The Marine Corps Historic Half is held in May in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The course starts and finishes near the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center, which is at the end of a large shopping area (think about a 2 mile drive past several retail complexes) so there is more then ample parking, but expect backups and delays getting there and leaving, so give yourself plenty of time to get to the race site. Many people delay their departure by going for lunch at one of the 20+ nearby restaurants. There are also shuttles provided from several nearby hotels for both participants and spectators.

The course takes you by several historic landmarks and local sites such as Mary Washington College, Sunken Road (a famous Confederate stronghold during the Civil War), Kenmore Plantation, and downtown Fredericksburg. Almost all roads are closed to traffic, and there is ample police support (and the Marines) to help participants through intersections. The race has a large number of spectators throughout the course.

Preparing for hills is an absolute must on this course. There are several areas with rolling hills or long uphill or downhill stretches, especially the infamous Hospital Hill. That hill runs between mile 10 and 11 and is a long, steep, uphill climb that challenges all participants. Also, expect anything for the temperature- you can have heat and humidity, or cool rain- it changes year to year.

The race has a self-seeded corral start, and a generous walker-friendly time limit. The Marines wait for the last person to finish, and will march in with that person- an awesome site to watch if you are still in the area.