What do you do after R2R2R?
The obvious answer is to sit back and rest. Well, so much for the obvious, I decided to
run the Marine Corps Marathon. The
obvious question that comes to mind is why?
The obvious answer is… duh! It’s
the Marine Corps Marathon. This event
has been on my bucket list for several years because it is such an iconic race
and up to that point I had never participated in something so big.
Josh and I often come up with these half cocked race
schedules because a lot of the events we want to do all seem to cluster together
on the calendar. With these two
particular events it seemed logical that we would already have the fitness from
the Grand Canyon run and the MCM was roughly half the distance. It should be a piece of cake.


Made it to the race by 0545 with no issues and just waited
for the start. It was a bit chilly but
all was going well. My plan was to run
by feel and use nutrition on the course.
Seemed reasonable for this easy race.
With the flyover of the CV-22s the event started. I couldn’t believe I was running with 30,000
runners and well over 400 Team RWB Eagles.
If you didn’t see an RWB shirt then you were obviously not at the 2016
MCM. They were everywhere!!!!

Just before we entered the mall there was an aid station
that I ducked into. A couple Tylenol did
the trick and it was off to finish. We
just kept trudging along until we “Beat the Bridge” and knew we were home
free. The climb up to the finish was
incredible and I couldn’t think of a more fitting ending then finishing at the
Marine Corps Memorial. It was not the
fastest I have ever run but I felt a significant sense of accomplishment. The on course support was awesome and the
energy surrounding the event is something that needs to be experienced.
Josh and I hobbled to the shuttle…hobbled to the
car….hobbled to get some food and then I dropped him off at the airport. All in all…too easy! It was really about half of our previous
event, just another training run for what is coming up next.