May 18, 2024
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☰
Washington DC Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Washington DC Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 3.6 
Spectators 3.9
Number of comments: 84 [displaying comments 71 to 81]
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A Runner from Arlington, VA
(3/25/2002)
 "Good weather, bad organization" (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 I know that this was the inaugural race, but the disorganization was pathetic. The fact that the first few runners got lost on the course says it all. After running the entire race, the last thing anyone wanted to do was wait for two hours to pick up your checked bag. After running the Marine Corps, and having such a wonderful experience both in the city and as fas as marathons go, I will not be quick to sign up for this one again. | |
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A Runner from Baltimore Maryland
(3/25/2002)
 "VERY DISAPPOINTING" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 This marathon was my third, and if it had been my first, I would never run another one. If Washington DC wanted to show the running community it could host a marathon for all levels of runners, they did NOT succeed. Several runners, including myself were running just under a 6 hour pace. Just after crossing the 1/2 marathon mark we were told to move to the sidewalks and grass areas. This was not even at 3 hours into the race! The race officials closed down water stations, put away the gels, took down mile markers, Police officers were no longer stopping traffic, volunteers were gone and no markers left except orange cones stacked on streets, and some left down the middle of the street. Do you know how many street corners have cones in DC? They even locked the portable potties! (Thank you so much you kind people who had finished the race and let me use your bathroom!) We were left on our own to find our way when were were and weren't lost. I'm sure many people turned the corner at mile marker 17 and instead of heading towards 18, just turned and joined the runners at mile 24 (they were within a couple of blocks of each other). The few spectators that turned out for the race were great, but there were very few! The race officials justified the $80 entry fee for all the security for the race. As my support waited at the finish line, he overhead someone remark we have no idea how many people are still on the course -- was there no one following the last person? For those of us who registered early we had the privilege of paying the full $80.00 entry fee. Later registrants received local running club discounts and then just a $60.00 entry fee. That seems fair to me! Neither the expo (which one had to pay $5.00 to park) or the pasta dinner were near the host hotels. I skipped the post race party, deciding it would probably be just as great and as organized as the rest of the race. Don't confuse this race with the Marine Corp, it is nothing like that wonderful race. And for all the complaints Baltimore had for the hills, Baltimore was so much better organized! But at least those of us who finished have a medal that states the inaugural marathon (although DC has hosted other marathons). | |
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A Runner from Northern Virginia
(3/24/2002)
 "Not bad for an inaugural marathon, but seen better" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Lots of info leading up to the race, good start, interesting course (saw parts of DC I'd never seen before). Crowd support was thin, but very enthusiatic where there were people. Lots of first timers, great to see. Finish area was confusing. Major problems with retrieving bags at the end, but sure appreciated the volunteers walking up and down with food and drink for us. A short sleeved T-shirt for an $85 entry fee? Should have been a lot more perks for the price. | |
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Ed from Fairfax, VA
(3/24/2002)
 "Great course, almost perfect org, decent crowd" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my third marathon and I loved the course. It travelled through many parts of DC, showing a variety of neighborhoods and great scenery (as promised). There weren't many hills either, which was very nice. The crowd was much better than I expected for an inaugural marathon and only 8,000 runners (as opposed to the 25,000 at the MCM 2000). Everybody out there supporting the runners were incredible! Thanks for your support!! Organization was great with the one exception being the bag-check. It was horribly disorganized and it was a nightmare trying to get our bags after the race. Organizers need to use a system similar to the MCM where there are rows of tables lined up by number. All in all, it was a great experience! | |
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A Runner from Arlington, VA
(3/24/2002)
"Not suitable for back-of-the-packers!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 The finish was great, set up about a block from the White House at Freedom Plaza. The medals were great too, enameled with the Lincoln monument and Capitol on them. 6 hours was the official time limit for the marathon. And they meant it! I wrote them as soon as the race was announced to ask them to reconsider this limit, but for various reasons they stuck to the time limit. Do not, repeat, DO NOT CONSIDER this marathon next year unless you can run a sub-6-hour marathon with your eyes closed and one arm tied behind your back! They opened the streets at just over a 6:00 pace and moved the slower folks to the sidewalks along Pennsylvania Avenue. Unfortunately for those back-of-the-packers, that meant (after doing 25+ miles on foot) battling heavy pedestrian crowds of sightseers in the middle of downtown and lots of traffic and having to stop and wait at every single block for the lights to change and the cars to stop. I felt truly awful for them, and tried to give them some good cheering as they straggled into the finish line. This is a VERY back-of-the-packer unfriendly race finish unless they make some major changes next year!!! | |
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A Runner from Washington, DC
(3/24/2002)
"Great course; bad baggage." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I just finished this race with four friends and we all had PR's today?weather was great, well staffed water stops, great downhill from 21 to end. Loved the course and the spectator turnout was MUCH better than I was anticipating, after having been 'spoiled' by Marine Corps crowds for three years. Congrats to the organizers, but two comments: add some official food stops and FIX THE BAGGAGE PICK UP! Funnel runners through baggage shortly after finishing, and let us dig for our own bags?we'll spot them much faster than the 1+ hour waits today. | |
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A Runner from Jamaica Plain, MA
(2/27/2002)
 "It should be great!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I am truly hoping that this will be a great marathon! I think it is great that is is being run throughout DC (unlike Marine which is heavily in VA). With 6,000 people already registered, it is much larger than most marathons and is on it's way to becoming one of the super-tanker marathons. The amount of aid stations looks to be substantial so as long as they keep the weather cool for us, we'll be set for a great time! | |
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A Runner from Charlotte, NC
(2/1/2002)
 "Hopeful!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I just registered for this race, and am looking forward to it very much. It will be my 13th marathon, and I have faith it will be terrific. | |
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A Runner from Madison, Virginia
(1/30/2002)
 "Skeptical" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 My biggest concern is that the crowd support will not be that of the Marine Corps. $85 bucks and only one power gel station? With only 6000 or so registered to date, I also worry about attendance. It being my first marathon, I was looking for a large crowd and a large field of runners... | |
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A Runner from Washington, DC
(1/27/2002)
"Too expensive" (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 An $85 entry fee for an untested event around here seems very high to me, and the 'official' explanation for this sounds a little suspect. Who knows? It could turn out to be a great race, but I've got to wonder... |
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