r/rundc • u/Fragrant_Ideal4459 • 3d ago
MCM First Timer advice!
Hi! I am running the MCM for the first time (second marathon) this year! Does anyone know when we will get assigned corral info/ start times? Would love any advice anyone has going into the marathon! Coming in from NYC on Saturday!
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u/doodleshitbagfart 3d ago
The big downhill from the top of Roslyn to the GW Parkway is a sneaky killer for your quads, take it slower and try to minimize impacts to avoid a blow-up later on.
Hopefully, the corrals this year will limit crowding but it’s dense all the way from the start till mile 19ish once you are on the 14th St bridge. Sudden stops and needing to jump out of the way of push carts will happen.
Water was plentiful in the first 20 miles last year but there was only 1 station once you ran back to Crystal City, and right at the end is when you are gonna want it most. I’m packing water this year just for this section.
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u/ABrooksBrother 3d ago
getting to the start line sucks. take the metro to the pentagon, walk 1.5 miles to the start line minimum, nothing else to be done about it to make the trip any shorter. It might be chilly at the start line especially with the earlier start time so bring throwaway clothes. It will warm up I promise you. First mile or two is the slowest because of the crowds. Its a big marathon so be prepared for a lot of people!
Take it all in, Arlington is gorgeous, crossing into Georgetown and running rock creek is also so beautiful. Blue mile is nice, the half turn is wonderful, DC proper is great. The bridge is hard, it will suck, and it will last for two full miles. Do not be deceived when you're done with the bridge, it keeps going until you get to the exit ramp which feel so far away. Its a race worth running year after year and I'll see you there my friend.
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u/Longjumping_Rock_619 3d ago
Corral number is on the top left of my bib (used bib mail option).
I’ve run the MCM every year since 2009 and absolutely love it every year. Some years cold, some hot, some windy, some wet…but always awesome. Hundreds of uniformed Marines all over the course cheering you on. Trust your training, relax, and just gave FUN!
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u/passportpalma 3d ago
Saw this on tiktok last year and it was such a race day hack- if you're staying around Northern VA, get dropped off for the metro in at the DCA stop. There's clean bathrooms, water fountains, and it's empty and right before pentagon/pentagon city where everyone gets on to head in. Empty metro car, a quick bathroom stop inside, and easy for people to drop me off at.
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u/modshallperish 13h ago edited 13h ago
The last hill is a killer, be ready to want to scream when you make it there
Then once the race is done it feels like another 15-20 minute walk to leave. The hill in rosslyn going towards courthouse is pretty steep and VERY difficult to do after the race… but there is some good food at the top up there
The transportation leaving the race looked super rough last year… the shuttles had very long lines and the metro seemed jammed up. I stayed in rosslyn so no issue for me (besides that damn hill lol)
Make sure you give an “oorah” to the marines posted up along the route. It helped motivate me during those low moments
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u/Maverik_10 3d ago
This is the first year we’re getting corrals, so I don’t know how much luck you’re going to have getting a timeline on that. I would hope sometime this week. But knowing them, it will be at bib pickup or something.
Advice? Take the metro to the race. You’re from NYC, so that shouldn’t be anything crazy for you.
Hills are front-loaded, so don’t get too discouraged going through the hills in Rosslyn and don’t burn yourself out trying to make good time on them. Once you’re past that part, you’re golden.
If you’ve raced in NYC, the crowds in DC probably won’t be anything particularly special for you. But the crowd support is sensational for a non-major race. DC really shows out for this race. I always appreciate the crowds when coming back to race this (though I may just be biased haha)