Charles Ware wins it all in a near Olympic-class 2:19:16.
What a weekend with so many elements of drama. A rare fall storm hit the mid-Atlantic on Saturday bringing not only rain, but hail, sleet, slush, and snow. On Sunday, however, the skies cleared in time for the 36th Marine Corps Marathon where Army 1st Lt. Charles “Chad” Ware from Wheeling, IL won in an impressive 2:19:16 and Tezata Dengera, from Ellicott City, MD by way of Turkey, claimed the women’s title in 2:45:28.
Wounded Warriors led the way at the 8th Navy 5 Mile.
In its eighth year the race was on pace for a big boost over last year’s 1936 finishers. There were nearly 3,000 racers signed up. After being unmercifully dry in the summer, the last month has been swimmingly wet. One of the volunteers noted before the race, “The dew point and the temperature are the same. I don’t envy you racing today.” We had been promised rain all weekend and both mornings were essentially dry. It was going to be great to race!