I ran this race in 2013 and yes, it was VERY cold, probably the coldest marathon I've done to date (out of 43 marathons, guess I've been pretty lucky). I ran this for MD (on my 50 state quest) and for that it was perfect...cheap race registration, easy to get too (cheap flights into the DC area), decent rates on hotels and no annoying 2 night min, though with the late start (10:30) you pretty much have to stay 2 nights if you're not a local, not bad since it's a holiday weekend.

Pros:
Cheap!!!
Nice medal for marathon finishers and long sleeve tech shirt
Nice/pretty course though FDA land...yes, it's a loop you do 3 times, but it wasn't bad and I keep seeing new things
Plenty of water/gatorade/gu support
Fantastic volunteers (who had it worse than the runners due to the cold temps and lack of movement to stay warm)
Post-race food: tasty chili (choice of meat or veggie) and even tastier corn bread...

Cons:
Weather...as I mentioned, it was very cold, but that's un-controlable...just prep for it and suck it up...you're a runner
Hills??? I thought they were rolling (but I'm from San Francisco) and not an issue...hills keep the legs awake, so I welcome them.
Crowd support??? it's a small race and it was freezing out, not a big deal for me and prevents hearing how 'you're almost there' the volunteers are your crowd support and they were great!

Overall a nice, small, well run marathon. The race director (Brian) is great, laid-back, runs a nice race. Would I run it again??? Maybe once I thaw out.

2013 was windy and cold, but the race goes one. This is a no-frills, small marathon that was well organized and worth $50. Website info made the whole experience meet my expectations. Big shout out to the volunteers who braved the windy cold for hours. THANK YOU!

If you read the other comments, you will get a good flavor for this marathon. I ran it as a training run. I can't imagine anyone having this as a goal race. If you are not from DC, note that our weather is horrible this time of year. The race was cancelled in 2010 due to snow. I ran 2013 and the 30 degree temperature coupled with 20+ MPH wind made for a cold face and a challenge to get up the hills. The best word for this marathon is 'bleak.' OTOH, my hat's off to the volunteers who stood out in the wind/cold for hours. As much as I can't figure out why anyone would want to run this marathon, I surely can't figure out how they get volunteers. Those people are awesome!

I've read some of the comments below about the 2012 race and I agree with most of them.

For me, the race fit perfectly in as a 'training run' in a busy training time for an Ultra. I agree it's not a first time marathoners ideal race and if you like spectators, crowds and scenery, this race is not for you. If you've been around the 26.2 block a few times and are looking for a nice Sunday run in the DC area, it is close, easy in and out, cheap, and low pressure. I enjoy the LS Tech Tee, the Ledo Pizza, and 20 minute drive from my house.

Race started at 10:30am which seemed nice for the low pressure but by mile 15 I was ready for lunch. Also no bag check that I could see but car was close enough to drop my bag there. Not sure if I'll do it next year but I am glad it's in the books.

It's a low-key, local marathon at a bargain price on a course without much traffic, but still open to automobiles. It is not a marathon I'd recommend for first timers, as there are few spectators, the aid stations are further apart than at many other marathons, the rolling hills can take their toll and one must be alert for traffic on the two-lane roads.

As an early starter, the complaints of others about the lack of aid for early starters are off-base, as early starters are warned that aid stations may not be open. In fact, in 2012 the first aid station at mile 5+ was operational, unlike in 2011.

It is a well-organized race put on by the DC Road Runners and its team of club volunteers. The race is perfect for those of us in the DC area who want an early year marathon.

But even with the addition of relay runners, the three lap course means that the field of 200 or so gets spread out, so it is not a race for those who like to run in a crowd. And given its small size and rural location spectators are very sparse.

Nice shirt and medal, and excellent indoor post-race meal. Chili in past years. This year three kinds of pizza, plus spaghetti, separate meatballs, garlic bread, cookies and soft drinks.

Overall this was a good race for me, but a bad race in general. I wouldn't recommend for anyone to run this, especially a first timer. I finished fine and in decent shape, plus the weather was nice for February, overcast and cool. So that made for an overall good experience, but the particulars of the race organization were disappointing at best and dangerous at worst. Here is the good, the bad, and the ugly...

THE GOOD
* Great Brooks race shirt with neat graphic.
* It was a cheap race at $45 registration fee, but read on, you get what you pay for
* Traffic was controlled well. Crossing intersections was safe and easy and the officers controlling traffic were enthusiastic for the runners which was even better.
* Nice medal (for those that got one, read on), except the race date isn't on the medal.
* It was a nice course, very pretty, challenging rolling hills, farming landscape. It ran through the US Dept of Agriculture headquarters complex I think, or some main Dept or Agriculture something or other. It was interesting and kept my mind active. The 3 loops weren't boring at all, I got to see what I missed on the second loop and zone out without guilt on the third loop, so it worked out fine.
* Love the late start! It's nice to arrive rested and with plenty of time.

THE BAD
* No signs, no directions, no guidance whatsoever on where to find the start line from the parking area. People were all lost and confused. Some late to the start. No one knew where bag drop was so I ran an extra long warmup to bring my bag back to the car.
* There was no traffic direction at the start. Cars were pushing their way through crowds of runners.
* The relay exchange area had no signs or directions for which way the full marathoners should go (over a timing strip or not), really confusing.
* Hard to tell who worked for the.race. No shirts or name tags to know who was working the race.
* They ran out of post race food. By time I got to the post race dinner most of the food was gone.
* Water stations were far apart. This would be in the ugly list if it were a hot day. I was thirsty many times, but since it wasn't that hot, I didn't get dehydrated. And, no fuel at any station, only Gatorade.
* No expo, only a very disorganized packet pickup without bib pins or walk up registration forms.

THE UGLY
* I got the second or third to last race medal, which means.anyone who suffered through more than 5 hours of running did not arrive at the finish to receive a well deserved medal.
* No porto-johns at the start or finish.... fatal mistake.
* No first aid!! I didn't see any medical tents, or medical assistance of any kind, not even at the finish where a first time runner's knees buckled just before the finish line. He made it across and was helped by spectators, but race officials were not in sight, and no EMTs to be found.
It's shocking that this was a 51st anniversary race! You'd think that they would have improved some of this by now. It was a no frills, small race experience and despite of all the flaws, I am glad I went and I am starting to prefer the smaller races.

Follow my goal to run a full marathon in every state: http://repeatmarathoner.blogspot.com/
'Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.' - T.S. Eliot

I decided to run this race because the cost and size. When I arrived, it was disorganized, I started early because I am not very fast. Thankfully, some in the early group knew the route because it was not marked at all. For the most part, the volunteers were rude and when I asked a question about water (it was mile 11 and I was dying for water) I got a very rude comment from one of those in charge. If you want to run a great small race, I highly recommend VA Beach 50K Trail in December. It was small and the volunteers were beyond spectacular.

Rolling farmland hills, a leeward and windward side to the race, and Hot, Hard Times chili at the end.

Watch out for that last hill - it will get you.

An outstanding technical shirt.

They ran out of medals this year - I'm only a little bummed because they let people like me just show up on race day and register and run, and a lot of people do, so they're never sure how many people will actually run.

I ran this in 2009 as a training run for an ultra-marathon later in the spring. The small crowd of runners, informal atmosphere and challenging course are probably turn-offs for fans of the mega-marathon, but this is exactly the kind of early season training race a hardcore runner will want. Between the hills and the chills (February in DC can be chilly!), it's a tough event for tough runners.

I ignored all of the comments that told me not to run, because it was my first marathon. But it really wasn't that bad. I had a bad first marathon, but I am not going to blame it on the course. I live in a hilly area, so the hills were not that bad at all (not even the one at 25). There were not many spectators there, but the ones that were could not have been more supportive. I probably will do this marathon again.