Introduction
This marathon is ranked by many as a top 10 marathon. I lucked my way into this one. I got a phone call from my friend Pat Fitzgerald who said his running partner got injured and was unable to run the event. He asked me if I wanted to take his place. Knowing how hard it is to get into this race. I said sure. I was glad I did.
There is really no better way to see Washington D.C. They take you through all the monuments, Georgetown and the Key Bridge. The crowd support is great and it is very inspiring to be encouraged by Marines every mile.
Without a doubt the most intense moment is the finish running into the historic statue, Iwo Jima. The statue, portraying six servicemen who raised the American flag on the island,is inscribed, "In honor and in memory of the men of the United States Marine Corps who have given their lives to their country since November 10, 1775."
"The monument before us has been raised to provide a visible symbol of the immortality of those whom we honor," said General Lemuel Shepherd, Jr., the 20th Marine Commandant at the dedication. "To all who shall ever view this Memorial it will speak of the courage, the spirit, and the greatness of the American people, the people from whom these men and their ageless comrades came."
