Marine Corps Marathon

The Marine Corps Marathon began in 1976. It was the hope of original organizer, Colonel Jim Fowler, this race would be a helpful tool in bringing the community and the Marine Corps into a peaceful and understanding relationship. This was after the Vietnam War and to be in the military was not conducive to a trusting or understanding relationship. He also felt the race would promote recruitment, show off the Marine Corps to its advantage and help marines qualify for the Boston Marathon.

There were only 1,175 participants for the inaugural event on November 7, 1976, yet the positive experience of the race created a new interest and contributed to the Marine Corps Marathon result of success in increasing the numbers of participants. Since then, the Marine Corps Marathon has grown to become the fourth largest marathon in the United States and the seventh largest marathon in the world. In 2006, the Marine Corps Marathon had more than 34,000 runners take part in the race. Of these, almost 21,000 finished. On side, cheering were 150,000 well-wishers.

Unlike other marathons, the Marine Corps Marathon does not offer prizes. This, and its very open nature, led to the name “The People’s Marathon.” In 1976, the Marine Corps Marathon route was simple. It started and ended at the Marine Corps War Memorial or Iwo Jima War Memorial created by Felix de Welden. The second marathon ran from Arlington, Virginia through Washington, D.C. There were 2,655 runners, including the participants in the wheelchair category.

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Until 2006, the route remained the same, starting and finishing at the Iwo Jimo Memorial. In 2006, however, the starting point switched to Arlington’s State Route 110. The route winds differently throughout the course with minor variations, but the end is still the Iwo Jima Memorial. Marine Corps Marathon results for that year were Ruben Garcia of the Mexican Navy, first in the men’s division and Laura Thompson first for the women’s division.

The 2005 Marine Corps Marathon continued the fine open tradition of previous marathons. Results of the 2005 Marine Corps Marathon mirror the 2006 in one way: Ruben Garcia also placed first in the men’s division while Susannah Kvasnicka won the women’s division. Still running were the so-called “The Ground Pounders.” These five men, Will Brown, Roger Burkhart, Matthew Jaffe, Alfred Richmond and Mel Williams ran in every race from 1976. They have continued to race in the Marine Corps Marathon for both 2006 and 2007. There names truly belong on the Marine Corps Marathon Wall of Fame.