This was my 4th half marathon and I loved it! I actually disagree with the other review that says once you get past hospital hill you're golden. There is actually one more hill around mile 12 that is a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitch. It's the overpass that goes over 95 leading into the home stretch. At that point I was like, oh the hell with it, and walked up that area. Overall I loved the run and plan to do it again in the future. It was very organized. Plenty of portapotties... Entertainment along the course... handsome Marines... beautiful finisher medal! Oh, and free beer at the finish :-) read more

Hands down, the most challenging, but also the most humbling half marathon course that I've ever ran in the East Coast! The Blue Mile this year was a special reminder of our freedoms and those who died for America. Hospital Hill was challenging...if you were close to hitting "the wall" at mile 10, Hospital Hill will feel like the literal manifestation of the runner's wall. However, it's a baby hill compared to those who've ran Big Sur before. Any hill is a hill for me, no matter how small. This course definitely has its fair share. Ultimately, it's up to you to conquer it and say that you lived to see another day! I'll be running it again next year. read more

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Today, I ran the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon and had such a positive experience! The outpouring of energy and support from the Marine Corps and community was awesome. I must admit - with Marines cheering us on and motivating us...I felt like I was part of the Marine Corps...at least for a couple hours. ;) This is a smaller run...there were about 5,000 registered runners, so compared to much larger races, it sure was nice and easy getting around. It actually started in 2008 and seems to be growing. I think it's an excellent way to bring the spotlight to Historic Fredericksburg and its inviting and friendly community. The Healthy Expo was very easy to get to and navigate. We didn't have to search long for parking and the expo itself at the Fredericksburg Convention Center wasn't crowded. So, we got to take our time to pick up my race bib and wander around to each of the vendors. Race day went very smoothly. If you're not staying at a hotel near the start line (where the Convention Center is), there are a bunch of hotels you could stay at off of I-95. We stayed at the Days Inn off of exit 133, which was on the recommended list of hotels for the race (got to take advantage of special room rates that way). We got up around 5:30 am, grabbed some quick breakfast at the hotel lobby and drove and parked at the Commuter Lot on Warrenton. The morning shuttles from the Commuter Lot to the Start Line were a breeze to get on to. Beware -- the later you get to the Commuter Lot, the later you'll get on a shuttle and therefore you run the risk of missing the Start (which I saw happen to a number of runners). We got on a shuttle by about 6:20 or so (after waiting in a line for a short bit) and I made my way to the Start just a little before 7 (just in time...whew!). Before I knew it, it was 7:04 when I officially started. The course offers a number of hills, with the highest climb being around mile 10-11...so be prepared! Also, the Southern humidity can mess with you a bit if you're not used to that sort of thing. I lived in San Francisco before moving out to DC where I live now...so it took some time for me to adapt to the humid conditions. Throughout the 13.1 mile course, there were about 6 water stations, one food station (with Sports Beans), musical entertainment and plenty of cheering fans...including the Marine Corps. Overall, I'd recommend this race to anyone who has an appreciation for the USMC, US History and the Civil War era. The race has made me more aware of Fredericksburg as a fun weekend spot to visit now and then. I thought it was very well-organized and as a civilian, it felt very cool to be running alongside Marines and being cheered on by Marines! Ooh-rah! read more

Great race for a first timer - I was out here after three years off of my knee this past May. Good points are that there are plenty of Marines to give you motivation, water points every 2.1 miles, and generally a smooth easy course. The only bad point? Hospital hill is a bitch. But once you get past it, you're golden... read more

The Marine Corps Historic Half is one of the best organized and moving races I've run. From packet pickup to the start line to volunteers on the route, everything went off without a hitch and was super well thought out. The pickup was lightning fast even the day before at the expo. The corrals at the start weren't super well organized or assigned based on time, but you were directed to positions based on estimates of pace. This meant some, but not a tremendous amount of runners in the wrong pace area causing congestion. The support along the entire route was tremendous, closer to the huge crowds at the NYC marathon than other smaller town halfs I've run. The support from the Marines is also amazing, and the pictures of fallen soldiers about halfway through and tons of volunteers with flags was very moving. Hospital hill at mile 10 is a killer, but the support around it is so good you can find a way to push through it. The route is nice and scenic through the historic downtown of Fredericksburg, residential areas, and along the scenic river for a bit. Starting and ending in a strip mall parking lot may sound bad, but it actually made arrival and departure very easy. Fredericksburg is also great for finding good food and drink around before and after the race. read more

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We love coming for this run!! This is our second year, my husband does the half marathon and I did the 10k. I loved the course, exxxxcept Hospital Hill!! I heard about the hill but I never saw the hill. That was no joke!! Running past Wear Blue Run to remember group was so emotional, I literally cried. You cannot pass a single KIA service member and not feel your heart pull and than running passed all those wonderful volunteers holding Old Glory...ugh still makes me choke up. Awesome race awesome atmosphere! Run with the Marines! How does it get any better??? It doesn't! read more

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I ran the 10K event at the Marine Corps Historic Half-marathon and had a great time. The race was very well organized, and there were several water and Gatorade stations along the route. The shuttle system from the general parking area to the 10K starting line ran smoothly and got me there in plenty of time. The Marines and civilian course marshals did an excellent job cheering on the runners. There were a few reasons I did not rate the event a 5: 1) The finish line was pretty far from the parking area, a little over half a mile, I believe, which is not pleasant after running all-out for 3, 6, or 13 miles. 2) There were a couple turns that were not clearly marked, and I had to call out to a course marshal to see if I was going the right way. 3)They didn't give out awards until 2 hours after the 10K ended, and they only gave out an award to the first place finishers overall, male and female. All the age-group winners will supposedly be mailed their awards, though I still haven't received mine yet (yes, I did win an award -- 1st in my age group). Other than those minor problems though, this was a great race. read more

Race was well-organized, lots of spectator support and music. Start was based on estimated time, not formal corrals. I came from 50 miles away and parked in the Central Park shopping center, right off I-95; -- one of the approved parking areas, which was easy to get to but about a 20-25 minute walk to the start and finish area. I just followed the crowd off the interstate. There seemed to be hotels essentially right next to the starting line. Rolling hills gave the course a hilly feel for about miles 2-8. Then Hospital Hill was a total bear after mile 10. This was comparable to the hill at the DC Rock n Roll Half, only longer and later in the race. Then there was another somewhat bad hill along Cowan Blvd for a good part of mile 12 before the course finally flattens out during the last mile and toward the end. Humidity was high today too. It was kind of cool to run by the Rappahannock River at what looked like a flood stage. This is definitely the most challenging course I've run on the east coast. I ran San Francisco Rock n Roll half last month, and even that course was relatively flat the last 3-4 miles. read more