Enjoyed a quick visit to Indianapolis for this race. Very chilly morning for me at 28 degrees but I wore a beanie and gloves which I shed during the race. … MORE
Enjoyed a quick visit to Indianapolis for this race. Very chilly morning for me at 28 degrees but I wore a beanie and gloves which I shed during the race. Hung with the 3:45 pacers for a while but was trying some new footwear and had lingering knee pain from a recent fall so did not manage to hang with them the whole time. Good race production but probably the ugliest race shirt I’ve ever seen. Not sure what they were thinking. Medal is great through– easily a 6 pounder.
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Nice race, nice town
Enjoyed a quick visit to Indianapolis for this race. Very chilly morning for me at 28 degrees but I wore a beanie and gloves which I shed during the race. … MORE
Enjoyed a quick visit to Indianapolis for this race. Very chilly morning for me at 28 degrees but I wore a beanie and gloves which I shed during the race. Hung with the 3:45 pacers for a while but was trying some new footwear and had lingering knee pain from a recent fall so did not manage to hang with them the whole time. Good race production but probably the ugliest race shirt I’ve ever seen. Not sure what they were thinking. Medal is great through– easily a 6 pounder.
My best Marathon time in the USA so far
For years, Indy was hailed as "my favorite race in the USA so far." Shamrock in Virginia Beach is a very close 2nd... my only complaint about Indy Monumental this … MORE
For years, Indy was hailed as “my favorite race in the USA so far.” Shamrock in Virginia Beach is a very close 2nd… my only complaint about Indy Monumental this year was that they were not checking bibs into the corrals. (Maybe they were in the beginning but when I got there, they were not. I had a B but I walked into A because I thought that you entered the corral at the back and moved forward to the front of your corral – not fight back to find a place in your corral: no one is moving back to the back of the corral.) I *did* move back to B because that was where I belonged but then, I was disappointed that my target pacer (3:25) was not in my corral. (I asked at the expo- they said that he or she would be in corral B). I passed people with Ds and Es within the first 2 miles. … why assign corrals if you’re going to let people go where they want anyway?
This is still a great race! I love it! I’ll always recommend it to other runners but for as large as this race is and as “fast” as this field is- I wish that they would check bibs as people enter the corrals and if you’ll sub 3:45, ask for proof of time. (I can’t remember if they do that.)
• • • BOTTOM LINE • • •
If you’re on the fence about whether or not to do this one — just sign up. You won’t regret it. It’s frickin fast and flat. The weather is always nice as long as you can keep your hands and face warm. (I got rid of my gloves too early and it played mental games with me until I finally wised up and picked up a pair off the ground.)
Nice race
A good race through the city. Will be much better once all the construction is done - It's Indiana, so that is a stretch. This year weather was uncommonly warm, … MORE
A good race through the city. Will be much better once all the construction is done – It’s Indiana, so that is a stretch. This year weather was uncommonly warm, so it was pleasant all day.
Nice return to racing!
I stayed at the Hyatt Regency downtown, it is connected via skywalk to the convention center so packet pickup and getting to the start line is convenient. I arrived in … MORE
I stayed at the Hyatt Regency downtown, it is connected via skywalk to the convention center so packet pickup and getting to the start line is convenient. I arrived in the evening on the 2nd (last) day of packet pickup. Packet pickup itself was fine, nice volunteers. The only race attire left was in large sizes (I am an XS).
Race morning was about 34 degrees but not windy. The sun came out and it turned out to be perfect for running.
I was in corral B, there was a 5 minute gap between start of corral A and B. The corral was crowded. All the pacers are grouped near each other. I was aiming for a 3:50, so I started near the 3:50 pacer but quickly lost the pacer in the crowded start. The half marathon and full marathon starts at the same time. The half split off at about mile 7.5 and the course is less congested after that.
Aid stations were plentiful but seemed to “sneak” up on me, maybe taller signage would help. Or I was just in a marathon fog. 🙂 Crowd support is decent and there is a lot to see on the course. Due to the crowd and amount of turns it was a bit difficult for me to run the tangents.
Apparently I looked pretty rough at the end because a kind volunteer took me by the hand and walked me to get my space blanket and a drink. The volunteer that gave me my medal tied my space blanket for me. I felt pampered. 😉
The race shirt is a short sleeve tech tee, not the best. We did also get a knitted hat at the finish. There was pizza at the finish but I did not partake, just had a chocolate milk. Overall, this is a nice race; fairly flat course, scenic enough for a marathon, cold temps for running, friendly volunteers and spectators.
Great weather and volunteers
Chilly start but things warmed up as the day went on. The aid stations were manned by enthusiastic volunteers. A few stretches weren't terribly scenic but the course was pretty … MORE
Chilly start but things warmed up as the day went on. The aid stations were manned by enthusiastic volunteers. A few stretches weren’t terribly scenic but the course was pretty flat and had decent crowd support.
Gorgeous Course with Friendly people
This is a really nice, flat course, with just the right amount of people to never feel alone, but not crowded ever, either. The neighbors all come out to cheer … MORE
This is a really nice, flat course, with just the right amount of people to never feel alone, but not crowded ever, either. The neighbors all come out to cheer in droves! They have great support, signs and enthusiasm. The race expo and finish party are very well done. Everything you want and nothing excess.
Flat, fast course through heart of IN
Good course for a PR. As advertised, it was flat and fast. I had a 3 sec PR. Nothing major, but I'll take it. Packet pickup was quick and easy. … MORE
Good course for a PR. As advertised, it was flat and fast. I had a 3 sec PR. Nothing major, but I’ll take it.
Packet pickup was quick and easy. It took place at the convention center. It was a decent sized expo as expected from a race of this size.
I stayed at a hotel that was less than a mile from the start. I was able to walk to the start and therefore don’t know how parking was.
I was in the A corral. It was very crowded and hard to move. It felt rather claustrophobic. It was a little congested for the first half mile, but luckily I was able to break free soon after that without getting tripped.
The course was flat overall with just a few feet of elevation gain overall. The start of the race was 30 degrees with minimal wind.
Crowd support was good in some areas and a little sparse in others. The cold probably kept some away, but kudos to those that braved it. I was concerned about the split from the full marathoners as I have had issues before, but they couldn’t have made it any easier. The had several signs as well as a giant inflatable that made it obvious. The less thinking during a race, the better.
Some of the roads need some work and you had to watch where you were going. The course did have a few twists and turns, but they were marked well. The last couple miles were pretty straight.
Overall, it was an enjoyable and well done race. You get to see some of the attractions downtown. Some of the buildings did crazy things to the GPS on my watch at times.
The shirt was a nice material. Some thought it was ugly, but I’m indifferent. The medal was nice and the end had all of the usual goodies.
Smooth race, rough roads
I woke up at my home in east Illinois and drove to Indy the morning of. Very bad idea. I forgot the time change, so instead of an hour to … MORE
I woke up at my home in east Illinois and drove to Indy the morning of. Very bad idea. I forgot the time change, so instead of an hour to spare, I had 3-5 minutes before the race started. Thank goodness for the parking right next door to the race! There is a parking garage at 220 North Senate Avenue that is 3 stories and free all day, and there were still multiple spots minutes before race time. Park here if you’re from out of town!!!
We hit all the Indy landmarks either at the start of the race (Colts Stadium, Monument Square) or the end (State Capitol). In between, we mostly ran through nice neighborhoods and along roads with moderate traffic. It was indeed very flat, like other reviews say. 2 or 3 hills around the 10-15 mile stretch, but that’s it. Since there are 4000+ marathoners, be prepared to weave constantly for the first 7-8 miles. I missed my PR by 40 seconds and that might be why.
The coolest part of the race was miles 17-18, where we ran through a gate and into a sculpture park that turned into a business park. Everyone was saying “Boiler Up!” which annoyed me because I’m a University of Illinois grad student. I said “Go Illini” back to one of them, and he burst out laughing. What’s so funny?!?
Crowd support here was decent, but I think it was better in Fox Cities, WI and Portland, ME. We ran past Butler University on mile 17, and feeling lonely, I yelled “Go Bulldogs” at some guys wearing Butler shirts. THAT got them cheering for me like I was one of them 🙂
Hoosier trivia from miles 19-21 was cool. Signs with fun facts about famous Indianans definitely took my mind off the pain for a few miles.
Overall a solid race, and it dwarfs every other marathon in Indiana in size, location, and importance, so put this one on your 50 state bucket list. This was marathon #6 for me, and it was great, but nothing really special. My one complaint is the roads. Pretty much every road in Indianapolis is cracked and spitting out pieces of asphalt and ugly. I wish they would fix the roads, but that’s Indy’s problem, not this marathon’s. We ran past the Governor’s mansion around mile 15, and I yelled, “Mr. Governor, please fix the roads!” I hope he heard me.
Great Race
I really enjoyed this race. The expo had great vendors and was easy to get to. The course was pretty and had great crowd support. There were signs placed around … MORE
I really enjoyed this race. The expo had great vendors and was easy to get to. The course was pretty and had great crowd support. There were signs placed around mile 20 that included trivia about Indiana that kept your mind occupied during a mentally tough portion. I enjoyed this entertainment! Would definitely run this race again!
Downtown start and finish
I liked that it started and finished downtown in a beautiful setting. The course was relatively flat and the temperature was perfect running weather. MORE
I liked that it started and finished downtown in a beautiful setting. The course was relatively flat and the temperature was perfect running weather.
I LOVE this race!
This was a fantastic experience all around. My running group and I went down to Indy for a fantastic weekend. We spent time at the expo to hear the guest … MORE
This was a fantastic experience all around. My running group and I went down to Indy for a fantastic weekend. We spent time at the expo to hear the guest speakers and visit all the vendors. Our hotel and dinner restaurant were within walking distance. We were all excited for the race and enjoyed all the sights and spectators. This is a race I don’t want to miss!
Good race
I liked this race. Big but not too big. Great aid stations and good swag. I would run it again. There was plenty of people cheering you along. Weather was … MORE
I liked this race. Big but not too big. Great aid stations and good swag. I would run it again. There was plenty of people cheering you along. Weather was cold but to be expected this time of the year in November
Great race and well organized
Aid stations are plentiful. Gels are plentiful. Course is nice and easy to follow. Love the hats at the end and the availability of the YMCA. Time of year can … MORE
Aid stations are plentiful. Gels are plentiful. Course is nice and easy to follow. Love the hats at the end and the availability of the YMCA. Time of year can be chilly though. I feel like this used to be one weekend earlier but I’m not sure. Would recommend.
Great race for a PR
This is a great marathon if you are looking to PR. The weather is great and it is a relatively flat course with just a few inclines. The only draw … MORE
This is a great marathon if you are looking to PR. The weather is great and it is a relatively flat course with just a few inclines. The only draw back was that the water stops were dismal. I forgot my water belt and thought I would be able to rely on water during the race. A few of the water stops had no water- but also I believe it is the responsibility of the runner to have fuel/water. Otherwise it is a great race and I will likely return this year.
This is MY MUST RUN MARATHON!!!
Monumental is the BEST Organized race in the MIDWEST, maybe anywhere! I have seen this grow from 600 (guessing) in Year 1 to A SELL OUT the last 6 or … MORE
Monumental is the BEST Organized race in the MIDWEST, maybe anywhere! I have seen this grow from 600 (guessing) in Year 1 to A SELL OUT the last 6 or 7 years, and seeing how it is in year 11 now, that ain’t bad! Course is flat and fast for the most part. PR and BQs are in play for sure! It is a grand tour of Indianapolis for sure and the charity (kids movement) is impressive!
Flat, fast course
Nice, flat course that highlights downtown Indy and the surrounding historical neighborhoods. I ran my half marathon PR at this race. There is decent crowd support throughout the course! The … MORE
Nice, flat course that highlights downtown Indy and the surrounding historical neighborhoods. I ran my half marathon PR at this race. There is decent crowd support throughout the course! The weather can sometimes be cold this time of year in Indy, but runners have access to the convention center before the race for a warm area to warm up with plenty of restrooms. I definitely recommend this race!
I loved this race! Great course!
Looking forward to 2020 and to run the full marathon! It will be my first one! I ran the half this past year and absolutely enjoyed it! I thought the … MORE
Looking forward to 2020 and to run the full marathon! It will be my first one! I ran the half this past year and absolutely enjoyed it! I thought the course was perfect and hoping to do well on it again!
If you want to run fast do this race
Fast course well ran race will be back again well supported course nice metals need to run 2 more years to complete series definitely bq qualifier course MORE
Fast course well ran race will be back again well supported course nice metals need to run 2 more years to complete series definitely bq qualifier course
Top pick for a PR
If you had to pick one race for a PR, it’s this one. Super flat and typically perfect weather (not too hot and not too cold). Nice course that runs … MORE
If you had to pick one race for a PR, it’s this one. Super flat and typically perfect weather (not too hot and not too cold). Nice course that runs through downtown Indy. I was pacing the 3:55 full and came in perfectly at 3:54:33!
First time at this race, may be back
It was a relatively easy race, as far as the course. I enjoyed the start/finish area. It was VERY cold at the finish line at the time I finished. It … MORE
It was a relatively easy race, as far as the course. I enjoyed the start/finish area. It was VERY cold at the finish line at the time I finished. It was difficult to find a place to catch my breath & some heat at the finish line.