Marine Corps Marathon Honor And Pride
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Into the fifth mile (across Key Bridge along Canal Road) the leader was Captain Jennifer Ledford, running for women's Marine Corps Challenge Cup team went through mile five in 33:21. In her marathon debut Kristen (Gordon) Henehan of Team Pacers/ Brooks passed in 33:21. Henehan was a three-time All American while attending Georgetown University. In the third was Lisa Thomas of Alexandria, VA passing in 33:23. Thomas ran a 3:07:15 in the 2002 Marine Corps Marathon and in 2003 at Chicago she ran 2:54:47. In 1999 she ran MCM in 3:07:20, placed 10th (3rd 20-24). In 2005, she attended the Hawaii World Championship for the Iron Man triathlon. Alicia Pease, the teammate of Henehan, was fourth in 33:23 and Natasha Roetter trailed her in 33:26. At the 10th mile (Rock Creek Parkway at the Kennedy Center), Henehan passed in 1:05:45, while Thomas and Pease trailed behind in 1:05:46. The trio held together as they went through the half-marathon mark (along Jefferson Drive off Third Street) in 1:25:57. At this early point, no one was willing to make a break for the lead. Along the 15- mile mark (Near the Jefferson Memorial along Maine Avenue), Henehan and Thomas were the dominant runners, passing in 1:38:21. Pease had drifted slightly to 1:38:22. Trailing in fourth was the lead master Martha Merz of Annandale, VA., passing in 1:39:10. Merz, a Bullets Hall of Fame Inductee (1999) Gettysburg College. In addition, she placed first master at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run in 2003 (1:00:27), 2006 (1:02:42), and 2007 (1:01:03). Also, she was the first master at the Army Ten-Miler in 2002 (59:49), 2003 (1:00:36), and 2004 (1:00:57). Henehan and Thomas passed mile 18 (along the Washington Channel, Hains Point) in 1:57:47. Pease held in third place at 1:57:54. Merz was in fourth place at 1:59:00. Claudia Colita of Romania (Team Foot Solutions) was in fifth place at 1:59:17. Colita set a personal record at the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon (May 2007) at 2:48:11. At the Nashville Country Music Hall-Marathon (Ap1i1 2007) Colita set a course record with a 1:16:14. Mile 20 had the runners on HOV Lanes on the Virginia side as they made their way into Crystal City (mile 21) along Crystal Drive. At mile 22 was the turnaround, and the true test of wills was beginning. Henehan and Thomas were matching strides as they passed the mark in 2:23:24. Pease held a narrow gap and passed in 2:25:15. Colita was making a move to get into fourth place with 2:25:35 and Merz passed in 2:26:19. The closing miles along Route 110 were the turning point as positions started to shift and strength and determination had to surface. There was going to be one winner as Henehan and Thomas were battling within the last mile. Henehan proved to be the stronger runner and captured the 32nd title in 2:51:14 and Thomas finished in second with 2:51:40. Colita overpowered Pease and took third in 2:54:19. Gina Shaw of Millington, TN pulled by Pease and took fourth in 2:56:43 as did Merz, as she captured fifth and first master in 2:56:46. Pease faded to sixth in 2:56:56. Merz ran the second fastest time in the age 45-49 in the marathon's history. Also, she has the sixth fastest master winning time. Henehan, while at Georgetown ('01) earned All-American honors in the Outdoor 3000m in 1999 and two All-American awards in 1998 in the Indoor 3000m and cross country. She was the 1996 Footlocker Champion where she posted a 17:01 (SK), 4:46.18 (1600), and 10:19.84 (3200). At the 1997 USATF Junior Nationals she was runner-up finisher in the 3000m. At the Anny Ten-Miler in Washington, DC, she placed sixth in 1:01:15. "I always wanted to run a marathon, but I didn't have the time to train. Last October I got married, and I chose the Marine Corps because I heard good things about it. It's in the city where I went to school. This was my first, and I didn't have a strategy. I wanted to do 6:40 for the first two miles, but the first mile marker was off, and my watch had 8:06. I did not know what to expect, and I was not trying to qualify for the Olympic Trials," stated Henehan. "It was interesting and dynamic at mile 20 Lisa Thomas, and I did change from training mates to competitors. I rode it out with no goal in mind. Lisa and I were trying to break each other. I tried to get a gap, and we both tied," stated Kristen (Gordon) Henehan of Team Pacers/ Brooks. She further states," When in high school and college, I was always known for having a big heart. Near the end of college, my heart was not there. This is the first time my heart came through and I was able to dig down deep." "I had thought I had lost with 30-40 yards, and I thought I would die, and I started to gain on Lisa. Along Route 110, after passing Marshall Drive at the tum around, I had to go by Lisa with authority, ", added Henehan. "My greatest running satisfaction was at the 1998 cross county Nationals where I placed fourth. I was on such a high it was the greatest individual performance, and the Georgetown team placed. My head was in it the entire way," stated Henehan. Henehan had the third closest winning margin in the history of the Marine Corps Marathon. The closest was 17 seconds in 1982, Cynthia Lorenzoni (two-time winner) had 2:44:51 and Vicki Randall had 2:45:07. "I can't help but think "what if'. Overall, I am happy with my race. I really had a good time out there and felt that I ran a strong, small race. It was a three-minute PR and if the conditions had been better, I know that I could have run faster. Even so, I am a little disappointed about the result," stated Lisa Thomas. (Passage from October 28, 2007, Women’s Race, “Ayalew Denie Garcia A History Makes Third Win. Henehan Makes A Statement In Her Debut MCM:
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About the Book
This book is a continuation of a collection of runner’s stories and how they connect to the MCM. The MCM is not like other marathons as it has multiple layers with a common purpose to live up to the name, “The People’s Marathon.” It is a feeling that is generated through the actions of the staff, volunteers, and supporting Marines. In 1977, Kitty Consolo recalls after the race she could barely walk, and a Marine carried her to an aid station. Over the 18 years the planning process followed a set pattern, but each year different challenges were faced. The greatest impact on the sport was in the years 2020 and 2021 with COVID-19. The race was charged with the responsibility of the education of the runners and the new running environment. The education involved the volunteers and vendors. The core aspect of the MCM has remained throughout all the years which includes open male and female competition, master male and female competition, the Challenge Cup (The competition between the Royal Navy / Royal Marines vs U.S, Marine Corps), Armed Forces Marathon Championship and the wheelchair (Both push-rim and various handcycles). The other elements include the Hall of Fame where those who have made contributions to the MCM are given recognition. Each year every runner has a “WHY” they are on the starting line. In the following pages you will understand the reasons. If you are a prior finisher or spectator, you will understand.
About the Author
TSgt. George Banker, U.S. Air Force (retired), served as the Historian on the Marine Corps Marathon Ad Hoc Publicity Committee. He is a journalist and a photographer. Among his 14 military decorations were the Air Force Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. He grew up in a Marine Corps family. Banker retired as the Operations Manager for the Army Ten-Miler and worked at the IBM Corporation for 25 years. Banker is an avid runner who completed 137 marathons, including 39 Marine Corps Marathons and 7 JFK 50 Milers. He is a journalist for the Runner’s Gazette, a writer for Mission:Milspouse.org. Banker is currently part of the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety & Security’s (NCS4) Marathon & Endurance Events Advisory Committee.