Marine Corps Marathon #2 — Marathon #108

This was my second Marine Corps Marathon, and I had such a great experience! I ran it last year and loved the course, and once again, the weather was perfect. We flew American Airlines and had a nice, short flight to D.C. This year, our logistics were much smoother compared to last year. We hopped on the shuttle for a quick 10-minute ride to the A.C. Marriott hotel. The only difference was the hotel itself—I swear I booked the same one as last year! I even asked the person at the desk if I was in the right place. It turned out to be an even better location, with the metro connected directly from the garage level below, so we didn’t have to walk outside. We arrived at 7:30 a.m., and our room was already ready for us!

The Expo

We took the metro to the Eisenhower Station, where comfortable coach buses drove us to the expo. We laughed, saying, “Wow, this is so much better than last year! Remember waiting outside in that huge line that wrapped around the block?” But as we got closer to the entrance, we realized the line was just as long—this time, it was inside. We waited about half an hour, and then it started moving quickly. We were greeted by Marines in camouflage uniforms, and I immediately teared up—they reminded me so much of my son, who just completed basic training and was now stationed at Fort Drum, NY. The expo was crowded, but I managed to grab a nice 50th-anniversary jacket and some fun swag, including a red, white, and blue lunch bag!

Fallen Heroes

Before the race, we received an email inviting us to request a “Fallen Hero” to wear on a bib on our backs. We looked them up, learning their ages and stories—it was incredibly moving and sad. I carried the name of a fallen hero, SPC William Lee Bailey III with me throughout the race, and knowing his story made every mile feel more meaningful.

Pre-Race

We had a quiet day watching Netflix and then went out to dinner at Federico Ristorante Italiano, an authentic Italian restaurant. They didn’t take reservations, so we waited about 30 minutes, but it was worth it—the food was fantastic! I even saved some leftovers for post-marathon recovery.

Race Morning

I’d read online that the marathon added 10K runners this year, bringing the total to 40,000. They warned to arrive early to the Athlete’s Village—and they weren’t kidding! We got there at 6 a.m., thinking it was plenty of time, but spent almost an hour in the bathroom line before heading to the UPS trucks to drop off our bags. Then we joined a sea of runners heading to the staging area. We didn’t make it to our corral in time and had to start with the next wave.

The course was packed early on—whatever pace the person in front of you ran, that was your pace unless you managed to weave through. Kim and I zigzagged around runners for the first mile before settling in. Those first few miles are hilly! We started around a 9:30 pace, and once the crowd thinned, I picked it up a bit.

The cool air felt amazing as my body warmed up, so off came the gloves and extra shirt. The Marines along the course were so encouraging—it brought tears to my eyes more than once. They’re so young, and their presence meant so much.

As I ran through certain sections of the course, I could almost feel a gentle push—like someone was right there with me. It made me wonder if SPC William Lee Bailey III, the fallen hero whose name I carried was running beside me in spirit. That thought stayed with me for miles, giving me strength and a deep sense of connection.

The crowd support was nonstop, and the miles flew by. I remember thinking, “Remember how you feel at mile 11,” because it was pure joy. I dedicated miles to my son and daughter, which kept me in such a happy place. The spectator signs were hilarious—lots of government shutdown jokes and the classic “Don’t poop your pants” ones.

Parts of the race reminded me of the Philly Marathon with the out-and-back section along the water—really pretty—and even Vermont City in some parts. There were narrow stretches, though, where it was tough to move.

The Blue Mile

This section was absolutely heart-wrenching. Photos of fallen heroes lined both sides of the road. Many runners stopped to cry or take photos. The only sound was the soft rhythm of footsteps. Two hand cyclists rolled by slowly, looking at the faces. It was a powerful and emotional experience I’ll never forget.

Toughest Sections

The highway stretch heading back to the finish was my least favorite. My watch kept chiming off miles, but the markers were nowhere in sight. I knew that the weaving back and forth would add to my miles and make the 26.2 more like 26.6. We’d read to save our water cups from mile 18 because the bridge water stop at mile 19 wouldn’t have cups—they didn’t mention we’d have to climb over a concrete barrier to get it!

Crazy Things I Saw

• A man running shirtless—in jeans!

• Another man running in flip-flops.

• A runner accidentally throwing water in another runner’s face (and getting called an “f’ing asshole” for it).

• A guy falling while posing for a photo.

• A hand cyclist yelling at runners to move and clipping people’s sneakers when they didn’t.

The Finish

The finish of the Marine Corps Marathon is unforgettable. The final climb to the finish line is steep, but the Marines lining both sides were shouting, “You got this!” I crossed the line and immediately started crying. Young Marines were placing medals on runners, and I told one of them, “My son is a soldier too,” before completely losing it.

I have a whole new appreciation for these young Marines. They reminded me so much of my son—their pride, respectfulness, and dedication were incredible. You could tell how much they cared about making sure everyone was safe and supported. Seeing them out there, giving their all for us runners, was truly humbling.

Afterward, we walked quite a distance to get our special-edition 50th-anniversary fleece blankets and red ponchos with the Superman logo—so cool! Near the UPS trucks, they handed out small watermelon containers, and I swear it was the best watermelon I’ve ever had.

Finally, we headed out to catch the metro—but the line was unbelievable. So, we switched to the shuttle line, which was just as long, but at least they were nice coach buses. We were told those were the only two ways out since the walkways were closed. When we finally boarded, we noticed we weren’t moving. Kim joked, “Maybe all the shuttles go together.” He was right—we had a police escort! Two motorcycles rode ahead, blocking intersections for us, then leapfrogging forward again. It was so cool—I completely forgot about the chaos of getting there.

Would I Run It Again?

Probably not—unless my son decides he wants to run it with me. Then I’d be back in a heartbeat. ❤️