U.S. Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA) and "NCIS" television star David McCallum fired the starting pistols for second-largest Marine Corps Historic Half in the event's eight year history with 7,777 total finishers completing the Historic Half, Historic 10K and Semper Fred 5K events. There were 6,245 finishers in the half marathon, 821 in the 10K and 711 runners who completed the 5K.

VA Runner's own Steven Harrison, 26, finished first place overall breezing through the 13.1 mile course in 1:14:59. The top female finisher was Britta Ultz Baxter, 36, of King George, VA, who crossed the finish line at 1:27:33.

Historic 10K winner Aaron Naraine, 16, of Fredericksburg, VA, finished first in that event at 41:18. Chelsea Hill, 24, of Richmond, VA and representing sponsor Select Physical Therapy, finished in a flat 45:00. Another 16-year-old took first place in the Semper Fred 5K as Tanner Jacobs of Stafford won the event in19:43. Two Fredericksburg sisters took first and third place among the women running the Semper Fred 5K. Gabrielle Martinez, 20, finished first at 21:47 while her sister, Danielle Martinez, 18, arrived just a minute after in 22:47, placing third. The Marine Corps Historic events drew participants from 47 states and nine countries.

Historic Half participants may be familiar with the event's 13.1 logo that showcases the Hugh Mercer Statue standing proudly above the runners at mile six on the course. Mercer served the citizens of Fredericksburg with medicines and treatments of the time in the Apothecary Shop, which has been replicated on Caroline Street near Mile 7.5. He practiced medicine for 15 years in Fredericksburg for patients including George Washington's mother, Mary. In 1774, Washington sold Ferry Farm, his childhood home, to Mercer, who would eventually leave his practice to join the Revolutionary army. Mercer died as a Brigadier General at the Battle of Princeton in 1777. The stone background section of the medal in the arch was crafted from an image of Fredericksburg's Sunken Road. During the first Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862, this stone wall protected soldiers fortunate to be standing behind it. After the war, much of the wall was removed. A portion was rebuilt in the 1930's and in again 2004. The image of the stone wall along Sunken Road was also used as background on the Historic Half bib.

If you finished one of the three Historic Half Weekend events, you are one-third of the way to earning the Distinguished Participant medal awarded by the MCM and VA Runner. To earn this distinction, runners must complete any event during Marine Corps Historic Half Weekend, Run Amuck (June 13) and the Turkey Trot 10K (November 21). All qualified Distinguished Participants will receive a stunning custom medal, as well as access to special events and discounts at VA Runner. The VA Runner Distinguished Participant award serves as an incentive to make an on-going commitment to health and fitness that spans the entire MCM event season. Distinguished Participant medals will be presented at the 2015 Turkey Trot. To qualify, runners must be officially registered for an event and may not obtain a bib from another registered participant. Registration is open now for Run Amuck. Turkey Trot 10K opens in October.

The scenery was memorable, the Marines were motivating, you scaled Hospital Hill and, best of all, MarathonFoto captured all the action by taking over 111,000 images on event morning, averaging almost 14 shots per participant. Check out the many in-action images featuring you and every other runner along the Historic Half, Historic 10K and Semper Fred courses. Photos are available for purchase as digital files or on commemorative products.

Thank you in advance for taking some time to answer the Historic Half Runner Feedback Survey. The information shared by Historic Half participants supports the planning process for next year's Historic Half Weekend.
Finisher results and split-time information can be accessed through the Historic Half website. A downloadable certificate is also available for Semper Fred 5K, Historic 10K and Historic Half participants to print and proudly display. A special celebration shout-out to the 127 Iron Mile Company runners who have officially finished every Historic Half since 2008. Thank you to all the volunteers who supported the runners at Packet Pick-up, on the course and at the finish. 
Register now for Run Amuck, the MCM's messiest mud and obstacle event featuring four miles of arduous obstacles and plenty of mud on Saturday, June 13. Run Amuck and the scaled down two-mile version of the course, Mini Run Amuck, is appropriately wild fun for rowdy runners (age 8 and up), outrageous athletes and fun-loving families. Run Amuck participants attack the mud trench, lumber through a low crawl and indulge in a super sloppy mud pit, just three of more than 20 challenges that await participants along the hideously hilly course tucked into the wooden terrain of Marine Corps Base Quantico. New challenges include crossing the rope bridge, leaping the log jam and scampering up the cargo net pyramid.
The Quantico Tri is introducing a new open-water swim as part of this year's event on Aug. 22 on Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA. In celebration of this open-water event, the Tri will provide seaweed in post-event hospitality and also, for the first time, present finisher medals. In addition to the open-water swim, the sprint event will include a 12.4-mile bike ride and 5K run. Online registration is open now.
The MCM10K presented by Aetna offers runners the chance to run around the Mall to the same inspirational finish as the MCM at the Marine Corps War Memorial. Mix in thousands of wild spectators, the Capitol and a colorful run through Crystal City. The MCM10K hosts 10,000 participants on Sunday, October 25, the same morning as the MCM. Registration sells out annually and, right now, the field is over 40 percent filled. So jump in and #RunWithTheMarines, again.
The MCM Kids Run is a one-mile run for children ages 5-12 on October 24, the day prior to the MCM. Every kid gets a medal, shirt and healthy snacks. As part of the fun, the Pentagon North parking lot is transformed into a family fitness festival including mascots, exciting activities, physical challenges and cool exhibits from Silver Diner, Sodexo, Watermelon.org and more! Even though you just figured out your summer camp schedule, take time to register now and make sure your kids are part of a great day.