Now one of the 20 largest marathon’s in the US, the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon is the ideal fall marathon for everyone from the first time marathon runner to elite athletes. Starting and finishing at the Indiana State Capitol, the course highlights landmarks and historical neighborhoods throughout Indianapolis. Nationally recognized as …
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Now one of the 20 largest marathon’s in the US, the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon is the ideal fall marathon for everyone from the first time marathon runner to elite athletes. Starting and finishing at the Indiana State Capitol, the course highlights landmarks and historical neighborhoods throughout Indianapolis. Nationally recognized as flat and fast, event hosted Olympians, PR seekers, and thousands of Boston Marathon qualifiers.
Along with a half marathon, 5K, and kids fun run, race weekend is full of events for the entire family. The Indianapolis Monumental Health and Fitness Expo at the Indiana Convention Center kicks off the event with two days of talented expo speakers, vendors, and opportunities to show your monumental spirit.
As a 501(c)3 non profit, the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon has donated more than $675,000 to support local public education and serve the mission of educating Indianapolis youth on the benefits of exercise, proper diet and healthy living.
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Great event that’s large
This is a great event. It’s very large and the crowds are huge. It’s a great flat course with tons of aid and water stations. Everyone was very nice and … MORE
This is a great event. It’s very large and the crowds are huge. It’s a great flat course with tons of aid and water stations. Everyone was very nice and helpful and I had a good run! It’s a very crowded course so there’s a lot of dodging people the entire time. I definitely recommend it to anyone thinking about it for next year.
Fast, Fun Race!
The Monumental Marathon is a really well put together event. Even though it's the 19th largest marathon in the US, it didn't feel that big. The expo is nice, lots … MORE
The Monumental Marathon is a really well put together event. Even though it’s the 19th largest marathon in the US, it didn’t feel that big. The expo is nice, lots of other races were there with discounts. Race morning I experienced a little confusion as to where exactly the start line was, but that’s probably my own fault for not reviewing the course beforehand. Race started on time, and the course was fast. I am not a fast runner, by any means, but the miles flew by. It is probably the flattest race I have ever run, and the after party is great. The medals were really nice, finishers gear for purchase at the finish line and free slice of pizza too. On course, there were so many people out and about cheering us on. (there were also some very unhappy drivers, but we had plenty of law enforcement out to deal with them.) I really enjoyed most of the course, it was parts of downtown that I haven’t been to before. Good race overall.
Another Good Race
Glad I did this race, a lot of crowd support, you were never alone on the course - a lot of runners. A lot of water stops. The weather was … MORE
Glad I did this race, a lot of crowd support, you were never alone on the course – a lot of runners. A lot of water stops. The weather was good for running!
Great Indiana race
Monumental Marathon was state number 49 for me. The weather forecast leading up to race day was a little disconcerting with initial thunderstorms predicted, which then became showers predicted, but … MORE
Monumental Marathon was state number 49 for me. The weather forecast leading up to race day was a little disconcerting with initial thunderstorms predicted, which then became showers predicted, but thankfully on race morning, it was cool and overcast. Ideal running conditions!
Indianapolis is a pretty cool town and if you book your hotel in advance you don’t need a rental car downtown. I took an Uber from the airport to the convention center for packet pickup which was pretty painless (lots of vendors, good expo) and then walked the two blocks to my hotel. There are lots of restaurants and monuments (hence the race’s name) and it’s a fun place to explore. I’d advise you get dinner reservations in advance. My party of four had a table reserved at super casual Buca di Beppo for carbs and due to the marathon, convention, concerts, and a marching band competition, they weren’t taking walk ins. Phew!
Race morning is low stress because it starts at 8am and again, two blocks from my hotel to the start (and the finish). It’s well laid out and organized and we went off on time. There were waves assigned based on finish time but it was on your honor. My first complaint, and really my only complaint, is don’t make that optional. If you go to the trouble of assigning people to waves, then ensure they go to the correct wave. I felt like I was constantly weaving and dodging for two or three miles around walkers and much slower paced runners. I’m not knocking anyone who chooses to walk but if you do, line up closer to the back please.
The course itself is pretty typical for a city. We started in downtown and ran around downtown for about three miles then outside the city, into neighborhoods, past a college, down a highway, through a park, and eventually back downtown. The half runners split at around mile 7 which was nice as the crowd thinned out. It’s also fairly flat with just a few small hills, no monsters. There were a lot of segments where runners were in one lane and cars were in the others, which didn’t always bother me but in his day in age, it’d be nice if that could be avoided for safety and security reasons.
On-course support was fantastic. There were probably 20 aid station/water stops, lots of portajohns, plus a few Gu and candy opportunities. Crowds were pretty good too, with very enthusiastic supporters!
The medal was good. It was the last in a four year series so it had a notch taken out of the corner (if you ran all four, it would form the Indiana flag and the notch makes sense). I’m not a fan of series because I don’t run the same race over and over but I can see the incentive to get people to return. The shirt was nice though I think they gave me a men’s small so it’s a little big. There was also a knit cap which you got at the finish line. I like that they distinguished between distances for all the swag – half was red, full was blue, etc. There was a pretty nice finish line spread plus space blankets and chocolate milk. I was freezing after I stopped running so I didn’t linger, just walked back to my hotel.
All in all, I think this is a solid race. The weather turned out to be perfect, I had a lot of runner friends present, and it’s a fun city, so a good way to finish off the year until number fifty. I’d recommend it for sure.
Great race
Beyond Monumental probably had the most active Facebook page I have seen for a race. Well worth following them for updates. Race morning was really cold and I struggled the … MORE
Beyond Monumental probably had the most active Facebook page I have seen for a race. Well worth following them for updates.
Race morning was really cold and I struggled the entire race to warm up.
Packet pick up was a breeze!
This race was much larger than I expected-the wave start did not seem to help. I could not find any port a potties close to the start area.
The course is pretty flat and runs through a lot of Indianapolis’ sites. The shirt is pretty awfully ugly but the medal is large and depicts Indianapolis.
All aid stations were well stocked and had tons of volunteers to keep it moving.
Best half I've done yet!
I had given up running for about 3.5 years, and it had been that long since my last half marathon. So I was pretty hesitant to try a half again, … MORE
I had given up running for about 3.5 years, and it had been that long since my last half marathon. So I was pretty hesitant to try a half again, but I couldn’t have picked a better half to “re-start” with than the Monumental. This was the best half I’ve done to date, and possibly one of the best race experiences I’ve had overall.
The organization and race production is second to none. They do the little, thoughtful things that runners really appreciate. For example, the marathon and half marathon courses re-join one another for the last ~2.5 mi. However, this leads to front-of-pack marathoners converging with back-of-pack half marathoners. To avoid collisions and to ensure that the half marathoners don’t impede any of the marathoners’ trying to BQ or PR, the race organizers mark two very distinct “lanes” for the two distances.
Some other wonderful features:
* Wave starts in 2017
* So many water stops with water and gatorade — this is my favorite feature, because I didn’t have to carry hydration, and I was able to stay relatively hydrated throughout the race (for a change!)
* Quality swag: the medal is heavy and well-designed, high-quality tech shirt (though I wish it was long-sleeved and not so ugly), finisher beanies, poster, great coupons for other races and stores
* Outstanding finish line experience, lots of fuel and rehydration
The best of the Indpls races
Second time running this race and will absolutely run it again in the future. Maybe I like this race because I got PR's both times. I enjoy the expo (nice … MORE
Second time running this race and will absolutely run it again in the future. Maybe I like this race because I got PR’s both times. I enjoy the expo (nice size for this race), the amount of participants, the bling (featured monuments) and the volunteers (especially at the finish line). The course is enjoyable as it takes you around the visitor sights in the city.
My only con is the lack of corrals. I was lucky enough to qualify to be placed this year, but if not the back is a mess. You know the drill…the people that want to be in the way at the front of the pack.
Besides that…a VERY enjoyable race.
Scenic Indy
I went to the Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon as a part of a reunion with a charity I work with. I really enjoyed the entire weekend. Expo: nice-sized expo for … MORE
I went to the Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon as a part of a reunion with a charity I work with. I really enjoyed the entire weekend.
Expo: nice-sized expo for the race. Free poster with the names of all participants on it in small print. Limited samples at the expo booths. Nice assortment of vendors and race booths with discounts for registration.
The race has a pasta dinner. I did not go. It was in heated tents outdoors. Friends that went said it got chilly, and they ran out of some food and plasticware.
Swag: Loved the race shirt. Excellent design and fit. Great medal. Nice finisher’s hat (perfect for cold weather running). The race also provides a discount booklet for discounts in the area for race participants.
Pre-race: if it is cold outside, you can keep warm (and go to the bathroom) inside the convention center. The race corrals are organized by pace. I started back further than I normally would because I wanted to take the race slower and enjoy the neighborhoods.
Course: very flat and fast. A little congested at the beginning but that’s to be expected with the sheer size of the race. Race thins out as the miles go on and the half and full marathon split. The course went through some night neighborhoods, went past the historic war monuments of Indy (hence the race name), took us by the Children’s Museum, and some of the cool hip urban business areas of Indy. Watch the road surfaces- there are a lot of potholes in certain areas, and the brick section by the monuments is uneven and possibly slippery if it rains (we saw a couple of people trip on loose/uneven bricks). Aide stations and on-course support is excellent. Family/friends have several opportunities to see you and cheer you on throughout the race. Traffic/car control was excellent.
Post-race: great finish line, amazing immediate support and food from volunteers, finisher’s hat. Post-race food had bananas, cookies, chocolate milk, electrolytes, and a heated tent with chili.
Parking: can be tricky- the race was on the same weekend as an Indianapolis Colt home game, so hotels and parking spots filled up quickly. If you are not staying in a walking-distance hotel, use one of the local paid parking spot services.
Overall a fantastic race and I a glad I did it for my Indiana state race. You can tell this is a race that the whole community rallies behind, especially as it is a nonprofit event that supports many local charities. I definitely recommend this event. If you are visiting the area- make a weekend out of it. Do a tour, visit the Indy 500 Speedway, the Indianapolis Zoo, and enjoy all the great restaurants there.
Great event!
This is a great race - 5K, half or full marathon. Scenic course through the city and a class production all around. Love the medals, hats. Extra swag available for … MORE
This is a great race – 5K, half or full marathon. Scenic course through the city and a class production all around. Love the medals, hats. Extra swag available for purchase. Great warm up area in the convention center. Big expo. My favorite!
Fun to run
Fun race! Is it easy? No, it's a marathon... But there's lots to look at, and a lot of people out cheering you on. Make sure you pee before you … MORE
Fun race! Is it easy? No, it’s a marathon… But there’s lots to look at, and a lot of people out cheering you on.
Make sure you pee before you start, not a lot of port-a-potties along the course.
Great Midwest Marathon
Great option for fall marathon. Probably the fastest course and competition in the Midwest next to Chicago and much cheaper overall than Chicago. Much better chance for good marathon weather … MORE
Great option for fall marathon. Probably the fastest course and competition in the Midwest next to Chicago and much cheaper overall than Chicago. Much better chance for good marathon weather in the beginning of November than in October. I would recommend to anyone from new runner to competitive racer.
Best Race In Indiana!
I’ve been racing the Monumental since I first started running. It’s my “home” marathon, and the organizers really put their whole heart into making it an event for the participants … MORE
I’ve been racing the Monumental since I first started running. It’s my “home” marathon, and the organizers really put their whole heart into making it an event for the participants to be proud of!
Definitely a must-run.
First half, but not the last
This race is known for its flat track and it really is incredibly flat, which is great for keeping a fast pace. I think it is a great race for … MORE
This race is known for its flat track and it really is incredibly flat, which is great for keeping a fast pace. I think it is a great race for beginners. I ran it again in 2015, both years on my company team. I don’t know about running it in the future because it is typically pretty cold, with the race always being the first Saturday in November. I would say that’s the only drawback to that race and likely makes a lot of people shy away from entering.
Always Fun
I love the fans along the route! They are everywhere and definitely keep you going! Such a positive atmosphere and I will always run this half as long as I … MORE
I love the fans along the route! They are everywhere and definitely keep you going! Such a positive atmosphere and I will always run this half as long as I am able!
Great race! Weather was great!
This is a very nice race! Well run, great course, flat with almost no hills. It's very busy though so be prepared to run in a large group that just … MORE
This is a very nice race! Well run, great course, flat with almost no hills. It’s very busy though so be prepared to run in a large group that just doesn’t really disperse as much as I would have like it to. Had a fire truck disrupt me at mile 9 so my timing chip didn’t get my 10 mile mark time. The weather can be iffy this time of year but in 2015 it was perfect weather!!!!
Race was first class
I really enjoyed the Indianapolis Monumental half marathon. The course was an interesting tour through downtown Indianapolis and to its north. The race stared and finished near the state Capital … MORE
I really enjoyed the Indianapolis Monumental half marathon. The course was an interesting tour through downtown Indianapolis and to its north. The race stared and finished near the state Capital building and went past the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. I had a couple of small problems with the race. The first was the lack or a vegan/vegetarian chili option for race finishers. I realize this is Indiana and most Hoosiers eat meat, but more and more endurance athletes both world class and back-of-the-packers like me are turning away from meat. I think the race should make sure there is a vegan chili option this year. My other problem had to do with traffic. I realize closing streets in to and out of downtown for hours on end can be a nightmare, but I found at times racers and cars were too close for comfort on Meridian Street as we headed back toward downtown. It would take just one frustrated driver to take his/her road rage out on a group of runners, thus ruining the race forever. Despite my complaints, I plan to return in 2016 and complete the marathon.
Great race!
It's a fast, flat course. I ran past a lot of downtown Indianapolis landmarks and through some nice neighborhoods. Beautiful course. Plenty of water stops. MORE
It’s a fast, flat course. I ran past a lot of downtown Indianapolis landmarks and through some nice neighborhoods. Beautiful course. Plenty of water stops.
Best Place to Race
This course is very flat. Lots to see as you are running. Once the half marathoners peel off (usually around mile 7-8) it's clear sailing and not very congested. MORE
This course is very flat. Lots to see as you are running. Once the half marathoners peel off (usually around mile 7-8) it’s clear sailing and not very congested.
Flat fast course
Very well run race. Perfect time of year to run a marathon. The city of Indianapolis knows how to put on large events and it shows with this race. The … MORE
Very well run race. Perfect time of year to run a marathon. The city of Indianapolis knows how to put on large events and it shows with this race. The course starts at the state capital building, goes by Lucas Oil Stadium, around Monument Circle! By the state fair grounds, through Broad Ripple, by the Art Museum, through Butler Univerisy and othe places before heading into down town and finishing in front of the capital building. Very flat course.
Flat, fast alternative to speedy Chicago
This race is normally held in the beginning of November in Indianapolis, which means you're all but guaranteed cool to cold temperatures. The course is flat with many long, uninterrupted … MORE
This race is normally held in the beginning of November in Indianapolis, which means you’re all but guaranteed cool to cold temperatures. The course is flat with many long, uninterrupted stretches of road to keep your legs moving quickly. It begins in the city, then gradually stretches out towards urban neighborhoods and local landmarks. It was surprisingly pretty, with many of these sections flush with trees shedding the last of their autumn colors. Though not 100% flat (there are a few hills in the middle), this course is perfect for a PR attempt. I ran it with a tight, rebellious IT band and still somehow pulled a 3:22, even with strong winds and frigid temperatures. In 40-degree perfection, this could be a BQ for anyone.