50th Marine Corps Marathon: New Record Set, Marine Major Claims Third Win

The 50th running of the Marine Corps Marathon (or MCM for short) featured winners who are no strangers to the podium. Tessa Barrett crossed the finish line at the Marine Corps War Memorial Sunday morning, clocking a course-record time of 2:34:08 to claim the women's title. The 29-year-old Arlington resident outpaced the field by nearly nine minutes, securing her second consecutive MCM victory. On the men's side, Marine Major Kyle King defended his crown (having won in 2024 and previously in 2022) with a winning time of 2:18:51, holding off a strong international contingent.

The Race

The race drew over 40,000 registered runners, making it the third-largest marathon in North America and surpassing Boston's field for the first time. Organizers reported nearly 30,000 finishers despite cloudy skies and temperatures hovering in the low 50s. Runners navigated the iconic 26.2-mile course from Rosslyn through the National Mall, past the Lincoln Memorial and Capitol, before tackling the "Beat the Bridge" challenge at mile 20 and the final uphill push to the Iwo Jima statue.

Background

Barrett's performance capped a weekend of milestones for the event, which traces its roots to a 1975 memo from Col. James L. Fowler to Maj. Gen. Michael P. Ryan. The idea: a marathon to build goodwill between the post-Vietnam Marine Corps and the public while qualifying active-duty leathernecks for Boston. The first race in 1976 drew 1,175 participants, the largest debut marathon in U.S. history at the time. By 1978, it shifted fully to active-duty management, evolving into "The People's Marathon,” the world's largest without prize money.

Over five decades, the MCM has seen Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas finish in 1980, Oprah Winfrey in 1994, and former First Lady Jill Biden in 1998. It endured a 2020 cancellation due to COVID-19, the only skip in its history, but rebounded stronger each year. This edition honored the legacy with a two-day Health and Fitness Expo at the Gaylord National Resort, featuring bib pickups, clinics, and vendor booths. The Finish Festival in Rosslyn drew families and spectators until the afternoon, complete with live music and recovery zones.

Marine Corps officials emphasized the event's role in promoting fitness and community ties. "It’s not about elite runners dropping in for a cash prize; it’s about the military and everyday runners who make up the sport," said MCM Director Rick Nealis in a previous interview. Active-duty Marines lined the course, providing aid stations and security, while the Adopt-a-Mile program saw local groups cheer along every segment.

Marine Corps Major Kyle King, a former Winthrop University standout, credited his strategy of pacing with the lead pack for the repeat win. "The support from the crowds and Marines kept me going," he said post-race. 

Barrett, training locally along the Potomac, called the record "a dream realized on home turf." Her mark eclipsed the previous women's course best by over five minutes, set in 1991.

The MCM's growth highlights positive trends in military outreach. Nearly 700,000 runners have crossed the line since 1976, with participants from all 50 states and over 50 countries. For many service members, it's a chance to qualify for majors while honoring the Corps' values of honor, courage, and commitment.

As the sun still hung high in Crystal City, volunteers tallied results and packed up. The 50th MCM proved once again why it endures: accessible, patriotic, and relentlessly inclusive.