The MisFitNation is covering the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) from October 27th - October 29th, 2023. The trip started with a flight from Nashville to Washington Reagan. We get our seats on what is a semi-full flight. Seated to our left are three people traveling to the Marathon. A husband and wife traveling together with the husband running the race for at least the 4th time. He has also run Boston 3 x. They were settling in and chatting amongst themselves when we overheard they were running. So our entire row was chatting about the journey of the 3 runners in our row. The lady directly to our left is a Physical Therapist at our local hospital and her husband serves in the Army. She has run other races before however, this is her first time running the MCM. Having run with the Marines 6 times and the other guy having multiple runs in it, we provided a lot of information to her. She was not very nervous about the run, just some unknowns, like transportation to and from the race and expo.
Expo day 1
27 October
Check into the Gaylord National Harbor hotel, dump off our bags, and head down to the expo. The line is not too bad as we go through the maze and get checked in security. Into the expo, we go. The MisFitNation is not only covering the race, we have our first runner in it. Gwen goes and gets her BiB number 17243. We then follow the maze to get her shirt and wind into the swag store set up by Pacers. In years past this was run by Brooks so this was our first change. Being the first one since pre-COVID days we have attended live, it seemed smaller. An internet issue was the first hiccup as the line to check out of Pacers was extremely long. It wound up being just PayPal or Venmo to purchase and the team running it managed it well.
We then did a loop of the expo since it was not too crowded. We stopped at the Travis Manion Foundation booth and chatted with the amazing staff there. Got a new shirt for Gwen then got some Nuun hydration and cups. It was then we went and picked up our media credentials for the race. We left the expo put stuff in the room then headed to Fiorella's Italian kitchen to carb up before retiring to the room to relax for the night. (Fiorella's pricey but okay).
By relax we mean watching the first 48 marathon while discussing race day strategy for the 100th time.
28 October
After some good sleep, it is time to get up clean up, and get going.
We head down and get breakfast and notice the line for the expo is enormous it is wrapped around the entire atrium level of the hotel and growing. We get done eating bring some stuff up to the room and head back to the line to check out more organizations in the expo. Using the credentials we skip the mile-plus long line and enter.
After a stop to speak with a shoe vendor, it was a loop of the expo again. We stopped at the Jawku booth and spoke with both representatives. The mini guns felt amazing on the back as they used two at once. It was amazing. Look for an interview with them on our channels. It was then on to meet with amazing organizations fighting the darkness like the Eyes of Freedom Foundation, The Foundation for Women Warriors, and the DoD Suicide Prevention office. All three were invited to the show, let's hope they come to hang out with us.
As we left the expo this time the line which was long before, had grown exponentially and now weaved through two floors of the hotel and out through the second-floor exit wrapping around the block. In 2022 only 11 thousand participants ran in the live race, this year the expected number is over 22K.
29 October
Wake up is 0400 get ready dressed and pack a support bag to follow Gwen as she maneuvers through 26.2 miles of our Nation's Capital. The first stop is the shuttle from the hotel at 0500 for her and 530 for me. She arrives at the race start area 30 minutes later and I will follow shortly behind her. While every race is different, the feelings at the start shoot and pre-race area are always the same. Nervous energy for many and you will also see people just laying down to take a nap as they wait to line up. Lines are growing at the toilets as more runners disembark shuttles and metro lines to get into the shoot. It is going to be a fun yet challenging day for all participants.
Thousands of athletes move in a parade-type fashion to the starting line. They huddle in corals close to the estimated pace they believe they will run. There are different rituals for each runner, some are putting their earbuds in and adjusting the playlist so it is perfect for the start and hopefully lasts through the entire race. For those not in the first couple of corrals, it is not for the glory of winning, it is for the accomplishment of conquering a distance that a small percentage can say they have done. There is nervous energy pumping throughout they have arrived here before sunrise and are now adjusting their shades, ensuring to keep moving their legs as they stand in their small 3- 4 foot area. There are faces that are stoic, excited, and smiling. Pictures are being taken, soaking it all in as they wait for the starting gun to go off. Looking out over them, you can feel their energy grow as the time till the start gets shorter.
The Journey starts for most of the 20000-plus runners in earnest around 4 months before the gun goes off on the starting line. They select the race they want to be a part of and start their training plan. For the avid, experienced runner, not much will change as they transition from maintaining their running fitness to attacking a plan to achieve their time goal for the race. Some might have a run coach already and formulate that plan to succeed. Others have a regimen they adhere to for all races, they do a number of runs each week at varying distances and speeds or incorporate hill work to challenge themselves as they progress through the program. The beginner or first-time marathoners, also choose a program. However, they have little knowledge of the journey itself, so there is a large learning curve for them as they proceed with training. The runner chooses a shoe and hopes it will be the one that works, if not, they keep switching until they get the pair that is perfect for them. Anxiety ranges for each participant as some have run other distances before, like a 10K or half-marathon. Those who are jumping feet first into the Marathon have to select clothes, shoes, a fuel belt, and of course the proper nutrition that works for them. This takes trial and error along the way. Some may not have the right regimen down until the final weeks or even until they get into the race.
Boom, the starter has signaled the beginning of the end of this chapter. Waves of runners flow by the start line and enter into the scenic Marine Corps Marathon Course. As a majority of the runners cross the line they are looking at their watch and pressing start to record the history they are about to make. Still, some are taking pictures or filming as they move toward and cross the start line. In a twist, they pass the turn to the finish line mere meters from the start line. This will be a journey of a lifetime for all of them. This portion brings back great memories as I have been in their shoes many times crossing this same point. No more butterflies now as the athletes take off.
