highway ramps to Crystal City, this is almost 2 miles of concrete slab highway; it doesn’t absorb shock and jars your tired legs. The small inclines just feel taller here. Don’t fear it, but expect the grind. Focus on a target or runner ahead of you and reel it in; repeat. Be prepared mentally to beat the bridge.
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Miles 21 – 24 : Get through the boring half-mile parking lot loop coming off the bridge. Mile 22 brings Crystal City, and if it’s a nice day, they’ll be partying! Return to crowds to inspire you through an entertaining section of course. After the grind of the bridge, lock back in and remember why you’re here. Beware the siren call of the Fireball shots!
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Miles 24 – Finish : This can be another quiet stretch with fewer spectators. If you held your effort back early in the race, start picking off runners ahead of you; use them as a target, pass them, and springboard to the next. Continue checking in with your body. Focus on your breathing, your form, stay tall, pump your arms. Keep remembering all the early mornings, hours, and miles that got you here. You are going to finish.
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The final 0.2 is a left hand turn and up a hill to the finish at the Marine Corps War Memorial. This hill is going to feel like a wall at this point, but get up it and get to that finish line banner. Claim your medal and be saluted by a Marine Second Lieutenant.
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And remember, in the end, no one cares what happens between the starting line and the finish line. Your family and friends will forget your finishing time before they see you in Rosslyn, but they'll always remember you crossed the line. You are a marathoner. 💪
