In its 48th edition, the fixture of each fall in the D.C. area returned with its usual customs. Uniformed Marines handed out water, encouraged runners up a cruel closing hill and offered medical support to exhausted finishers. Spectators lined up under gold and auburn trees, holding neon signs celebrating otherwise anonymous runners — some wearing Halloween costumes, others holding American flags — who made their way through the sounds of shrieks, whoops and cowbells, mixed in with the occasional military snare drum and bagpipes.
The winner of the marathon was Julius Kogo, a 38-year-old from Kenya who finished in 2:25:56. The first woman to complete the race was Bonnie Keating, 38, of San Diego, in 2:50:49. Calum Neff, a 39-year-old from Fulshear, Tex., won the 50k in a course record 2:55:56, while Arlington’s Anna Staats, 24, was the top female finisher in 3:35:57. All results were preliminary.
Burdette, 42, and DiLegge, 34, competed Sunday after first meeting in 2014 through Athletes Serving Athletes, a nonprofit that brings together individuals with and without disabilities to participate as teams in running events. Burdette, an avid runner from Churchville, Md., who has completed 86 marathons and ultramarathons, was a volunteer with the group. DiLegge, inspired by watching his hometown Baltimore Marathon on television, joined for the chance to compete in races of his own.
The pair first raced together at the Charles Street 12 in 2014; Burdette teamed with two other volunteers to push DiLegge 12 miles down the historic Baltimore roadway. Right away, Burdette was drawn to DiLegge’s competitiveness, the way he would become animated when they passed other runners and quietly disappointed whenever their group of four lagged behind.
Burdette figured he and DiLegge might be able to go faster running as a duo. With that, Team Kevin was born — and Burdette and DiLegge quickly discovered they were each other’s ideal running partner.
“Matt’s the best guy for the job,” DiLegge said.
Added Burdette: “I’ve never found anyone that I’m comfortable running with; they’re either too fast or too slow for me. And by nature of how we work, [Kevin is] the perfect speed because he’s as fast as I am.”
But it wasn’t just speed that made Burdette and DiLegge an ideal pair. They started to forge a friendship, filling their runs with conversations about the Orioles, the Ravens, their families and their lives. Soon, their relationship grew outside of running. They would go bowling, celebrate birthdays together and meet each other’s families.
“Kevin’s run with so many other people, but nobody’s [like] Matt,” said Mary DiLegge, Kevin’s mother. “As much as there’s a difference physically, they just connect in such a way and know each other so well.”
After completing the 12-miler, Team Kevin started tackling marathons — 12 of them, at an average pace of 3:45. Among the first and most memorable of these was the 2016 Boston Marathon. The following year, they conquered their first Marine Corps Marathon. In 2018 and 2022, they crossed the finish line at the Baltimore Marathon, completing the race that sparked DiLegge’s passion for running.
True to his competitive spirit, DiLegge was the one with the idea to take on an ultramarathon, the term for any race longer than a traditional 26.2-miler. Burdette was willing, but it was hard to find the right race. Many ultramarathons take place on trails, which are inhospitable to jogging strollers.
In 2019, the Marine Corps Marathon started to stage a 50k (approximately 31 miles). The event is held entirely on pavement — perfect for Burdette and DiLegge.
The Marine Corps Marathon — the 26.2-mile iteration — has a long history of including participants with disabilities. Eight push-rim wheelchair competitors, 56 duo teams and 69 hand cyclists were registered for this year’s event, according to race director Alex Hetherington.
Now Team Kevin has broken new ground for disability inclusion in the 50k.
“They’re incredibly inspiring to watch — just the sheer enjoyment that Kevin obviously derives from that relationship,” Hetherington said. “It was just an impressive CV with their record of achievement and a well-constructed proposal.”
After Team Kevin completed its longest run to date, Burdette reached over the top of DiLegge’s jogger to pat him on the chest. Later, Burdette draped a chunky race medal around his friend, who had a wide, toothy grin stretched across his face. “Mission accomplished,” the public address announcer declared.
“When I met Kevin, I felt like it was divine intervention — like we were meant to meet and run together and share all the things that we have,” Burdette said. “We started out as two guys who are super competitive and love to run, and it’s become a really good friendship.”
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