The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) was one of my bucket-list races, and it did not disappoint! I ran this race last year just two weeks after the Chicago Marathon, and was so glad to have had the chance to participate in this great race.

Race Registration: Registration is by lottery, but there are a few other options available. Three thousand spots are made available to Active Military/Reserve, and ‘Four Star’ registration packages are available, but can cost upwards of $2000! MCM offers the ‘Access Granted’ 17.75K race in March, where all finishers receive a guaranteed entry into the MCM. This was the option I chose, but if that is the route you want to take, be aware that the 17.75K sells out in minutes! Bib transfers for the MCM are allowed.

Pre-Race Notifications: I received my confirmation e-mail when I registered using my Access Granted pass. A few days later I received an e-mail notification with information about my bib, packet pick-up, and a few more logistics about the race. Not much communication was received via e-mail after that.

Parking/Hotels: The race starts and ends in Arlington, Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC. There are myriad options for hotels in the area. In general, parking and hotels in the DC area is expensive. However, there are cheaper options if you stay in the outskirts. Public transportation is very easy to navigate, so that is a great option for those looking to save a few bucks.

Race Expo: The expo was held at the Gaylord National Resort Convention Center in Oxon, MD. We took the Metro to the Eisenhower stop where lines of luxury buses were waiting to shuttle runners to the expo. The entire trip including the Metro took just 30 minutes, and was well worth avoiding DC's Friday rush hour traffic. The expo itself was smaller than I had imagined. It was not crowded at all. Packet pickup was extremely quick, and rather than choose shirt sizes at the time of registration, shirts were available to try on in all sizes. There was an ample supply on Friday evening before the Sunday morning race.

Race Swag: Runners received a neon-orange long-sleeved technical shirt. I liked it; my son hated it (because of the color). The finishers’ medal, however, is AMAZING!

Race Morning: Public transportation is the best bet. There was a Metro station immediately outside of our hotel, and the Metro opens extra early to allow for the added traffic on race morning. It’s best to load up your Metro card a day (or two) BEFORE the race, as we had the foresight to do. The lines to buy and/or load Metro cards on race morning were outrageous. We only had to travel one stop from Pentagon City, where we were staying, to the Pentagon stop. We got off the train and to Runner's Village, a little over a mile from the train station.

The Race: Directly from the MCM website: Hosted in the nation's capital with the start and finish in Arlington, VA, the Marine Corps Marathon offers an unparalleled journey through the most recognizable landmarks in our country. Begin the run situated between the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery, continue through Rosslyn before journeying into the District to tour Georgetown and the National Mall on the way to 'beating the bridge.' Enter Arlington and pass the Pentagon, tour Crystal City, and finish uphill (you read that right) at the Marine Corps War Memorial.

The infamous "Wear Blue Mile" comes up at about Mile 11. It is a very quiet and solemn part of the course. There is an entire mile of the course lined with posters showing pictures of falling military along with their names, ages, and were they gave their lives in service to our country. Immediately after the signs were tons of volunteers holding full-sized American flags, cheering us on and giving us words of encouragement.

Porta-potties/Aid Stations/Security: Given the area of the country and the magnitude of this race, there was a very strong police presence. Water and Gatorade Endurance is available throughout most of the course, as are a good number of porta-potties. However, there was NOTHING available on the 14th Street Bridge (as in the famous ‘beat the bridge’), which starts at about Mile 20. Let me tell you, that bridge is hell. It seems like a mountain, and it seems to last forever. It is pure concrete with not a porta-potty, water station, or millimeter of shade in site. It was extremely hot and sunny the day of the race. Luckily I had my own water supply.

Spectators/Fan Support: There is a good amount of fan support throughout the race, with many ‘incidental’ spectators who just happen to be visiting the DC area. There are bands playing almost every mile along the course, though spectator support is almost non-existent between Miles 20 and 22. It then picks up again as the runners arrive at Crystal City. Fan support continues to build from that point until the end of the race.

Post-Race: There is nothing more special or moving than having a uniformed, active-duty Marine place a finisher’s medal around your neck! The post-race festivities are one big party with lots of excitement and fun! The area is not huge and it is very crowded, but since I am a slower run, the crowds were starting to thin by the time I arrived.

Race Management: The race is extremely well managed. After all, it’s the Marines!