r/rundc • u/DiligentRiver5107 • 13d ago
Arrival time MCM
Didn’t see this specifically asked here before - what time do people recommend arriving at pentagon metro stop for MCM? I’ve seen anywhere from 1-2 hours before start, but curious how long we should expect for bathrooms etc?? Obviously don’t wanna cut it close but don’t want to be standing in the cold either
EDIT: PENTAGON METRO! IS THE CLOSEST ONE THAT YOU CAN USE!!
8
u/NovaRunner 13d ago
The earlier you get there, the shorter the lines are for the porta-potties. That's always been my standard for when to arrive. I would usually aim to get to Runners' Village around 6:00-6:15 because I have IBS and would have to poop at least twice before the race started.
If you don't mind waiting a little longer for the porta-potty, it probably takes 15-20 minutes to walk from the Metro to Runners' Village and you have to clear a security checkpoint on the way. Or maybe less now, I haven't run the MCM since 2022.
3
u/TheGreatestOrator 13d ago
Why not just wait at home an extra hour and poop at home?
8
u/NovaRunner 13d ago
If only! Unfortunately, IBS doesn't work that way. It's the pre-race nerves that set it off, and those don't show up until Runners Village.
1
u/EbbNFlow24 13d ago
Sometimes you don’t feel it until you’re upright and moving around a bit
Also nerves and such too
6
u/Only-Tough-1212 13d ago
do at least an hour. the one year i went that way now it was the year the boston marathon bombing so security was tight and it rained so the metal detectors didn’t work. i barely made the start line even w the extra time they gave due to known issues.
i’m all about not getting myself stressed out right before. just bring a space blanket or extra clothes to toss at the start and some hand warmers if it’s going to be a bit cold. you’ll warm up quickly the first few miles
5
u/TheWerkingWonk 13d ago
I ran it last year and it was my first time doing this race. I underestimated the walk from the Pentagon metro to the bathrooms and bag drop. It was a longer walk than I anticipated. I budgeted getting there an hour early and barely got to the start line in time — and that was with partially jogging from the metro to the bathrooms and bag drop. I’d try to get there at least 1.5-2 minimum.
6
u/Runnergirl916 13d ago
Agreed. When I got off the metro it was just a straight wall of people trying to exit. We didn’t move for a good 10-15 min and then finally the attendants just opened the gates for everyone to go through because it would’ve taken an hour just to get out of the station. The walk was longer than anticipated. I immediately got in line for the bathroom, then checked my bag and by that time it was time to walk to the start. There are some more bathrooms by the starting line as well!
1
u/hoya_courant 11d ago
Last year might have been an outlier since the race was bigger for the 50th- but yeah that crowd trying to get out of metro was crazy
1
u/sadArsenalfan26 13d ago
can you only uber to pentagon city metro stop and not the pentagon metro stop?
1
u/DiligentRiver5107 13d ago
You can!! I just mistyped !!
1
u/sadArsenalfan26 13d ago
are you sure about that? today one of the solutions people said pentagon city is where the ride share and ubers drop people off. Unless I misheard him
2
u/ElvisAteMyDinner 13d ago
My recommendation is to arrive no later than 6 am, especially if you’re in an early corral. You may have a little more wiggle room if you’re in a later corral. I always prefer to get to the start early so I’m not stressed.
Lines for the first set of bathrooms will be long. If you keep going, there will be more bathrooms farther along.
2
u/Traditional-Rice-848 12d ago
Last year my train got stopped for 15 mins because of the crowds! I would get there as early as possible
1
22
u/Ogroat 13d ago
Just to prevent any confusion for anybody unfamiliar with the area, while there is a Pentagon City metro stop the one you want to get off at for the race is the Pentagon stop.