Marine Corps Marathon Filled With 30,000 Stories

CBS DC | By Chuck Carroll | October 26, 2014 1:59 PM | Link to Article

WASHINGTON (WNEW) — The Marine Corps Marathon, also known as “The People’s Marathon,” symbolizes the values of the Marine Corps.

Many service members ran or pedaled the 26.2 miles for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

For Marine Gunnery Sgt. Guillermo Tejada it’s more than a marathon. It’s a reminder of Nov. 11, 2010.

“That day I got struck by an I.E.D. and I lost both of my legs on impact,” Tejada says.

His platoon in Afghanistan was ambushed and he clung to life for nearly an hour before he could be safely evacuated. Now he pedals a handcycle given to him by the Semper Fi Fund for his fellow Marines who he says weren’t as lucky as he is.

“I still got my life…something that was taken from a lot of my brothers,” Tejada says. “A big part of me does it for them.”
The marathon is filled with 30,000 stories but the first woman to cross the finish line didn’t think hers would be one of them.
The men’s division winner, Specialist Samuel Kosgei, is no stranger to distance running but Army Captain Meghan Curran, who won the women’s division, had never run a marathon before.

“I got out to run this two weeks ago for Army so it was a good first marathon,” Curran says.
Before now, the longest Curran had ever run in her life was 20 miles. She was able to keep an average pace of 6:33 as she completed a clean sweep for Team Army.

PHOTOS: MARINE CORPS MARATHON IN D.C. AREA

Curran, an Arlington native, crossed the finish line at 2:51:47 and was 59th overall. Kosgie, coming from Junction City, Kansas, finished at 2:22:12.

And on the last hill before the finish line, Kosgei says he’s glad nobody was close to him.

“That’s the hardest hill ever,” Kosgei says. “That was a surprise.”

You winner, Samuel Kosgei. 2:22:12 … He plans on running 2 more miles for cool down. @WNEW #MCM pic.twitter.com/cxgaHQFlE1

— Chuck Carroll (@TheChuckCarroll) October 26, 2014

The marathon began in Arlington between the Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon. The course moved through Rosslyn along Lee Highway before turning on Spout Run and the George Washington Parkway.

The route continues around D.C. until it ends back in Arlington at the Marine Corps War Memorial.

WNEW’s Chuck Carroll contributed to this report. Follow him and WNEW on Twitter.