I was a little dissapointed with the refreshments, at two consecutive water spots they had run out of water by the time I arrived.

You sent the right message by not cancelling the 2001 MCM. It's spirit and integrity at its best. Fans come out in rain or shine, heat or cold. We love you fans! Crossing the finish line is one of my best experiences. Everyone should run this marathon at least one time. You'll want to do it over and over. I've run 3 MCM's and many more to come. Thank you to the Marines and all involved. You make our country proud.

Mile markers were not consistently marked. Water supply wasn't sufficient for the amount of runners. Wish there had been a results booklet and video, also wish there were more after-race activities. Awards ceremony should be scheduled later to allow more participants to observe.

This is my third marathon but definitely the one I will remember the most. Going around the Pentagon after everything was going on was really emotional. Every single runner around me stopped to look. As we were running through some of the underpasses people would start to yell USA, USA.
The memory I will always take home was the guy dressed in the full firefighter gear. He was dedicating the run to all the firefighters that lost their lives. He was constantly running around me and at times I would run passed him because he had to pull over to put Vaseline on areas where he was chafing. The back of his neck was raw but he did not once take the gear off and he kept on going. That kept me going.
I would recommend this marathon to any first-timer. The Marines put on a great race when they could have canceled it. Furthermore, I came in slightly under 5 hours and had no problems with running out of water or cookies.
I loved the crowds, they really kept you going. But at times they overpowered the race course so that you could not pass other runners.

Interesting course, but this race needs organization. Running out of water can be avoided - but it happened in this race. The Galloway training teams should be coached about etiquette - when a group of 20 or so does their minute walk, everyone in the vicinity has to dodge walkers. It also would help if spectators were separated from runners at the starting line - mass confusion!

MCM 2001 was an emotional experience and full of good cheer and positive energy, coming short on the heels of the 9-11 tragedies. It would have been much easier for them to simply cancel the race, as did the Air Force Marathon and Army Ten Milers this year shortly beforehand. But not the Marines! Helicopters circled overhead the *entire* race, and I was confident they would have been ready in an instant to swoop down on any security problems.

Incredible to run past the shattered Pentagon, 35 yards away, and see a construction worker waving a flag for US -- we should be waving one for HIM!

2001 notes:
The start took 18+ minutes to get over the mats. If you are up against the time limit of crossing the bridge (scheduled for 2PM in 2001) be sure to factor a BIG starting delay in your pace, because they DON'T! If you can't keep up a solid 13 minute pace for 22 miles, think twice before you enter! (I got on the bridge at 2:04 and felt very lucky to have made it).

The Rock Creek Parkway loop was a nice addition (instead of Haines Point), but why, oh why, did they let themselves run out of water!? We went from mile 9 to mile 14 without a drop. When Haines Point reopens I'd recommend including both that loop and Rock Creek and get rid of the endless loops in the Pentagon parking lots (good for logistics, boring for runners).

Special thanks to ALL the Marines who took park, plus special mention for the Potomac Striders who added good cheer those last few tough miles. The folks in Georgetown were also great.

Wonderful that a retired Marine won the race this year - how fitting!

I ran the Marine Corps Marathon three times: in 1992, 1996, and 2000. The latter was the best and will always be special for me for a number of reasons. First, it was the 25th (silver) anniversary of the 'people's marathon', and I was very lucky to have had the honor to run it. Second, I ran it for the memory of my two sisters, Karima and Touriya, who died at the early age of 3 and 1 respectively; and for all the children of the world who met untimely deaths because of illness, accidents, war, famine or other tragedies. Third, it was a salute to our armed forces - here and all over the world - who give their lives to protect our great nation. As usual, the Marines were great in their unlimited support throughout the race, the fans sacrificed their own free time to encourage the runners and cheer them on, and the Marine Corps was the top winner, once again. It was an unusually hot day for October but it was worth it. I will run the Marine Corps as many times as I can and I will always support it.
Rachid Jaafar.

I will start by stating an injury prevented me from running in the 2001 MCM. This review address pre-race organization and deferment policy.

1. After running in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York, Las Vegas and San Diego (Rock n Roll), I was scheduled to run in 2001 MCM. Based upon prior races, the pre-race organization was the absolute worst. The lottery system used by the MCM for entry is horrible. To be selected, one must log on the MCM website at an appointed time and be one of the first of X people to enter information. As one might expect, the website was by no means capable of handling the number of people logging on. This ridiculous process goes on twice before there is an open lottery for selection. Suggestion: do away with the 'first to log on format' and make the entry an open format (i.e., everyone submits entry information by a certain date - via web or mail - and all entrants are then selected at a later date). Don't waste everyone's time with the 2001 process.

2. After hurting myself two weeks before the race, I contacted the race directors by phone to defer my entry until 2002. I was told that I missed the deferment deadline date of September 5. Get with the times and in line with other big time marathons - allow deferment up until the day before the race. In addition, when asked about the location of the deferment policy I was told it appeared in two places: (1) the Washington Post (great for all those not living in DC or reading the Post) and (2) on the Media portion of the Website. Suggestion: Put cancellation policy on FAQ section. I need to confess after much discussion/complaining to a race director, I was granted the deferment for 2002.

With that said - I will run the race next year and hope that the directors will take some constructive criticism to make the race organization better.

I ran the MCM in 1997 in the cold pouring rain. I had a wonderful time and recommend this race to everyone. The marines were present throughout the race, both cheering and running, and their enthusiasm was the inspiration that I needed to help get me across the finish line. I will definitely repeat the MMC and run proudly past the Pentagon just as I will run proudly in NYC this Nov 4, 2001.

A great race for first timers. Crowds are excellent, and is run pretty well considering the number of competitors. Don't run this trying to qualify for Boston unless you can fight the crowds to get up front for the start. The markers set up for your pace prior to race are ignored and you will get stuck behind slower runners if you follow them. Water and aid stations are very nice. Crowding is the only problem.