Marine Corps Marathon - RunMarathon

I signed up for this race knowing that it would be 2 weeks after the Baltimore marathon, but I had heard a lot of good things about the race and since it was local I wanted to give it a shot. I also found out in the last few years that my Dad had actually signed up and trained for the MCM but had injured himself doing his training and had to opt out of it.

So after signing up I thought that I would run this one for him since he will not have an opportunity to run one with some later injuries and leg issues that he has had. It would be the first race that I have run in where the motivation was something outside of myself, and it actually had me going into the race with a lot more positive aspect and excitement to be in the field.

I lined up just outside of the 3:10 group and when the gun went off I fell right into an easy groove. On this course, you get the bulk of the hills early and they are actually basically over by mile 8 or so! In fact, when we went to make the turn to go up the hill back to Georgetown the people in the 3:10 group were all like "This is it!" And I looked around and said, "What is it?" The people around me said, "This is the last hill!" Holy crap! Well, that was anti-climactic! I'm so used to Baltimore and Boston where the hills beat the crap out of you from 16 - 20 miles!

After about 10 miles I let the 3:10 group go as I knew that there was no way I could hold that pace to the finish, but I wasn't feeling bad. Went through the hal point at 1:35:XX so was still on a great pace, although I was starting to tire. Lack of mileage, lack of fitness and not being fully recovered from Baltimore was catching up quick. We also turned back into the wind - which was picking up - at the half mark. I "put the head down" mentally and pushed through the wind to get back into DC for the Mall and monument portion.

By mile 16 or so I was really starting to tire. I was still under 7:30 pace easily, but the legs were definitely cooked. There was no way I was holding that until the end. Much like Baltimore the legs were telling me they were done. No cramps or twinges, just no more pop and the stride was shortening up. It was all thinning out quite a bit around this portion. Still a lot of people, but once I was out of the 3:10 groups range, it was a lot more sparse. I got around the Mall and to the bridge at 20 right around 2:30. I knew that even with a slower pace the last 10k that I should be able to beat my Baltimore time, which was my only real goal. This was the part where I brought back in what the reason was for running this race.

I crossed back into VA - wow that was a long bridge! A lady next to me was complaining, "When is this damn bridge going to end!" I just smiled and pushed on. Whatever it takes to get to the finish I will continue running and get there!

Whenever I started to think about slowing down even more or walking at the water stops I just remembered my father and what he had come to mean to me over the years. As a teenager I was the resentful and rebellious. There were times where I was very anti-Dad for some reason or another (teenage angst perhaps), but I also never wanted to let him down. It was not until I was out of school and joined the military that I really got to see what an incredible set of parents that I had and how extremely proud I was of them and that I was to be one of there sons.

My father was career Navy. His father was career Navy. The military has been an unbelievably important part of my life. As I ran I thought more and more about what the city of DC, what the Marines standing at the water stops taking care of the runners and most importantly what my father's sacrifices to his country and his family meant to me. It was a very motivating factor.

My pace was slowing, but there was determination and fortitude to carry on. I was encouraging those around me more so than I usually do in a race. We ran by the Pentagon with only a mile or so to go and I was thinking of those who lost their lives on 9/11 and then we are nearing the finish. The last little hill as you turn left to go up toward the Iwo Jima memorial is it! Push to get across the line!

Then it hit me and I don't know why I didn't even think of it before ......

We were running through Arlington National Cemetary. There are only two memorable times that I have been here.

The first was when we laid my Grandmother next to my Grandfather (who died when I was very young).

The second was when my father retired and we went and visited my grandparent's graves with our family and my uncle (Dad's brother) and had a small ceremony there.

The finish suddenly took on a profoundly deeper meaning and signifigance. For the next 5 minutes I had to fight back the emotions and the tears. But I can't keep them back now writing this.

I love you Dad. Thank you for all the sacrifices you have made and that Granda made before. I am very proud to be your son.

This finish was for you.

Usual ..... actually train for a marathon!

Grabbed my food/drink bag, my medal, mylar blanket and shuffled along to an area where I could look for Traci and others I knew after they funneled out. But didn't see anyone.


Lack-o-training. Baltimore marathon finish two weeks ago. Perhaps if I had started out slower I would have done better, but I ran my own race and did what felt right the whole time. No complaints and no walking!


Good race. Well run for the size of the field. Only hiccup is getting to and from the start/finish to your car. It took us a while to get out of there and back on the road to go home. Ended up getting home later than I thought I would. But it was all good.

Because of the timeline though, I had to meet Mir and the kids over at our friend's house where they were having a bonfire and outdoor picnic sort of thing. I met them there and helped watch the fire and kids. But I didn't get to change or shower (or go home) so I was a little grimy and felt sloppy. Also, within an hour or two my heart started into A-Fib since I didn't take my medication before the race. Resting heart rate was in the 140 range (I still had my HR monitor on). That meant I needed to get home and take my medication. After about an hour after taking it, the HR was back down into more of the normal range. Just an unpleasant feeling!