This year's weather definitely made it a wild ride (alternating drizzles and downpours for the first few hours, ankle-deep water in a few parts of the course, and then suddenly 70s and humid when the sun came out), but it was an incredible race overall. This was my first marathon and the MCM is a very beginner-friendly race. The course is pretty flat overall with beautiful scenery through DC. Not to mention it is incredibly energizing to run with a field than big and so much fan support at nearly every mile. The Blue Mile and Marines manning aid stations and handing out the medals at the end make for a meaningful experience. Highly recommend!

(My only reduced stars for parking/access are partially because this race is so big. While the metro opens early to get you there, there's a decent walk to the start line and after the finish line. Can be tricky-ish to meet back up with people.)