Unfolding at the 12-mile mark of the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM), the Blue Mile at Hains Point is an emotional stretch. Gold Star families and posters of fallen service members line this D.C. segment of the race, paying tribute to those who have given their lives in defense of our nation and the Constitution. For many runners, the passage is a time of reflection, remembrance and catharsis.
Each year’s roughly 30,000 race participants also wend their way through 10 miles of Arlington County, starting with the first 4.4 miles of the course. That setting is similarly symbolic, according to MCM Director Alexander Hetherington. “Arlington was selected due to the deep reverence all Marines hold for the Marine Corps War Memorial [aka the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington Ridge Park]…which is dedicated to all Marines who have given their lives in service since 1775.”
This year’s race on October 26 is a milestone in and of itself. Now celebrating its 50th year, the 2025 marathon will be held 15 days before its namesake branch of the military marks its 250th birthday.
Arlington’s longstanding MCM connection was honored in 2015 when the section of Wilson Boulevard between North Lynn and North Moore Streets in Rosslyn was officially renamed Marine Corps Marathon Drive. It is here that friends and families gather to celebrate with runners who’ve crossed the finish line.
In what has become an annual tradition, thousands of locals and their pets stand along the race route that passes through Rosslyn, Lyon Village and Colonial Village, offering cheers of encouragement to bibbed athletes. “It’s a uniquely motivating and memorable part of the race experience,” Hetherington says, “showcasing the warmth and hospitality of Arlington’s residents.”
Past recipients of that hospitality have included runners such as Oprah Winfrey, NBC4 meteorologist Chuck Bell, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and former first lady Jill Biden. In 1996, the starting line hosted the marathon’s first wedding ceremony. In 2019, the finish line saw two marriage proposals, as well as a reunion for a pair of siblings who were adopted by different families and had never met.
Over time, the 26.2-mile event has become much more than a test of physical and mental endurance. Says Hetherington: “Military families and veterans often experience the race as an act of hope, triumph, fellowship, remembrance, healing and resilience.”