

It didn't take long for the public to get excited about the race, either. He passed along the concept to his superiors, who were immediately convinced that his idea had merit.

Fowler thought that a military-sponsored race would engage the public interest and, as a result, help boost the military's popularity, too. On the other hand, recreational running was enjoying a huge resurgence.
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Jim Fowler, who knew that after the Vietnam War, the military wasn't popular in the United States. Here are the stops Goldman suggests for spectators who want to cheer on marathoners.The MCM was conceived by Col. Spectators can see their runner in as many as five locations on the course. Spectating for the Marine Corps Marathon can sometimes be as exhausting as the 26.2-mile race - bouncing around town and dodging road closures. “ this is 26 miles in a pretty close radius.” “What’s nice about the Marine Corps Marathon course is that it’s all pretty close quarters,” Goldman said. The Marine Corps Marathon is a good course for spectators, Goldman said. “We reinforce ‘if you see something, say something’ and hope that they are out there to keep the event as safe as possible,” Goldman said. Still, the marathon relies on spectators to be “agents of good.” “It is intended to keep the experience safe for all those participating in the event - whether they are running or supporting on event day,” he said. There are screening points around the start and finish areas, and spectators will have their bags checked - it’s all part of keeping the race safe, Goldman said. Spectators should leave glass bottles, face masks, drones and big bags at home. “It’s really important to the runners along the way to get that extra burst of energy from seeing their loved ones multiple times throughout the day.”Īlso, spectators want to have the MCM app downloaded on their phone so they can track the runner and receive live updates as runners hit different splits along the course. Some people bring balloons so runners can see their support crew,” he said. Some people get giant cutouts of the runner’s face that they hold up. “You either want to be wearing something identifiable or a sign that is clearly distinguishable. Heading out to cheer on a runner? Don’t forget a way to stand out, Goldman said. Look back at more than 40 years of photos from the Marine Corps Marathon, including winners, volunteers, Marines, spectators and thousands of runners. Marine Corps Marathon: Photos through the years Business & Finance Click to expand menu.
