Historic Half Marathon Draws Thousands to Downtown Fredericksburg

With the 5th annual Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon taking place, it is apparent that support for Marines is expanding and growing each year. The event is not only a great opportunity for healthy physical activity, but an effective means to promote and raise funds for charities. Furthermore, it was evident that many of the runners were pleased to represent their friends and family members who served in the Marines.

One such runner was Miranda Owens, who had traveled all the way from her home in Phoenix, Ariz., to run for the event, representing her father and her charity. Captain C.R. McGuire, Miranda's father, served in the Marines during the Vietnam War and suffered from Parkinson's disease later in his life. In remembrance and honor of her father, Miranda annually attends the Historic Half Marathon and raises funds for her charity, Team Fox, which serves to generate funds and support for Parkinson's research.

Amazing as it may seem, Miranda's support and devotion to her father and her cause is more the norm rather than the exception among runners in the Historic Half Marathon. While some participants are local and attend the event for the exercise and fun challenge it represents, several runners travel across the country to represent their friends and loved ones. In Miranda's case, her charity and her family happen to be a related cause. Before leaving for warmups, Miranda also stated her own personal goals: that she hoped to finish the 13.1-mile race within two hours, averaging out to be about nine minutes a mile. This is her third marathon this year and she hopes to complete four. 

As the starting gun fired, three different events took place: first, the hand cyclists and wheel chair participants took off, followed by the half-marathon runners, and then followed by the 6.5-mile runners 15 minutes later. As the morning unfolded, the runners took off into the sunrise in what looks to be an excellent day for a marathon. The weather was perfect and the environment of historic downtown Fredericksburg offers a beautiful scene and experience for runners to enjoy throughout the event. With each year the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon grows adding more runners, events, and festivities. It draws dedicated participants from all over Northern Virginia and across the United States to support their friends, family, charities, and most notably, the Marine Corps.