For those who don’t know me, I’m Monica Kamin with the Lynchburg Road Runners Club, and on Sunday, October 26, 2025, I had the incredible honor of participating in the 50th anniversary of the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM).
While I don’t typically write post-marathon reviews, this experience was so unique that I felt it deserved to be written down. Below, you’ll find my personal experience with the expo, race, and a bit of MCM history and reflection.
Let’s dive in!
MCM Expo
The MCM Expo was held on Friday and Saturday before the race, and runners were required to select a timeslot for packet pickup. Because I had other obligations on Saturday, I chose the first available slot at 10 a.m. on Friday.
We parked in the Gaylord parking lot around 8 a.m. It took a little time to figure out exactly where in the exhibit hall we needed to go, but by 8:30 a.m. we were in line. Being early paid off: packet pickup was smooth, and we spent about 2 hours exploring the expo. There were no waits for anything, including the compression cuffs and pre-race stretch stations. In addition, I had pre-ordered merch which I picked up at the expo with ease. By noon, however, it was getting extremely crowded—almost overwhelming—so I was glad we went early.
Race Day
Leading up to race day, there was a lot of back-and-forth about transportation. Initially, my brother was going to drop me off at the start and then take the Metro into D.C. later. But with road closures and traffic concerns, we opted to take the Metro from the Franconia–Springfield station all the way to the Pentagon stop, followed by a short walk to the start area.
When they say “follow the crowds,” they mean it!
The Runner’s Village had plenty of porta-johns and bag drop was easy, but figuring out exactly how to reach the start corrals was confusing. I eventually pulled up the course map to navigate it myself.
The race officially began at 7:20 a.m., and I made it a point to start lining up by 6:40 a.m.—which turned out to be a very smart move. I was aiming for a 4-hour finish, which placed me at the start of the yellow (second) wave.
I crossed the start line around 7:30 a.m., and the opening miles were chaotic. There were a lot of bottle knocks, elbows, and even some walkers within the first mile. With only the first wave ahead of us, the course was extremely congested. My plan had been to stick with my pacer, but that quickly became impossible, so I ran by feel instead.
The first four miles were intense, and it wasn’t until around mile 10 that I finally had some breathing room. Once I settled in, I found my rhythm and focused. Spectators were incredible—three rows deep in some spots!
At mile 12, the course passes through the Blue Mile, honoring fallen service members. The energy shift there was powerful and humbling. Crowds thinned temporarily, but picked back up around mile 15.
At mile 18.5, something unexpected happened—I caught up with the 3:55 pace group! That gave me a huge confidence boost, and by mile 21, I passed them.
At mile 24, I spotted a friend from the Frederick Steeplechasers Running Club (another RRCA affiliate). She cheered loudly, handed me a motivational bracelet, and her support meant the world to me.
By mile 25, I knew I was on track for a sub-3:55 finish. My calves started to tighten, so I slowed slightly to soak it all in. I conquered the final hill and crossed the finish line in 3:54:41—a 20-minute PR from my last marathon at Myrtle Beach this past March!
The finisher chute was long, and receiving the medal from a Marine was an unforgettable moment. After that, things got a bit hectic—items were being handed out in no clear order. I received a drawstring bag, snacks, water, and a banana before collecting my two premium finisher items, though the lines were confusing.
Once I met up with my husband and brother, we explored the finisher festival along Wilson Blvd. I rang the PR bell, and even got a quick massage.
Getting back, however, was another adventure. The Rosslyn Metro, the closest to the finish, was closed due to overcrowding, so we had to walk roughly three extra miles to reach the Arlington station. Fortunately, once we got there, the trip back went smoothly.
History & Reflections
While my personal race was amazing, I did notice some challenges and areas for improvement.
This year’s MCM had over 40,000 participants, making it the third-largest marathon in the U.S.—surpassing Boston for the first time in history!
Digging into past numbers (which took some research!), it appears that in previous years MCM also hosted a 10K, significantly affecting total participation. From what I found, between 2022 and 2024, the marathon field ranged from 13,000 to 16,000 runners, with an additional 4,000–10,000 finishers in the 10K. The event didn’t take place in 2020 or 2021, and in 2018 and 2019, marathon participation hovered around 26,000 marathoners, with a similar number of 10K participants.
This year, however, the 10K was not held, meaning the 40,000+ field was made up entirely of marathoners. That’s a massive jump—especially when you consider post-COVID participation trends. Even compared to pre-COVID numbers, it represents a significant expansion.
While this surge in runners brought incredible spectator energy, it also created logistical challenges, compounded by the ongoing government shutdown at the time. The early miles were extremely congested, with plenty of shoulder bumps and bottle knocks. I expected a long wait to cross the start line—maybe closer to 8:00 a.m.—so when I started only 10 minutes after the gun, I was pleasantly surprised. Still, in hindsight, I think adding more time between waves could have helped reduce crowding and improve flow.
I’d also heard MCM described as one of the most organized races, but honestly, it didn’t always feel that way. Unlike other major events (like the Richmond Marathon or VA 10 Miler), MCM didn’t have a detailed digital race guide. Their website had good information but wasn’t always intuitive to navigate. For example, I didn’t realize the first two digits of my bib number corresponded to my UPS gear check truck, which was a great feature once I figured it out.
The first water stop was chaotic, though later ones were much smoother, with water on both sides of the road. Post-race, the finisher chute was disorganized. I think it would be much easier if MCM pre-packed all finisher items into a single bag for distribution.
The Metro system staff deserve a huge thank-you. Managing that many runners and spectators is no small feat. Still, limiting the number of people entering stations or providing clearer alternatives could improve the post-race experience.
Final Thoughts
Despite some logistical hiccups, I had an amazing experience at the Marine Corps Marathon. The spectators were phenomenal, the finisher gear was high quality, and the spirit of the event was unmatched.
I’d love to see more races adopt timed packet pickup slots, pre-ordered expo merchandise, and designated trucks for easy bag drop off and retrieval — all of which made things run smoothly.
While there’s always room for improvement, as the third largest marathon in the US, the Marines sure know how to put on an event and I can confidently say that I plan to run MCM again—maybe for their 75th anniversary!