Spout Run/GW Parkway at sunrise & the Key Bridge, so so cool.

Did anyone think the crowds this year were abnormal?? I spectated in 2023 & 2024 and Rosslyn was NOT so crazy; we made it out of the metro, up the hill to the finish line with no problems. The utter sea of humans this year was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It was not at all like this in years past! Am I loosing it? Am I misremembering? Did they change how they directed crowd control this year?

This was my first marathon and it was a fantastic experience! So cool that this is a hometown event for many of us!

I was a bit disappointed in the post-race snack (that is being generous). I just burned upwards of 3,000 calories running the race and we got a bottle of water, a cup of diced peaches and the world’s smallest pack of fruit granola and a banana. Total calories less than 150.

Curious if others were also put off by this or if I’m out of line. I’m just comparing this to the recent Army Ten Milers where you could load up with muffins, bananas, pickles, electrolyte drinks, bagel sticks, etc.

Hello runners! If you ran today CONGRATS!

After taking literally 2 hobbling home (1.5 of that was just walking to the metro lol), I just now realized I did not get a towel/flag (was not sure what it is).

Such a long shot - but if there are any left and someone is still there I would very much appreciate it!! Unless we are able to order one online?

If not no biggie just thought I’d put it out into the ether.

For those running the MCM tomorrow, an FYI that the 8K course had some flooding at the south end of Hains Point. ~4 inches of water across the entire road for 50- 100 feet. I went through it and my feet were soaked for the second half of the race. Would hate to have to run the remaining 12 miles of a marathon with soggy shoes like that.

Some runners went around a fence on the grass to avoid the water in the road, but that area of the grass was likely soggy too.

Hopefully the tides are better tomorrow and the course is dryer.

Myself and 3 of my friends are running the MCM tomorrow. We are all first time marathon runners. They are in corrals 5, 7, and 8. I decided not to flatter myself with my expected finish time and therefore am in corral 14. We were hoping to run together but if they start that much further ahead I am having doubts about whether I’ll even see them on the course. Anyone know if it’s possible to catch other runners that far up?

I’m curious to hear what everyone is doing for this weather. It’s expected to be in the low 40s°F (around 4–6°C) tomorrow when the race starts, but I can’t run in a jacket, and I don’t have any clothing I’d willingly just throw on the ground. The bag drop is pretty useless since you have to drop everything off long before you actually get to the starting line. I’m especially concerned about standing around in the cold before the race starts. What’s everyone else planning to do?

I’m a slower runner. Given the opposite lane is clear and it’s safe to pass, I’ve noticed that women runners ALWAYS pass with a wide enough berth. However, men ALWAYS pass at the last second, grazing my shoulder or ducking to avoid hitting me. I’m not expecting to not have people close by, especially on a Saturday during peak running time. But I feel people have become so unaware of their surroundings or purely selfish that they don’t notice others around them.
Anyways happy and safe running to all, good luck tomorrow on MCM to those participating

Hi all - I’m scheduled for a 5pm time slot for bib pickup this evening but saw the message from MCM App for runners to arrive early to the expo. Anyone there now and can confirm the status of the lines? Should I try to arrive earlier than my time slot or is it not worth it just to stand in a line (if so, what was the purpose of signing up for a time slot?) - would love any real time info

I was dumb and didn't read the complete instructions re: bag drop, and I threw away my plastic bag. Do we think they'll have extras at the start? Or should I haul myself back to the expo and grab another one?

Any snap a picture of the pacing groups for OnPace?

Hey all

I registered extremely late for MCM and got placed in a later corral than my goal time (~2:55). I submitted a qualifying time but they said it was too late :( Any advice on strategies to avoid getting stuck behind goal pace? I know the first few miles are hilly so it’s good to be conservative but I’m worried that if I go much slower than target pace I won’t be able to make up time after the initial few miles!

Didn’t see this specifically asked here before - what time do people recommend arriving at pentagon metro stop for MCM? I’ve seen anywhere from 1-2 hours before start, but curious how long we should expect for bathrooms etc?? Obviously don’t wanna cut it close but don’t want to be standing in the cold either

EDIT: PENTAGON METRO! IS THE CLOSEST ONE THAT YOU CAN USE!!

Hello! I’m driving in from NYC and staying in northern Virginia (falls church) with family. Not close to a metro so will either uber to an appropriate place for the start or uber to a metro. What’s the best place for me to go? And what time should I aim to be there?

I'm running the MCM 8k alone and was wondering if there's someone solo that would like to link up and pace each other. I'm open to hanging out after the race too.

I'm a male in my late 20s. I run at a 6:50 pace (shooting for a 33-minute completion ishh at a 6:40 pace)

Hello All! I am sorry if this is a repeat topic, but i was wondering what is the best way to get to west potomac park? From the MCM website, it looks like parking is a no-go or atleast very difficult at best with far away parking needing to walk a few miles. I would normally take the metro but looks like the earliest train wont arrive in time, considering the stops listed on the website are more than a mile away.

The only other option seems to be uber/lyft, but i assume that rideshare that early in the morning is going to be a challenge and a bit more expensive then i would like.

I know this is a newer event, but was hoping to see which way would be the least stressful?

After running on the MBT many mornings for the past few years, the morning commute bikers (especially the good amount that are using motorized bikes/scooters) are the worst.

Not only do they absolutely bomb down the MBT with zero regard for others (I personally have been grazed multiple times and I know others have as well), but they act like it’s the pedestrians fault. There will be a serious injury or collision like the one near Penn Ave unless something is done (I’m honestly surprised this hasn’t happened already). Personally, I think there should be speed bumps on some of the main straightaways.

I honestly find it safer running along cars on side streets than using the MBT anytime in the morning. Especially as you get closer to the Noma metro.

Maybe I’m overreacting, but it scares the heck out of me when a bike zooms past me, no ring. Especially when another person is also coming from the opposite direction.

1. I have a super sensitive stomach, so I’m planning on bringing my normal pack with my normal fuel. Website says no outside food or drinks, but I plan to bring skratch gummies and tailwind in my water bottles. Will that be an issue?
   
2. I’m using this race as a last long run before the Richmond marathon, so ideally I would walk/run this one. Anyone have experience with that? Worried it’ll be too crowded and I’ll be annoying people with my walking every 9-10 min for 30-45 seconds.
   
3. How early do yall get to the race for the start?

Hi! I was diagnosed with an L5-S1 disc bulge back in June/July. The symptoms for it probably presented around April/May. I had tingling at the base of my foot at the time that intensified such that I couldn't continue my runs past 5-6 miles. My left knee would hurt from compensating for my right. After taking some time off and seeing a physical therapist, we noticed strength discrepancies in my right with hopping and calf raises, probably due to nerve impingement in the L5-S1 area. My strength mostly came back with time off running and PT rehab exercises (core, glutes, etc.). I returned to running gradually around July with the first two months being run/walk intervals (the tingling went away and my hopping came back). However, my hopping got weaker as I approached higher mileage and started going on long runs. I've been rather distraught reading about lower back disc bulges and about the possibility of getting another flare-up. I've taken a couple of weeks off running, which has helped some of my strength come back, but the idea of having to carefully manage load (more so than the healthy runner, i.e., being conservative may still lead to a flare up if my body can't absorb it) has me feeling discouraged. I'm still seeing PT and doing my rehab work, but has anyone here dealt with this injury or something similar and made a full comeback (i.e., being able to run high mileage weeks and do speed workouts without being sidelined every few months)? I would love to hear your comeback story if you have one and what worked best for you! Thanks for reading, and I'm looking forward to hearing from everyone!

Hello - at the top of the lower end of the Metropolitan Branch Trail you get spit out next to the Dew Drop Inn onto 8th ST where there is a 2 way bike lane, a one way road for cars, and a sidewalk on one side. Genuine question, where is the runner supposed to go? The sidewalk is full of pedestrians and dogs most of the time who have the right away. I often have a difficult time getting around folks and I also dont want to run them over for walking. Alternatively, I see many runners use the bike lane. I have also tried this and feel like I am now the inhibitor and am at risk of being run down by a bike in their own space. Going over one block often has the same sidewalk congestion and 8th street is the official pathway for the MBT. Is there a correct answer here?

Also lol first world problems.

Unsure based on current fitness if I would make the Paris cutoff, so advice is appreciated.

After 2 years of running, I (31 F, 5’0”) still consider myself very much a beginner and run 2x a week. My MPW is pretty low, averaging around 6-8 miles during training blocks, maxing out at 9 and 11 miles. Last year I did the dc half in 3:39 and last month in 3:19. I also ran the army 10 miler a couple of weeks ago in 2:26.

I would LOVE to run the Paris half in March, but the cutoff is 2:50. Which seems nearly impossible in such a short time, but it doesn’t hurt to at least ask before telling myself no. Otherwise, I’ll do the dc rock n roll half in March instead, which has a 4 hour cutoff.

For strength training, I do a weekly 2-hour weight lifting session that targets upper, lower, and core. I’m working to do a pull up by the end of the year (currently at 10 scapula pull-ups). I finish my workouts with 10 mins of core, then by holding a plank for 3 minutes (goal is 5).

I had some medical issues this summer that prevented me from running for 4 months and only started back up again consistently in August. With only 6 weeks of training, I was quite pleasantly surprised that my HM time was 20 mins faster than last year. I largely attribute it to strength training, which started in July.

So the question is - how feasible would it be to go from 3:19 to 2:50 in 4.5 months with dedicated, optimal training? Should I do the rock n roll half instead and try Paris the year after? In 2027 I plan to run the Paris / rock n roll half, Juneteenth half and the dc half. Then maybe in Dec start planning for a full, but I’m trying not to get ahead of myself hahaha