I'm going to be that annoying person who posts and re-posts as things other people say trigger things in me... but one problem was that on the mall there was minimal crowd control and at points it became pretty narrow because of the crowd creeping onto the course. My friends who were spectating said that when the really fast runners were coming through it was down to almost a single lane because all of the spectators crushed forward to see.

I second having baggage pick up closer to the finish line!  What is the sport drink going to be?

Can you ask about the buses at the end... maybe have more... or something to shuttle people back to CC and other metro places. I waited with my dad and bro forever and finally gave up and started walking back to CC metro. my knee was busted and my dads were about to lock up. It was a painful walk since my knee was huge by this point and I was almost in tears... I had just PRed in a marathon I thought walking a mile or 2 wouldnt be too bad. We were lucking and flagged down a guy leaving the pentagon who tooK pity on us and drove us to CC. I am sure we made his car smell great.... He was my knight in shining armor that day...

also the line for beer was WAY too long.

My only issue last year was that I wanted a Finisher shirt and Brooks ran out. I think a few others were upset about their items too.

I can't offer a solution (other than Nike) as I'm sure their deal with Brooks is already set up. My question or suggestion to him is to get Brooks to do a better job with having an adequate supply of the merchandise.

I never got a finisher shirt either.  And by the way Zoom, just let those nice young marines be at the finish, I really appreciate all that eye candy, it made those 26.2 miles worth while.  Those marines were as good as the hug I got from you.

I thought the brown was hideous but I still wear it proudly. And Jerry I could hug you. I could have sworn my shirt shrank but then I figured I just got fat after the marathon. Even though I didn't gain any weight. I just assumed marathon Kat was as tiny as she got and then after that it was all uphill from there and my shirt just didn't fit as well. But shrinking cotton would be a more logical explanation!

I like gray or blue as a color choice.  Red would be great also, and it's a Marine color to boot.  Last year's shirt is still neatly folded in my closet.  It's just tough to wear a shirt that is a 99% match to my complexion. As I mentioned last year, when I put the shirt on, it was hard to tell where it ended and I began.     Talk to you soon.

Karl