The Marine Corp marathon amazed me with the volume of the crowds and also the ease of the logistics. It was an emotional race for me and I think many others which makes it a particularly unique experience. In terms of logistics, I came in on a Friday and headed to the expo by mid-afternoon. While I didn’t have to wait to get my bib or long-sleeve shirt (which is one of the nicest race shirts I own now), I did have to wait in a long line to check out some socks I bought and overall found the expo too crowded.

Race day I was stressed because the I had to wait about 25 minutes for the metro. This is absolutely the recommended way to get to the start because of traffic and road closures, but I wish I had left myself more time because I found myself anxious about being late for the start. Luckily I didn’t miss my start time. The course is beautiful and I found it much more interesting than a previous marathon I had run in DC (organized by a different organization). The monuments of DC, scenic views of the Potomoac, cheering crowds, and the blue mile are unbeatable.

One criticism I do have is that I had to wait in line at least 5 minutes to use a porter john at an early part of the race, and this was after bypassing previous opportunities because of lines. I’m not sure if this is an anomaly or not, but it was kind of annoying.

Crossing the finish line and having the coolest medal bestowed upon me by a marine was definitely the highlight of the race and a unique experience. I definitely recommend taking the time to chat and thank the service members who make the race possible.