Sunday, October 18, 2009

Marine Corps Marathon Logistical Tips

I've raced or spectated at several Marine Corps Marathons over the years. These are some logistical tips for getting around that should be of some help.

  • The MCM has a great Expo with a ton of vendors. This year it will be at the new DC Convention Center for the first time, but I doubt much will change in terms of logistics. If you can do it on Friday, it is not nearly as crowded and you won't spend too much time in line to pick up your race packet. Take the yellow or green line on the metro to the Mt. Vernon Sq/7th Street Station. There are public parking garages around the convention center, but I imagine that it will be a bit of a madhouse on Saturday.
  • If you are taking the Metro to and from the race, buy your farecard ahead of time. Make sure to include enough for the trip there and back, you don't want to wait in any additional lines to purchase a card the day of the race.
  • Check out the official Spectators Guide for getting around and the best places to watch the race.
  • The MCM materials are serious when they say there is nowhere to park at the start. Even if someone volunteers to drive you, they can't get that close to the start. Take the subway or an MCM shuttle bus from Crystal City. If you can, take the Blue or Yellow lines. Try to avoid changing trains at the Rosslyn station that morning, it gets incredibly crowded. If you are coming from the Orange line in VA, just give yourself a little extra time to change trains in Rosslyn. If you just have to drive or someone wants to drop you somewhere, park or have them drop you at the subway in Crystal City and take it north to the start. If you are coming from DC, get on the Blue or Yellow lines; avoid the Orange line and having to change trains in Rosslyn. Metro map
  • If you are checking a bag, get off at the Pentagon station and head to the Runner's Village. Give yourself a lot of time, this is a very long walk and will be crowded. If you don't need to drop a bag, consider getting off at the Arlington Cemetery station and heading directly to the corrals at the start. The Arlington Cemetery station can get mobbed, but once you are out, it is a shorter walk to the start than from the Pentagon station.
  • If it is a cold morning, buy some cheap sweats to wear that you can throw away at the start. They will be collected by the race and donated to charitable organizations.
  • The first few aid stations, especially the first one, will be unbelievably crowded. You do not have to grab a drink from the first table. Run a couple of tables down and then duck in to grab something.
  • The Awakening sculpture is no longer in Hains Point. :(
  • During the race, there is usually some hashers or a rugby team when you first enter Crystal City, around mile 22.5. They hand out beer and crackers/gold fish/pretzels/etc. If you eat some of the crackers, the only thing to wash it down with is beer. If you don't want the beer, don't eat the crackers. I found this out the hard way a few years ago.
  • The finish area is always chaotic, there are just too many people in that small space. They make changes every year to improve it, but something always happens. If someone is meeting you at the finish, let them know that it can take several minutes from the time you cross the finish line until the time you can see them. Before you exit the finish area, make sure to get your picture taken and get all the food and water that you need. Once you exit this area, you cannot return. No one else is permitted in this area.
  • If you are meeting someone at the finish, arrange ahead of time where that will be. The finish area is at the Iwo Jima Memorial and spills into Rosslyn. It becomes incredibly crowded. I suggest the Family Link Up area where you can meet by initial of last name or the UPS trucks where racers pick up their checked bags.
  • If you cannot find someone waiting for you at the finish and you did not carry a cell phone, just start asking people to borrow their cell phones. I've always been able to find someone that let me make a quick call on their phone. You can always play the "I just ran a marathon, please help me" card.
  • If you are taking the subway or a shuttle bus from the finish, be prepared to wait in some massive lines. Picking you up from the finish area is about the nicest thing someone can do for you that day.
Have some additional tips? Leave them in the comments.

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posted by Bill at 11:57 AM | 4 Comments | Bookmark and Share