I hadn't noticed in the previously released information, but apparently there are 40,000 bibs for this year's MCM. The largest combined field (when it was just the marathon and the 10k) was just over 30,000 -- over a decade ago. Oh, and the several thousand who were part of the 10k have a totally different starting line -- so it was closer to about 25,000 who were crossing the marathon's start line.
MCM typically uses the roadway on both sides of the median on Route 1 for its start line (though, unfathomably, last year they only used one side). With that and a 7:55am start time, it usually takes about 20-25 minutes to get everyone across the start line, which gives the back-of-the-pack runners just enough time to hit their marks in keeping the 14-minute/mile minimum pace and make all three of the gauntlets.
With an extra 15,000 people on-hand, will we be able to get that many extra people across while using a 7:15am start time? In theory it should be doable, but I'm not so sure. And if they only use the one side again, there's zero chance that timing will work out properly.
Other logistical issues that might be huge problems:
Security: Sure, they won't need to screen any of the spectators who joined their runners in the runner village pre-race, but at the same time they have removed one of the two security zones that have been in operation for well over a decade. (I only started running MCM in 2012, so don't know if the Rosslyn-side checkpoint was always there, or started at some later point. For me, it's always been there.) This could wind up being the biggest problem - especially if there are technical issues with metal detectors, or they are unexpectedly understaffed, or there is a problem with Metro that delays a large number of arrivals so that Metro is even more packed than it would otherwise be, and even larger waves of crowds descend all at once, rather than being spread out over a bit more time.
Water: A couple of years ago, it was a SCORCHER of a day (more so than most MCMs). During the pre-race announcements, it sounded like they were bragging about the fact that they had 30,000 gallons of water on course. The moment they said that, I knew there would be enormous problems because that was guaranteed to be FAR too little water, given that most people rely on the water on the course to drink, and on hot days not only do they drink more, but LOTS of people will use multiple cups of water at each station to throw over their head to keep cooler (for a brief time, anyway). One gallon of water per runner under those circumstances was NOT enough. People were apparently dropping like flies. The emergency services were overwhelmed. DC ran out of ambulances to use, emergency rooms were overflowing. Enough so that MCM cut off 30 minutes from the time limit, which also hosed the back-of-the-pack runners who were otherwise on pace, but then were either cut off before the Gauntlet or re-routed to chop off part of Crystal City, thereby not finishing the full distance. If we have the same conditions this year, and they didn't learn the lesson of much more water being needed on the overly hot days, the emergency services will be even more overwhelmed.
While I'm looking forward to running MCM, as usual, and happy to be on the pace team yet again this year, I do dread that some of the logistics will ruin the experience for many/most. Fingers crossed that it's more over-worrying that doesn't actually come to fruition.
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