Nov 12, 2008 by Marine Corps News

Travis J. Crewdson

ARLINGTON, Va. — About one-third of the competitive field at the 33rd annual Marine Corps Marathon had never participated 26.2-mile tests of endurance. Among that amateur group were the first-place male and female finishers in the race of nearly 20,000 runners Sunday.

Arlington novice Andrew Dumm, 23, was the first male on top at 2 hours, 22 minutes, 44 seconds. Almost 30 minutes later, Cate Fenster, a 37-year-old from Wooster, Ohio, was the first woman to cross the finish line at 2:48:55.

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As the largest race in the world without prize money, the MCM attracts those seeking pride, looking for a fun first-time marathon, or trying to qualify for Boston.

Runners poured across the starting line for several minutes after a cold, overcast 8 a.m. start. The weather later turned sunny and crisp.

Runners battled inclines for the first four miles before taking the hill down to the 4-mile marker and the Key Bridge, where runners took a turn into Georgetown, which had been removed from last year’s route. As the front-runners headed out to Hains Point between miles 12 and 13, Dumm broke into the lead.

"I just wanted to use Hains Point because that’s a little bit of a lonely stretch of the race to make a move," the American University graduate student said. "It’s a pretty good psychological area to do so."

Participants ran down the National Mall to the Capitol, where Dumm maintained his lead ignoring a bleeding right foot.

"The marathon was exactly what I thought it would be," Fenster said. "I felt good for most of the way, but at mile 20, I could feel the bricks coming. I was kind of shocked to win."

The marathon posed a challenge for the teams as well.

The U.S. Marine Corps team upset the British Royal Navy/Marine team by winning the Challenge Cup, a traditional competition between the trans-Atlantic rivals since 1978.

While Gen. James Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, was on site encouraging runners, Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent, 16th sergeant major of the Marine Corps, was finishing his eighth running of the race in a personal best time of 3:37:18.

Along with a few route changes, the marathon also altered other aspects. Several mile markers in Arlington displayed "subway art" featuring a blend of arts and running designed by local graffiti artist Kevin Irvin. Instead of the disposable timing chips of previous years, runners were equipped with a new disposable timing tag to loop through their laces this year.

This year’s race gave many runners an excuse to smile and wave as it was broadcast live on television as well as several Web sites for loved ones at home to view.

With the 33rd barely behind them, the MCM office here at Quantico is already planning the 34th marathon and the second running of the Marine Corps Historic Half, which opens for registration Jan. 7.

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