The DC Traveler

On October 29th, the 31st annual Marine Corps Marathon will again this year be a huge event in Washington, DC. Last year almost 28,000 participants from over 50 countries and 300,000 spectators attended.

Witnessing the mass wave of runners starting the race, even with the two main groups using a 15-minute staggered start, is truly a spectacle. Starting near the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, runners weave their way through suburban Arlington, VA and cross over the Key Bridge into Georgetown.

During the 26.2 mile route, runners pass the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Lincoln, FDR, Korean, Vietnam and Jefferson memorials, the Washington Monument and The Capitol. The race winds through some of the most visually beautiful areas on both sides of the Potomac River, ultimately ending at the Marines Iwo Jima Memorial.

There are numerous official and unofficial places to cheer on the runners or the five “Groundpounders” as they are affectionately called (participants that have run in all 30 previous marathons). Check out the family-friendly fall festival at the Crystal City Street Spectacular along Crystal Drive from 9:00 am until 3:30 pm. Or watch from the Key Bridge connecting Georgetown to Virginia. Grab an espresso and a pastry or a gourmet lunch at Dean & Deluca, located just a couple blocks from the Key Bridge at 3276 M Street, NW (opens at 10:00 am).

The marathon is actually a weekend event with music, non-race events, family fun and more. Three stages will be set up along the route with bands playing live music.

Wheelchair participants will begin racing at 8:15 am on Sunday, followed by two waves of nearly 16,000 runners each at 8:25 and 8:40 am. The slower racers are expected to finish by around 3:00 pm.

Visitors to DC visitors should expect some aggravating traffic issues (see interactive map) including major street closures and traffic rerouting between 8:00 am and around 3:00 pm. Parking in the Arlington Cemetery area and anywhere around the National Mall will be very challenging. It’s also probably not a great day to visit either Arlington Cemetery or the Iwo Jima Memorial, unless you enjoy being around thousands of exhausted and sweaty runners and their supporters.

A satellite marathon will also be run in Iraq where 22,000 marines are stationed – called the Marine Corps Marathon Forward.

Marathon records: Men: 2 hours and 4 minutes. Women: 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Photo 1 credit: flickr, Photo 2: flickr

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