Great race... lived up to its reputation. It's not a flat course (the first half is pretty hilly), but its VERY scenic. It's a great mix of winding, tree-lined roads, river views, beautiful neighborhoods and national landmarks.

The spectators are not present for the entire course, but when they are around they were LOUD and enthusiastic. My buddy and I running the race had to really make sure we didn't run too hard through the stretches where the spectators were present as they were really pumping us up.

The race was not without drawbacks: Parts of the course were narrow, which made passing difficult and congestion prevalent. There was also a long walk from the Pentagon metro stop to the runner's village, and an even longer walk after the race to the post-party in Rosslyn. The metro was really jammed up after the race, making the trip back to our hotel in DC difficult.

These things were easily overshadowed by the quality of the rest of the race. The weather was also perfect for running and having the marines there handing you your medal right in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial added an emotional touch that is unique to this race.

Highly recommended!

Crowd on course was AWESOME! Everything about this race was exceptional except the bottleneck after the finish. Please, MCM, keep the spectators and crowds out of the runner's areas so we can get our stuff and have room to move before the masses crowd in and force us to come to a standstill while we are sore and tired and need space to breathe and move. We tell you every year. I saw one finisher pass out because she couldn't move and was so crowded by the clueless non-runners inside the finishing area. Why do you allow this to mar an otherwise exceptional race?

I have run this marathon for the past three years. It keeps getting better and better.

This is a fantastic marathon with a great route and tons of fans. Only advice: I stayed in Virginia based on the recommendation of the MCM website, but it would have been better to stay in DC.

I loved this race. It had a perfect blend of a gentle course, amazing sights and great organization.

Favorite Parts: The 20,000-plus participants who seemed to all be happy; the LOUD crowd in Georgetown; running the National Mall; the friendly marines at the water stations; the excellent expo with great MCM jackets and free beer.

Needs work: The exit from the finish area was an insane bottleneck; the public transportation on race day is a big headache; and the pasta dinner had great food but felt too stiff and formal.

We had great luck staying right in downtown Arlington: It is a 20-minute walk to the start, and 5-minute return from the finish - no public transport needed! And if you've ever considered running a race not for time, and with a camera, this is it. I didn't feel half as emotional in Boston as I did at many points during this race! Thank you, DC!

I've run the Marine Corps Marathon two years in a row (2008, 2009) and have nothing but positive comments about the race itself as well as the Marine and spectator support.

26.2 miles is a long way to run, no matter where you are or what the weather is like. Washington D.C. at the end of October has been beautiful and very race-friendly the past couple of years. Spectator support for this race is awesome, with crowds cheering for everyone they see. Marine support at all of the aid stations and before and after the race is fantastic. Most importantly, though, are all of the inspirational people - troops, veterans, and family and friends of our armed forces - who run the marathon. This is simply an event that is worth it on so many levels.

I very highly recommend running this marathon. Expect it to be crowded (some 25,000 people run it), expect to pay a lot for your hotel (it's D.C., after all, on a big weekend), expect some delays and plan accordingly (again, thousands run the marathon and have loved ones with them for support), and EXPECT TO HAVE A BLAST!

THE MARINE CORPS MARATHON IS THE BEST.

I was committed to running this race with a first-time marathoner at a pace far slower than my usual. And boy was I glad that I did.

It gave me the time to appreciate all the things around me, including many fellow runners who had gone through a lot more than merely 16 weeks of marathon training just to be there, as well as those who were running in tribute to those who never will have the opportunity to be there. Couple that with a run through a beautiful city on a gorgeous day, and it made a spectacular way to spend an autumn morning.

Sure, it's crowded - during the race as well as getting to and from it. But you know, it's an event like this - what with Marines offering encouragement throughout the course - that we realize how lucky we are to be able to do the things we do.

My finish time was more than 90 minutes slower than my PR, yet it was one of my most enjoyable marathons ever. If you can only do one marathon, do this one.

This is the Marine Corp Marathon. It will always finish at the Iwo Jima Memorial. This is a relatively small area for 25,000 finishers and family. As long as the finish is at the Iwo Jima Memorial, the finish area and festival will be crowded and have its problems with metro, etc. . This is part of the flavor of the marathon. It cannot and will not change. Everybody should accept this as part of the Marine Corp Marathon experience.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of the MCM:

The Good:
Robi Powers - you rock, dude!
Easy course access, organized start
Fabulous course - second only to Big Sur
Perfect weather - OK, maybe you got lucky
Efficient and polite Marines - makes me proud to be an American
Plentiful, full cups at water stops
The spectators!
The medal - yours and the USAF Marathon's are tops.

The Bad:
There were two porta-potties at one particular stop, and four at most others, meaning eight-minute waits. Really?!
One-hour wait at Metro after the race - made shorter if you discuss "running" with fellow passengers. : - )

The Ugly:
There were 25,000 runners. Often spent more time going around slow and stopped runners than going forward.
Bigger is not necessarily better!