Nutrition - Weight Loss

We started the weekend at the expo, handing out bibs and packets to the runners who signed up for Runner’s World VIP (so they wouldn’t have to deal with the lines of the general race packet pick-up). While there, we heard so many amazing stories from runners who stopped by to chat.

On Saturday morning, we met up with a bunch of the RW VIP crew for a shake out run on the National Mall. We all wished that the chilly weather would hang around an extra day, but that didn’t happen.

How to Better Pace a Marathon Based on Effort.

We stopped to snap a photo on the steps in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Now, that’s a group of runners who look ready to tackle a marathon!

Miles the Bulldog, official mascot of the Marine Corps Marathon, had a busy weekend, making appearances all over town. We posed for this photo together just before the prerace pasta dinner on Saturday night.

Marathon morning started early. We were out in the Runner’s World VIP tent near the start line by 5:30 a.m. on Sunday. Concerns about back-ups related to How to Better Pace a Marathon Based on Effort convinced many runners—including us—to show up much earlier than normal.

Inside the tent, runners enjoyed breakfast, relaxed, and tried to mentally prepare for the 26.2 miles that they’d soon be running.

The sun rose and we made our way to the starting corral, ready to run.

The marathon route took us past many landmarks, including the United States Capitol Building.

Marines were out handing us our marathon medals and offering words of encouragement as we finished up the race with the Iwo Jima Memorial in the background.

At the Runner’s World VIP postrace reception, runners and RW editors shared stories from the day’s journey.

…And we all ate lots of food. You can’t forget the food after 26.2!

This was my fifth Marine Corps Marathon with the RW VIP program, and I’m hoping it won’t be the last. Not only was able to run one of the nation’s best marathons, I was able to do it with a great group of runners: the 2016 Runner’s World VIP team. Thank you all for being a part of it.

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For information on how you can join the Runner’s World VIP team at Walt Disney World in January 2017, click here. And, to sign up for alerts when we open new races—like the 2017 Marine Corps Marathon—register for our updates.