I ran this race in 2012 as my second marathon.

Pros -

1) Social media - MCM is unmatched when it comes to integrating social media into the overall marathon experience. The facebook page in particular kept the training period interesting with ongoing posts and countdowns. I think it really enhances the sense of community in the buildup to the event.

2) Theme - the Marine Corps will inspire you to run your best marathon yet. We had an osprey helicopter fly overhead at the start line and cannons to send us off. The theme was pervasive throughout the course and culminated at the finish with the Iwo Jima memorial and a Marine placing a medal around your neck. You just can't beat that.

3) The course - this is a pretty flat course overall. There's a bit of a hill before you hit Georgetown, but it's nothing major. The killer is the baby hill in the last 385 yards, but of course the Marines are going to make you earn that finish!! You also can't ask for a course more stacked with landmarks than MCM.

4) Spectators - we were on the brink of Hurricane Sandy hitting, but these people came out in full force. The community makes a real effort to participate, and it makes a huge difference in the overall experience.

5) The medal - I am pretty sure this is the best medal I will ever receive at a marathon.

6) Organization - top knotch, from the water stations to the web site to the runner tracking system, everything was very well managed.

7) Post race - MCM gives you a box (or in my case they handed me 2) stocked with much-needed food to refuel. They also handed me protein-fortified gatorades and waters. I was very well taken care of!!

Cons -

1) The course - there are just a couple of small stretches of highway toward the end (after mile 20), with no crowd support. Though I will say that the contrast between the highway and Rosselyn (mile 23) and the highway and the finish (mile 26) is phenomenal. So that could be deliberate planning.

That's really all I have for cons, this is a truly awesome marathon. If you run one race, make it MCM.

This is one of the best marathons that you will ever run. The course is fast and visually interesting. There are activities and music and fans and celebration the entire route. A U.S. Marine in uniform awards you your medal. There is something to keep you going through out this race. This is a disciplined veteran field of runners. Water and aid stations are well placed. The positive atmosphere lifts you up; makes you feel proud.

This was my first Marine Corp, 19th overall. The course is pretty hilly for the first couple of miles and then it is pretty flat. With the coming storm it was pretty windy. I went on Thursday to the expo and it took about 30 minutes to get into the expo because of the security. My biggest complaint is the baggage pickup. Other races I have run the runners are sorted by alphabetical order. For some reason they thought it was a good idea to sort people by race number which is determined by finish time. So when I went to pick up my stuff I stood in a line for 45 minutes at truck 2 while every other truck had no line. The expo was okay, the shirt was real nice as was the medal.

Course was good but the Mall cut-off was too soon and totally unexpected. Food stations on the course were poor. America may run on Dunkin but not marathoners. No Gatorade at finish line and the packaged food was disgusting. I'd rather have bagels, bananas, oranges. The best thing was the jacket at the finish line.

This is a 'MUST RUN' race for any enthusiast. The Marines do an outstanding job on the course and receiving my finishing metal from one was a truly memorable experience.

That said, the logistics leave MUCH to be desired. I walked 2 miles to the start, and the finish was a clogged up mess. The finishing shoot was slammed, the line to the Metro was another mile away and was a wreck! For such a great race in such a terrific city, this was a real disappointment. If the race directors get this right, this could easily be a top 5 marathon in the country if not the world.

My advice is RUN THIS RACE...just prepare for the difficult logistics.

Thanks again Marines. You made this one day I wont soon forget.

The Marine Corps Marathon was my first MCM and my 12th overall marathon. I stayed at the Marriott Courtyard in Roslyn, which made a huge difference after the race as it is literally only 4 blocks from the finishers village in downtown Roslyn.
The Good:
Great organization at the expo and before, during and after the race. Nothing like having the Marines organizing and overseeing the race from start to finish. Packet and shirt pick up at the expo was quick and easy. Nice selection of local and national vendors. The Hurricane Sandy held off and our race was overcast, a bit windy, but rain free. The crowds ere eagerly enthusiastic and plentiful along most of the route. My friends and I walked a little over a mile from the hotel to the start line and that took about 30 minutes due to the darkness, runners and a bus being backed up which blocked the road for a bit. Individual volunteers handed out beer and chocolate or candy along the route, but most appreciatively at mile 20 at Beat the Bridge. Lots of portapotties everywhere. The Dunkin Donuts aid station by mile 24 featured chocolate munchkins, but they may have run out for those back of the pack runners. The course was very nice. We passed most of the monuments and ran in front of the capitol, through Georgetown, Crystal City, Roslyn and along the Mall. Most of the time we ran on pavement and roads. One significant hill by mile 1.5 and another hill after miles 2 or 3, then it was fairly flat to the finish. There is a wicked hill by mile 26 for the last .2 miles, and it was fairly narrow, but well worth it as it signals the finish. It was awesome seeing runners wearing signs honoring active duty, retired or fallen Marines. It was humbling to have a Marine hang my medal, stand to attention and salute me at the finish while he thanked me for supporting the Marines.
The Bad:
Having the expo at the stadium/armory area was a minor pain to get to. The corral start was disorganized. Runners were allowed to line up in the corral they thought was appropriate to their anticipated finish time based on the honor system. Everyone crowded in as the corrals were merged together. This caused me to lose contact with the Cliff Bar pace team in the crowds. They also allowed family and friends into the corrals. This meant strollers, some doublewide, and people standing along the road as we tried to run around them. I admit 99% were in the side of the road by the time I got to the start, but I remember having to side step a non runner more than once. It did a bit lonely alone some parts of the route, but I run alone and without music so it didnt bother me. The hill from the finishers village to the hotel was brutal. I resorted to walking backwards up the driveway, but it was a lot better than standing in Disney-like lines for the Metro to shuttle buses back to DC.
The Ugly:
Not much to talk about as this was a well run event (pun intended).

Unbeliveable experience. I will run this race over and over. There are so many things to see and hear during the race to keep you going. And once you receive your medal and have a Marine Lieutenant salute you there is no better feeling. Thank you Marine Corps.

Marine Corp marathon was huge event. Pain to get around Washington DC area. Hotwired a room in Hilton for $65 near Vienna Station. 2 trains over to Armory for packet pickup took 3 hours round trip. Had to get up at 4am to get on train for arrival at Pentagon by 6am. 2 hours to hang around until race start. Subway note - you only need to buy a one-way ticket per day and you buy your marathon day ticket the day before so you save time. 2 hours wait to get on Rosslyn train back to Vienna. Lotsa travel throws your system timing off so be ready to use the porta-potties along with 25000 others. Marines were great - helpful, encouraging, the pride of our youth. I ran this race in memory of my buddies dad - a WW2 Saipan Marine who was like a second father to me. I don't think I would rush back to do this marathon. Big pain for me to drive 8 hours to run. If I could afford to fly, spend the weekend with wife and fam, it would be ok.

This was one of the most enjoyable races I have run. Inspiring and beautiful course plus great support. Plenty of room on the course compared to other large races. I really enjoyed being able to see the race leaders run past us when we were at mile 5 as they were at 8, coming down the hill into Georgetown.

This is a great marathon, the Marines know how to organize. The best place to both start stay is Residence Inn Marriott ARLINGTON, walk to both start and finish. The tech shirt is very nice and the finisher medal is fantastic. The route is cool running past many large monuments. A little hillier than I anticipated and the hill at the finish is one to remember, but then again marines give enough motivation to definitely carry through with no worries. The crowds are very enthusiastic.

Overall a great marathon. What could be better Marines at ever water station?