Indianapolis Monumental Marathon

Indianapolis Monumental Marathon

Indianapolis Monumental Marathon

( 61 reviews )
98% of reviewers recommend this race
  • Indianapolis,
    Indiana,
    United States
  • November
  • 3 miles/5K, 13.1 miles/Half Marathon, 26.2 miles/Marathon
  • Road Race
  • Event Website

Henry Howard

Indiana, United States
10 11
2017
"An epic race from start to finish"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Henry Howard's thoughts:

This year was the sixth consecutive time I've raced the Indianapolis Monumental marathon. It's been a series of firsts — first marathon, first time breaking four hours and first (and second) times with Boston Marathon qualifiers.
But it's how the race is organized that keeps me coming back. The Monumental is first class from the easy registration, which opens Jan. 1 at a super discount, to the expo to the volunteers during the race.
The expo is in the downtown convention center, which is incredibly easy to get to, regardless of where you are staying in downtown Indy (for out-of-towners). There are plenty of vendors, other races offering information and discounts, and packet pickup is a breeze. They also provide a free race poster. Each year the design incorporates every runner's name in small print (for those who have signed up early enough). It's fun to find your name — but you might have to have a younger person scour the names — they are in a really tiny print.
The race T-shirts are gender-specific, are well-designed and fit great.
On race day, the finish and start lines are a few blocks apart with plenty of downtown parking garages and lots a reasonable distance away. Port-a-potties are plentiful and there are many volunteers with "Ask Me" signs who can assist runners.
One issue I have had and raised with race representatives previously is the lack of corrals. Previously, in the first mile or two of the race, faster runners would have to dodge slower runners who decided to start near the front but then slowed to a walk or had a much slower pace than their self-seeding placement. Finally, for this year, the Monumental institute corrals. This worked out much better this year.
The race is flat and fast and is among the nation's most prolific Boston Marathon qualifiers. Beyond that, it takes runners on a scenic journey past Indy landmarks such as Lucas Oil Stadium (the Colts' home, which has also hosted at least one Super Bowl), the downtown circle, neighborhoods such as hip Broad Ripple, Butler University, an art museum and back to downtown.
There are aid stations aplenty — water, Gatorade are available at all of them. Some have Clif bars and chews, gels, bananas, oranges and more. In some of the residential areas, homeowners hand out water and doughnuts, and there is always one guy with a basket of Halloween leftovers. (The race is always held the first Saturday of November.)
Speaking of Indy residents, the crowds are spectacular. There are very few places along the race course where there are no spectators, and there are large cheer sections, especially the first few miles and final few miles. The race is sort of a loop, which also means that spectators can greet their runners at several different locations.
The finish line area is well organized with friendly volunteers. After finishing, runners receive a space blanket (race temps are generally in the 40s/low 50s), a knit cap and of course the medal. Water, Gatorade, chocolate milk and food is readily available. That brings me to another one of my nitpicks — as someone who has to be on a gluten-free diet, there are not enough food options at the finish. Drinks are fine, as are bananas, apples and some of the chips they had this year. But the pizza, Clif bars and cookies did nothing for me.
This year was also the celebration of the Monumental's 10th anniversary. Those who finished either the full or half this year and each of the previous three years, could buy a nice case to display each of the medals, which had small cutaways in the corner that add up a neat design when displayed.
The Indy Monumental does a lot of things right. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a nice fall race, whether you are looking to BQ, add Indiana to a 50-state goal or run a shorter distance — half or 5K.

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