Here are some photos I took yesterday at the Marine Corps Marathon. My digital camera has some spots on the lens (from underwater use and some use in other austere environments) but you get the picture(s) nonetheless 
I had originally set out to take some pictures of the marathon yesterday. When I got there I got motivated, with the Marine Corps V-22 Ospreys flying overhead and all, and decided to run some bandit miles. With no training (2-5 mile runs a few times a week), I made it to the 14 mile mark – marking my first, unofficial, half marathon. Unfortunately this running got in the way of my picture taking.
I definitely intend to run a full Marathon in the near future. Yesterday was inspiring. None of the shorter races that I've participated in had the amount of people cheering the runners on. The overall energy accounted for at least eight of my miles. The Marine Corps Marathon in particular, with Marines scattered throughout the race passing out water, Poweraide and energy gel, and the course which gives a you a pleasantly distracting tour of the Nation's capital and its monuments, provides for a motivating running environment – to say the least. I came across a random Marine general passing out gu. I even met a few former Dutch Marines to practice my Dutch with. They obviously choose this race because of their military ties and allegiance to the U.S. As a former jarhead myself this just may be my marathon to shoot for next year.
