The People's Marathon - Running 41st Marine Corp Marathon

So me and 35,000 of my closest friends will be running the 41st Marine Corp Marathon next weekend, Oct 30th.  This will be my 5th time running the MCM.  Why do I come back year after year?

1. It is flat. Well if you ignore the last 0.2 miles climbing up to the Iwo Jima War Memorial.  And believe me, that last bit can seem like climbing to the top of the Washington Monument.
2. Speaking of monuments, in addition to the two mention above, there is plenty to distract you on this course: the Smithsonian museums; and the Lincoln, Jefferson, MLK Jr., FDR, Korean, Vietnam, and WWII Memorials; and the Capital 
3. It's practically in my backyard.  Nothing like sleeping in your own bed the night before a big race.
4. It's called the people's marathon for a reason.  There is no prize money, it attracts runners from all over, and is only behind New York and Chicago in terms of size.
5. Logistics and Volunteers:  The marines know a thing or two about logistics, planning, and staffing an event.  They always do a great job.
6. Runners Club - If you complete 5 marathons, you can avoid the lottery in future races.
7. The start - Standing in Robert E Lee's backyard, with the flyovers, the sun coming up over the Capital, and then the Howitzer going off - if that doesn't make you yell 'OooRah', nothing will.
8. The middle - there are tons of spectators all along the course.  Many spots the crowds are 3 - 4 people deep.
9. The halfway point - Haynes Point is one spot where crowds thin out, the wind picks up, and you start to wonder why you are doing this. Need some motivation?  Look for the blue mile that honors fallen service men and women.  
10. The end - You are tired and emotionally raw as you cross the finish and head to the exit shoot. Wait for it - an Marine Officer will stop you, put a medal around your neck, shake your hand, tell you job well done, and thank you.  Be sure to return the thanks.

Trust me, if you are a seasoned runner, this belongs on your bucket list with the other biggies.  If you are considering running your 1st, it is hard to find a better one to run then Marine Corp Marathon.