If you are going to be one of the 20,000+ registered athletes who line up for the start of "The People’s Marathon" in October, than this video is a must if you want to improve your marathon experience. The premise to this video is using the mental strategy of visualization to improve performance, yet it goes far beyond this aspect during the 30 minutes run time. With Don Kardong as your host (you may know him as a Senior Writer for Runner’s World magazine, 1976 Olympic Marathon participant, author, or speaker) the enjoyment of touring the Capital of the United States could not be more enjoyable. Originally released in 2000, this film was updated and make current again in 2003 and is scheduled for another revision in 2004 due to all the course changes.
You will see the course from the view of a pace car with the major landmarks and mile markers described along the way. Many attractions are pointed out with a bit of interesting history described. These landmarks include Arlington Cemetery, the Pentagon, Potomac River, Georgetown, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument, Vietnam Memorial, U.S. Capital Building, Union Station, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Museums, and the Iwo Jima Monument at the finish line. If this seems like a long list, remember that you are in an environment that is blanketed with history.
Six tried and true tips are outlined to make your race day experience a good one: Enlist in a good training program, visualize the course, adjust your training to meet specific course requirements, practice eating and drinking, stay rested, read your race information, be courteous on the course, and stick to your race plan. After watching this video you can imagine being there and if you have yet to consider running this race it will likely move up to the top of your list for next year. Race Director Rick Nealis states "If you want to do your first marathon, you want to be pampered, want to be taken care of, if you want to feel safe, you're going to come running with the Marines."
The Virtual Marine Corps Marathon was once made available from Virtual Brands that has also produced two other videos that cover race courses, Virtual Chicago: The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Course Video and Virtual Van Corlandt Park. If you want to view more information about running this event in the future visit Marine Marathon.com. Here is a parting word by the Host, Don Kardong: "I hope you enjoyed your virtual tour of the Marine Corps Marathon. Watch it again if you like. Visualize it as you train and recall it on race morning. It’s a long forced march, as you know, and one you will get more tired with each step. It's a struggle, no question about it, but you know what, when you reach the line your going to feel really really good. Have fun in Washington, D.C., you owe it all to the Marines, and of course to your own fortitude."
With the course changing in 2002, this video was updated from it's original 2000 production in 2003 to reflect the changes in the course (The Hains Point loop (miles 17-20) will be replaced by an out and back loop on Rock Creek Parkway (toward the end of the first half of the race) and an additional expansion of approximately one mile in the North parking lot of the Pentagon (mile 4-5, corresponding to Water Point #3 shown in the video). Both editions have a run time of 30 minutes and unfortunately this production is no longer available through vbvideo.com.
