Woo! First! Can't believe I'm the first to review this AMAZING race. If you can't get into the marathon, this race is definitely the next best thing. You get almost the full experience of the marathon but with the 10k distance.

Check out my full race recap on my blog: http://thriftyrunner.blogspot.com/2015/10/marine-corps-marathon-10k-2015.html

The expo is always amazing. (Check out the review for just the expo on my blog at: http://thriftyrunner.blogspot.com/2015/10/marine-corps-marathon-expo-2015.html) So much to do, see and try! Lots of companies give out samples of their product (like chews, beans and hydration--Clif and Nuun are there pretty much every year.) Getting your bib and shirt is always a breeze. First you get your bib then go to another table for your shirt before you head into the expo itself. It's also a great place to see the latest and greatest running related products on the market. This is the ONE expo I look forward to the most in the 4 years I've been running the 10k.

The shirt is always amazing too--it's a long sleeved mock neck fleece sweatshirt with the Marine logo embroidered on the neck. (It's somewhat tight fitting, but makes a great base layer on chilly morning runs!) If you're a woman definitely go one size down in these unisex shirts. (I'm usually a medium but always get smalls in the shirt.)

The race itself is always amazing. Take the metro to get there plenty early--I recommend getting there at least an hour early. (In 2015 I got off at the Smithsonian stop for my warm up walk and stopped at one of the portajohns on the course rather than the ones with the crazy long lines on the mall itself.) Due to the Boston bombings they now have security areas for you to go through to get to the starting area which is gated off. For the marathon they have metal detectors to walk through, but for the 10k they used wands. You can get through the line much faster if you don't have a bag to check. (Spectators: Avoid going through this part completely and cheer for your runner along the course or wait for them at the end!)

The course is awesome. You get to see some of the DC monuments--the Washington Monument, the US Capitol building and the Smithsonian castle. The race itself starts outside one of the National Galleries of art. (If it's a rainy morning, the overhang is an excellent place to stay dry until the race starts!) The only hard hill is right at the end leading to the Iwo Jima memorial. It's a very steep incline which can be difficult to actually run up but the crowds of spectators and marines are very encouraging to make you at least TRY for it. Since the race ends at the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington, which makes for some great post-race pictures with your new medal (given to you by a marine) which is always awesome!

Post-race support is also awesome, although this is where things can get a little dicey for a different reason. There are usually people who take several boxes of snacks, bananas, protein shakes, or whatever is being offered. Please take one!! There are plenty to go around for 10k runners and more snacks coming as you head towards the metro. (These snacks also have to go to the marathoners and frequently they run out as the last of the marathoners come through.) One of my favorite snacks though is the watermelon. I always look for the watermelon girls beyond the bridge. They have trays of little plastic boxes of watermelon that always taste amazing after the race! Then there are usually more vendors offering freebies. (This year Wegmans was there and had coupons for free yogurt and snack bars and Blue Lizard was there giving out samples of sunscreen!)

I totally recommend this race. The entire experience from the expo to the end is amazing. I've run it 3 years in a row now and plan to make this year my 4th. If you haven't run it yet or didn't get into the marathon, I highly recommend registering for it when it opens in May! (This race also typically doesn't sell out right away. My Dad and I have registered for it as late as September without any problems.)