It’s the coup de grace of all dares, the sinister double-dog-dare. Starting last year, the Marine Corps Historic Half dared participants to scale the challenging Hospital Hill not once, but twice in one morning, by participating in the Semper 5ive and then turning around to complete the 13.1 Half.
Runners accepted the challenge and sold out the inaugural Devil Dog Double, completing 18.1 miles over two events and earning three finisher medals. A maximum pace-per-mile was set, that when not met, shut down runners at the Semper 5ive finish. Sadly, for several, this proved to be the case, despite a mad dash to reach the finish as the fences were closing.
In 2018, the field will be doubled to accommodate 1,200 “Doublers” and the pace requirement will be stretched to ten minutes-per-mile.
The 2018 event, happening on May 20, will launch runners at 6:40 a.m. from the Semper 5ive start line. Participants must reach the finish and make the tight u-turn to start the Historic Half portion of the Double by 7:30 a.m. The 13.1 mile course closes at 11 a.m.
Runners depart the event with bounty of bling and bragging rights for having conquered Hospital Hill twice. For those unfamiliar with Hospital Hill, it’s a 0.53-mile segment of the Historic Half and Semper 5ive courses in the middle of a two-mile uphill climb. The much-talked-about Hospital Hill stretches over 930 yards in which the hill’s elevation doubles from 100 feet to 200 feet, or the equivalent of climbing to the top of a ten story building.
Every dog has its day. Registration for the Devil Dog Double is $85 and opens on January 17.
Thanks for visiting this archived blog. The content and details are specific only for the event year highlighted in this article. For current information, please visit the event page within the MCM website.
Related Articles
Running Into Love: How Lace-Up Miles Can Bring Us Closer Together
Author: Amber Roca, MCMO Marketing and Sponsorship Manager Love is in the air, and it’s not just about chocolates and flowers – it’s about the power of connection, health, and joy. Running is one of the simplest yet most profound ways to experience all of those. Whether you’re running solo or sharing the experience with […]
The Role of Running in the Attention Economy of an IT Driven World
Author: Alex Hetherington, MCMO Race Director In a fast-paced world increasingly dominated by information technology, where emails, notifications, and constant updates vie for our attention, running offers a unique antidote. The IT platform and social media attention economy thrives on capturing and redirecting focus, often at the expense of our mental and physical well-being. Running, […]
New Year’s Running Resolution: Focus on Experience and Consistency
Author: Alex Hetherington, MCMO Race Director As the New Year begins, many runners set ambitious goals: hitting personal bests, increasing mileage, or chasing new achievements. While these objectives can be motivating, this year, consider a different approach—focusing more on the experience and consistency of running, and less on the comparables and data points. By doing […]