| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| H (°F) | 67 | 61 | 66 | 65 | 67 |
| L (°F) | 39 | 48 | 51 | 48 | 46 |
Fairly flat nice crowd support. My second time running this race. My absolute favorite part of the race was kissing the bricks. So much support you will not regret running … MORE
Fairly flat nice crowd support. My second time running this race. My absolute favorite part of the race was kissing the bricks. So much support you will not regret running this race.
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This is a great race that starts/finishes in downtown Indianapolis, but miles 9-11.5 (roughly) are the full 2.5 miles around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - this is a MUST-DO race … MORE
This is a great race that starts/finishes in downtown Indianapolis, but miles 9-11.5 (roughly) are the full 2.5 miles around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – this is a MUST-DO race for anyone who is a race fan or (like me) grew up in Indianapolis but never really had an opportunity to see the track except on TV. Amazing crowd support with pit stops (water stops) and cheer crews lining the route. It’s now on my annual list of races I can’t miss. The medal is also unique and highlights an aspect of the Indianapolis 500 – this year’s was my own personal Borg-Warner trophy (what the winning driver gets).
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The best part of the course was the 2.5+/- miles within and on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track. I am not a NASCAR fan; however, experiencing being inside the speedway … MORE
The best part of the course was the 2.5+/- miles within and on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track. I am not a NASCAR fan; however, experiencing being inside the speedway was exciting and memorable…. and even had the opportunity to” kiss the infamous bricks” during the race. The race production was well supported and the course was overall easy.
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Expo was top notch! Huge event! Pre race communication was great! Course was flat and fast and had plenty of aid stations, I think 1 for every mile, course support … MORE
Expo was top notch! Huge event!
Pre race communication was great!
Course was flat and fast and had plenty of aid stations, I think 1 for every mile, course support was awesome! One lap around the speedway was a nice touch.
You might want to get in a earlier corral since this was a big race with lots of runners, it was a little congested first couple of miles.
Post race party was fantastic, they had about 20 massage tables set up, which was awesome
Swag was a very nice medal and a long sleeve T-shirt
If you need Indiana this should be your race, I highly recommend it!
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This was a fun race to do for Indiana. Getting to run through the speedway was pretty unique. PROS: Crowd support was great, lots of porta-potties on the course, great … MORE
This was a fun race to do for Indiana. Getting to run through the speedway was pretty unique.
PROS: Crowd support was great, lots of porta-potties on the course, great expo, very well-run and organized race. Indianapolis is a fun town with lots of hotels right at the start/finish, great restaurants, and the medal was really nice. I also loved the “Golden Mile” which honored fallen soldiers. I wore a soldier’s name on my back (which they were handing out at the expo) and their family member found me on the course and thanked me. That was the highlight of my race for sure.
CONS: I didn’t love the post race party. The free beer was VERY small and they ran out of chocolate milk. There were food trucks with food available for purchase. Other than the speedway, the race ran through neighborhoods which weren’t very exciting, so that was a little disappointing. I would much rather have gotten to run through downtown. There is A LOT of people at this race (>20,000) so it was also quite congested.
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This is probably now my favorite half marathon. The course was mostly flat and runners ran roughly 2.5 miles around the racetrack of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Many chose to stop … MORE
This is probably now my favorite half marathon. The course was mostly flat and runners ran roughly 2.5 miles around the racetrack of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Many chose to stop and kiss the famous bricks at the start/finish line of the racetrack.
The major positive aspects of this race (to me):
1. Running on the track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
2. Water stations were marked in advance with huge banners and were on both sides of the course
3. The was entertainment along the entire course, with a very wide range of musical genres
I would run this one probably every year if I lived locally.
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I ran the half last year in Indy for this race and loved it. I planned to run the half again this year but an injury led me to register … MORE
I ran the half last year in Indy for this race and loved it. I planned to run the half again this year but an injury led me to register for the 5K. I registered the day before the race and it was a seamless process. Lots of volunteers to assist the last minute registrants.
As a caveat- this was my first 5K race. I’ve run half’s and fulls and 10Ks so I had no experience with this length going in. The organizers are great but I wasn’t prepared for the backup at the start of the race for runners. There were lots of walkers and family’s holding hands that were very difficult to navigate in the first mile. It was hard to find any rhythm or footing. After the first mile, things opened up
And I enjoyed the run. I like the Indy organizers but I would recommend a different set up for the 5K- either a runners only lane (or walkers only/family lane) or starting the runners at the front of the line. It’s a 7am start so maybe even 7am form runners and 7:10am for walkers and families.
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This was a very well run race. There were ample aid stations offering water and/or electrolytes. There were a lot of entertainment stations located throughout the course. I do not … MORE
This was a very well run race. There were ample aid stations offering water and/or electrolytes. There were a lot of entertainment stations located throughout the course. I do not remember the name of the group (perhaps cloggers?) but man those women brought the energy.
I am not a huge race fan, but the theming was great! Runners start your engines, green flags to start, and checkered flags galore near the finish chute. Stopping to kiss the bricks is definitely a unique race experience. The medals were nice, but the shirt was a weird non performance soft cotton (see through material) shirt that immediately went in the donate pile. I wish I would have looked more at the merchandise for purchase, as now I do not have any merch from the race.
Overall a great experience. If I was local I would definitely run this again.
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Great race, good music at every miles and lots of hydration along the course. The post race village was also amazing! The experience of running on the track. I loved … MORE
Great race, good music at every miles and lots of hydration along the course. The post race village was also amazing! The experience of running on the track.
I loved how all of the host hotels were in walking distance from the start line. this made it seamless.
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I really enjoyed this race. The support was awesome. Felt like the whole community came out to cheer the runners. I would recommend this race. MORE
I really enjoyed this race. The support was awesome. Felt like the whole community came out to cheer the runners. I would recommend this race.
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This race always ranks at the top of "best half marathons in America" lists, but I was still not sure whether to believe all the hype. But yeah, can confirm. … MORE
This race always ranks at the top of “best half marathons in America” lists, but I was still not sure whether to believe all the hype. But yeah, can confirm. Most impressive to me was the exceptional course support that makes the miles absolutely *fly* by. You literally can’t go more than 0.5 mile without encountering a major “milestone” (for lack of a better word) — water station, Gatorade station, energizing music group, major landmark. For me, those types of milestones make it so mentally easy and quick to tick off the miles. It feels like a party the whole time, and the course is never boring.
Beyond that, all aid stations and the finish line area were well-stocked and staffed with plenty of volunteers. None of the stations were running out of anything, and with so many along the course, it’s not necessary to carry your own hydration.
Other than the lap through the Speedway, the route itself isn’t scenic or noteworthy. But it’s an easy and flat route. The roads are wide, and the organizers are really good about placing people into proper starting corrals, so even the first 1-2 miles didn’t feel as congested as I expected such a large race to be.
The 2023 shirt is perhaps the nicest race shirt I’ve ever received. It’s a soft performance poly-rayon blend that feels much higher quality than many of the cheap “tech shirts” that races give out. And it’s a simple heathered grey with the race logo in a normal orientation on the front. This is a shirt that I’ll actually wear!
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This was my first time doing this race, and I really enjoyed it. I ran it with my twin brother and we had lots of fun! It's one of the … MORE
This was my first time doing this race, and I really enjoyed it. I ran it with my twin brother and we had lots of fun! It’s one of the largest half marathons in the nation. Prior to COVID this race had 20-30k runners. This year, the half marathon (MINI, they call it) had 14,193 runners. I’m not sure I could imagine twice that many people here. 🙂
The expo: The expo was really great. It was held in the downtown Indy convention center and had tons of vendors and fun stuff to do. It was also the same time as a comic convention, so that was super cool to see soooo many people in the convention center (and around town) for that.
The race: Very well organized start, with many waves. We were in the “I” (the letter I wave, and we started right at the correct time. Big huge corals and tons of volunteers to help or answer questions. It takes a little bit for the runners to thin out a little, but it wasn’t bad. LOTS of people on the streets cheering us on, including bands and groups of locals, even just people sitting on their front porches. When you turn from 10th street to Main Street (mile 5), there are TONS of spectators lining the street, cheering. That was pretty awesome! Of course a big highlight of the race is running the full distance around the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Definitely a cool experience. The track is 2.5 miles long and they were blasting music the entire time. The best part of this, was coming to the main stretch (not sure what it’s called.) where the grandstands and start/finish (Indy 500) line is. Once you exit the race track, it’s about 5 miles to the finish, and even more people out cheering you on.
Post race party: This was huge! So many people. Lots of food and music and other things to do. It is held in Military Park, which is really nice, and along the river walk.
The city: My brother and I spent 4 days here, and had lots of fun. Tons of great restaurants and bars, as well as parks and museums. Before I go any further, I must say, GO TO SHAPIRO’S DELI FOR LUNCH. I promise you will not be disappointed. Also, there’s a great arcade/beer bar in downtown, called 16-bit. I HIGHLY recommend this place!!
Overall a really fun getaway weekend and a very well put on race! 🏁
We paired this with Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon (weekend before) and Flying Pig (day before). We stayed at JW Marriott and when we arrived it seemed everyone in the race … MORE
We paired this with Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon (weekend before) and Flying Pig (day before). We stayed at JW Marriott and when we arrived it seemed everyone in the race was arriving and trying to park so we went across the street to the parking garage also across from packet pick up. It was cheaper and we were in the hotel in no time. Very convenient to start and finish! Expo was bigger than I expected and everything was in your bag – Hat, T-Shirt, Bib and Pins – Nice hat and Long Sleeve Shirt. Weather was beautiful, good crowd support along the race, plenty of water and Gatorade along the course. After race snacks were plentiful and the party looked nice with a band. We couldn’t stay and enjoy because we had to head to Ohio for Flying PIg and check in our Hotel.
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This race is enormous, so many participants and never thins out for the whole 13 miles. Very well produced and tons of water stations. The lap around the Indianapolis Motor … MORE
This race is enormous, so many participants and never thins out for the whole 13 miles. Very well produced and tons of water stations. The lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a cool experience. Definitely recommend.
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The Indy Mini was my first in-person half, now two years running it, and I'd easily recommend it for any first-time runner. It's a very flat course overall (one exception: … MORE
The Indy Mini was my first in-person half, now two years running it, and I’d easily recommend it for any first-time runner. It’s a very flat course overall (one exception: there is a notable high grade downhill and then uphill heading into the race track).
Crowd support was present for about 90% of the course, water/gatorade stations every mile on both your left and right which is great, around mile 10 there was a water mister station set up as well as one just past the finish line–I didn’t really think it was necessary for 2023 but I appreciated that it was there.
Race track is a little over 2 miles of the entire course and it’s definitely worth flagging that you should be mindful of where on the track you run to avoid getting leg imbalanced since it’s slightly curved–I honestly think that’s why mile 9 is where people start to kind of struggle, because their form falls apart on that segment.
There’s a tradition where people stop, drop to the ground, and kiss the bricks at the brickyard–be aware that people in front of you may abruptly stop there to do that 😅
I’m happy this was my first half last year and now running it a subsequent year, glad to know that it wasn’t just coincidentally good the first time around. It’s a very well thought out race.
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The best way to describe this race - a Big Ol' Party! It is an Indiana spring tradition- a large, festive race through Indianapolis with a big expo, a ton … MORE
The best way to describe this race – a Big Ol’ Party! It is an Indiana spring tradition- a large, festive race through Indianapolis with a big expo, a ton of fun and energetic bands along the course with a variety of types of music, and a crowd of people and dogs along the way cheering the runners on! The best part is clearly the lap around the Indianapolis speedway – it is exciting to run in the same place as the Indy 500. Many people stop, kneel and kiss the bricks as a tradition but I did not due to concern about Covid. This year they had a number of people standing on the speedway silently holding pictures of young people who had bravely served in the military- it was surprising, and very moving. At the end they had a “PR” bell which I was delighted to get to ring. This race is just plain fun and I would highly recommend it. For me it was the start of my quest to run a half marathon in every state after age 60 (two per year to keep costs reasonable) and it was a great way to start!
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Was a fantastic half to do for Indiana! They stick to the theme so well and I had a great time. It's a larger race so lots of other runners … MORE
Was a fantastic half to do for Indiana! They stick to the theme so well and I had a great time. It’s a larger race so lots of other runners and great crowd support. The expo was very large and great – biggest bummer on that was that parking was rather pricey and just finding a parking spot wasn’t all that easy.
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Loved “kiss the brick”! Great experience to run on the speedway track!!! Enjoyed meeting up with other runners in the Half Marathoner running community! MORE
Loved “kiss the brick”! Great experience to run on the speedway track!!! Enjoyed meeting up with other runners in the Half Marathoner running community!
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This was a fun race! The best part is running around the Indianapolis Speedway. Not much to see on your way there but it’s a nice buildup to the track … MORE
This was a fun race! The best part is running around the Indianapolis Speedway. Not much to see on your way there but it’s a nice buildup to the track and then a nice run back to the finish. Just have to make time to stop and kiss the bricks!
It’s a fairly flat course and generally an easy run. I ran this 3 weeks post Covid and found it to be fairly doable, if that says anything for the difficulty?
The swag is great and the attendance is definitely great. We got lucky and got a hotel right at the starting line. It’s a later start, so being able to walk right out the door and not run until 7:50am? Least stressful race start ever!
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If you're looking for a PR, this is the course for you! I loved this race and would definitely do it again. The expo was medium sized and packet pickup … MORE
If you’re looking for a PR, this is the course for you! I loved this race and would definitely do it again.
The expo was medium sized and packet pickup went smooth. Race location is very convenient to downtown hotels. The start was literally right in front of the Courtyard Mariott. They had start waves which went very well. The scenery was nothing special, but there were lots of bands along the course which was great! It was awesome being able to run on the speedway too. This was the flattest course I have run on. Highly recommended!
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Well organized with great crowd support
Fairly flat nice crowd support. My second time running this race. My absolute favorite part of the race was kissing the bricks. So much support you will not regret running … MORE
Fairly flat nice crowd support. My second time running this race. My absolute favorite part of the race was kissing the bricks. So much support you will not regret running this race.
Race through Indpls Motor Speedway
This is a great race that starts/finishes in downtown Indianapolis, but miles 9-11.5 (roughly) are the full 2.5 miles around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - this is a MUST-DO race … MORE
This is a great race that starts/finishes in downtown Indianapolis, but miles 9-11.5 (roughly) are the full 2.5 miles around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – this is a MUST-DO race for anyone who is a race fan or (like me) grew up in Indianapolis but never really had an opportunity to see the track except on TV. Amazing crowd support with pit stops (water stops) and cheer crews lining the route. It’s now on my annual list of races I can’t miss. The medal is also unique and highlights an aspect of the Indianapolis 500 – this year’s was my own personal Borg-Warner trophy (what the winning driver gets).
Speedway fun
The best part of the course was the 2.5+/- miles within and on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track. I am not a NASCAR fan; however, experiencing being inside the speedway … MORE
The best part of the course was the 2.5+/- miles within and on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track. I am not a NASCAR fan; however, experiencing being inside the speedway was exciting and memorable…. and even had the opportunity to” kiss the infamous bricks” during the race. The race production was well supported and the course was overall easy.
Speeding to the Finish Line
Expo was top notch! Huge event! Pre race communication was great! Course was flat and fast and had plenty of aid stations, I think 1 for every mile, course support … MORE
Expo was top notch! Huge event!
Pre race communication was great!
Course was flat and fast and had plenty of aid stations, I think 1 for every mile, course support was awesome! One lap around the speedway was a nice touch.
You might want to get in a earlier corral since this was a big race with lots of runners, it was a little congested first couple of miles.
Post race party was fantastic, they had about 20 massage tables set up, which was awesome
Swag was a very nice medal and a long sleeve T-shirt
If you need Indiana this should be your race, I highly recommend it!
Not my favorite, but a fun race
This was a fun race to do for Indiana. Getting to run through the speedway was pretty unique. PROS: Crowd support was great, lots of porta-potties on the course, great … MORE
This was a fun race to do for Indiana. Getting to run through the speedway was pretty unique.
PROS: Crowd support was great, lots of porta-potties on the course, great expo, very well-run and organized race. Indianapolis is a fun town with lots of hotels right at the start/finish, great restaurants, and the medal was really nice. I also loved the “Golden Mile” which honored fallen soldiers. I wore a soldier’s name on my back (which they were handing out at the expo) and their family member found me on the course and thanked me. That was the highlight of my race for sure.
CONS: I didn’t love the post race party. The free beer was VERY small and they ran out of chocolate milk. There were food trucks with food available for purchase. Other than the speedway, the race ran through neighborhoods which weren’t very exciting, so that was a little disappointing. I would much rather have gotten to run through downtown. There is A LOT of people at this race (>20,000) so it was also quite congested.
Racing capital of the world
This is probably now my favorite half marathon. The course was mostly flat and runners ran roughly 2.5 miles around the racetrack of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Many chose to stop … MORE
This is probably now my favorite half marathon. The course was mostly flat and runners ran roughly 2.5 miles around the racetrack of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Many chose to stop and kiss the famous bricks at the start/finish line of the racetrack.
The major positive aspects of this race (to me):
1. Running on the track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
2. Water stations were marked in advance with huge banners and were on both sides of the course
3. The was entertainment along the entire course, with a very wide range of musical genres
I would run this one probably every year if I lived locally.
5K could use tweaking for runners
I ran the half last year in Indy for this race and loved it. I planned to run the half again this year but an injury led me to register … MORE
I ran the half last year in Indy for this race and loved it. I planned to run the half again this year but an injury led me to register for the 5K. I registered the day before the race and it was a seamless process. Lots of volunteers to assist the last minute registrants.
As a caveat- this was my first 5K race. I’ve run half’s and fulls and 10Ks so I had no experience with this length going in. The organizers are great but I wasn’t prepared for the backup at the start of the race for runners. There were lots of walkers and family’s holding hands that were very difficult to navigate in the first mile. It was hard to find any rhythm or footing. After the first mile, things opened up
And I enjoyed the run. I like the Indy organizers but I would recommend a different set up for the 5K- either a runners only lane (or walkers only/family lane) or starting the runners at the front of the line. It’s a 7am start so maybe even 7am form runners and 7:10am for walkers and families.
Fun experience to run on the tack
This was a very well run race. There were ample aid stations offering water and/or electrolytes. There were a lot of entertainment stations located throughout the course. I do not … MORE
This was a very well run race. There were ample aid stations offering water and/or electrolytes. There were a lot of entertainment stations located throughout the course. I do not remember the name of the group (perhaps cloggers?) but man those women brought the energy.
I am not a huge race fan, but the theming was great! Runners start your engines, green flags to start, and checkered flags galore near the finish chute. Stopping to kiss the bricks is definitely a unique race experience. The medals were nice, but the shirt was a weird non performance soft cotton (see through material) shirt that immediately went in the donate pile. I wish I would have looked more at the merchandise for purchase, as now I do not have any merch from the race.
Overall a great experience. If I was local I would definitely run this again.
A Great Experience
Great race, good music at every miles and lots of hydration along the course. The post race village was also amazing! The experience of running on the track. I loved … MORE
Great race, good music at every miles and lots of hydration along the course. The post race village was also amazing! The experience of running on the track.
I loved how all of the host hotels were in walking distance from the start line. this made it seamless.
Nice race
I really enjoyed this race. The support was awesome. Felt like the whole community came out to cheer the runners. I would recommend this race. MORE
I really enjoyed this race. The support was awesome. Felt like the whole community came out to cheer the runners. I would recommend this race.
Exceptional Course Support
This race always ranks at the top of "best half marathons in America" lists, but I was still not sure whether to believe all the hype. But yeah, can confirm. … MORE
This race always ranks at the top of “best half marathons in America” lists, but I was still not sure whether to believe all the hype. But yeah, can confirm. Most impressive to me was the exceptional course support that makes the miles absolutely *fly* by. You literally can’t go more than 0.5 mile without encountering a major “milestone” (for lack of a better word) — water station, Gatorade station, energizing music group, major landmark. For me, those types of milestones make it so mentally easy and quick to tick off the miles. It feels like a party the whole time, and the course is never boring.
Beyond that, all aid stations and the finish line area were well-stocked and staffed with plenty of volunteers. None of the stations were running out of anything, and with so many along the course, it’s not necessary to carry your own hydration.
Other than the lap through the Speedway, the route itself isn’t scenic or noteworthy. But it’s an easy and flat route. The roads are wide, and the organizers are really good about placing people into proper starting corrals, so even the first 1-2 miles didn’t feel as congested as I expected such a large race to be.
The 2023 shirt is perhaps the nicest race shirt I’ve ever received. It’s a soft performance poly-rayon blend that feels much higher quality than many of the cheap “tech shirts” that races give out. And it’s a simple heathered grey with the race logo in a normal orientation on the front. This is a shirt that I’ll actually wear!
Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines
This was my first time doing this race, and I really enjoyed it. I ran it with my twin brother and we had lots of fun! It's one of the … MORE
This was my first time doing this race, and I really enjoyed it. I ran it with my twin brother and we had lots of fun! It’s one of the largest half marathons in the nation. Prior to COVID this race had 20-30k runners. This year, the half marathon (MINI, they call it) had 14,193 runners. I’m not sure I could imagine twice that many people here. 🙂
The expo: The expo was really great. It was held in the downtown Indy convention center and had tons of vendors and fun stuff to do. It was also the same time as a comic convention, so that was super cool to see soooo many people in the convention center (and around town) for that.
The race: Very well organized start, with many waves. We were in the “I” (the letter I wave, and we started right at the correct time. Big huge corals and tons of volunteers to help or answer questions. It takes a little bit for the runners to thin out a little, but it wasn’t bad. LOTS of people on the streets cheering us on, including bands and groups of locals, even just people sitting on their front porches. When you turn from 10th street to Main Street (mile 5), there are TONS of spectators lining the street, cheering. That was pretty awesome! Of course a big highlight of the race is running the full distance around the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Definitely a cool experience. The track is 2.5 miles long and they were blasting music the entire time. The best part of this, was coming to the main stretch (not sure what it’s called.) where the grandstands and start/finish (Indy 500) line is. Once you exit the race track, it’s about 5 miles to the finish, and even more people out cheering you on.
Post race party: This was huge! So many people. Lots of food and music and other things to do. It is held in Military Park, which is really nice, and along the river walk.
The city: My brother and I spent 4 days here, and had lots of fun. Tons of great restaurants and bars, as well as parks and museums. Before I go any further, I must say, GO TO SHAPIRO’S DELI FOR LUNCH. I promise you will not be disappointed. Also, there’s a great arcade/beer bar in downtown, called 16-bit. I HIGHLY recommend this place!!
Overall a really fun getaway weekend and a very well put on race! 🏁
Running on Indy Speedway was Awesome!!
We paired this with Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon (weekend before) and Flying Pig (day before). We stayed at JW Marriott and when we arrived it seemed everyone in the race … MORE
We paired this with Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon (weekend before) and Flying Pig (day before). We stayed at JW Marriott and when we arrived it seemed everyone in the race was arriving and trying to park so we went across the street to the parking garage also across from packet pick up. It was cheaper and we were in the hotel in no time. Very convenient to start and finish! Expo was bigger than I expected and everything was in your bag – Hat, T-Shirt, Bib and Pins – Nice hat and Long Sleeve Shirt. Weather was beautiful, good crowd support along the race, plenty of water and Gatorade along the course. After race snacks were plentiful and the party looked nice with a band. We couldn’t stay and enjoy because we had to head to Ohio for Flying PIg and check in our Hotel.
Huge!
This race is enormous, so many participants and never thins out for the whole 13 miles. Very well produced and tons of water stations. The lap around the Indianapolis Motor … MORE
This race is enormous, so many participants and never thins out for the whole 13 miles. Very well produced and tons of water stations. The lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a cool experience. Definitely recommend.
Always a good experience
The Indy Mini was my first in-person half, now two years running it, and I'd easily recommend it for any first-time runner. It's a very flat course overall (one exception: … MORE
The Indy Mini was my first in-person half, now two years running it, and I’d easily recommend it for any first-time runner. It’s a very flat course overall (one exception: there is a notable high grade downhill and then uphill heading into the race track).
Crowd support was present for about 90% of the course, water/gatorade stations every mile on both your left and right which is great, around mile 10 there was a water mister station set up as well as one just past the finish line–I didn’t really think it was necessary for 2023 but I appreciated that it was there.
Race track is a little over 2 miles of the entire course and it’s definitely worth flagging that you should be mindful of where on the track you run to avoid getting leg imbalanced since it’s slightly curved–I honestly think that’s why mile 9 is where people start to kind of struggle, because their form falls apart on that segment.
There’s a tradition where people stop, drop to the ground, and kiss the bricks at the brickyard–be aware that people in front of you may abruptly stop there to do that 😅
I’m happy this was my first half last year and now running it a subsequent year, glad to know that it wasn’t just coincidentally good the first time around. It’s a very well thought out race.
Run where the Fast Cars Go
The best way to describe this race - a Big Ol' Party! It is an Indiana spring tradition- a large, festive race through Indianapolis with a big expo, a ton … MORE
The best way to describe this race – a Big Ol’ Party! It is an Indiana spring tradition- a large, festive race through Indianapolis with a big expo, a ton of fun and energetic bands along the course with a variety of types of music, and a crowd of people and dogs along the way cheering the runners on! The best part is clearly the lap around the Indianapolis speedway – it is exciting to run in the same place as the Indy 500. Many people stop, kneel and kiss the bricks as a tradition but I did not due to concern about Covid. This year they had a number of people standing on the speedway silently holding pictures of young people who had bravely served in the military- it was surprising, and very moving. At the end they had a “PR” bell which I was delighted to get to ring. This race is just plain fun and I would highly recommend it. For me it was the start of my quest to run a half marathon in every state after age 60 (two per year to keep costs reasonable) and it was a great way to start!
Theme can't be beat
Was a fantastic half to do for Indiana! They stick to the theme so well and I had a great time. It's a larger race so lots of other runners … MORE
Was a fantastic half to do for Indiana! They stick to the theme so well and I had a great time. It’s a larger race so lots of other runners and great crowd support. The expo was very large and great – biggest bummer on that was that parking was rather pricey and just finding a parking spot wasn’t all that easy.
Enjoyed the course!
Loved “kiss the brick”! Great experience to run on the speedway track!!! Enjoyed meeting up with other runners in the Half Marathoner running community! MORE
Loved “kiss the brick”! Great experience to run on the speedway track!!! Enjoyed meeting up with other runners in the Half Marathoner running community!
Kissing the bricks!
This was a fun race! The best part is running around the Indianapolis Speedway. Not much to see on your way there but it’s a nice buildup to the track … MORE
This was a fun race! The best part is running around the Indianapolis Speedway. Not much to see on your way there but it’s a nice buildup to the track and then a nice run back to the finish. Just have to make time to stop and kiss the bricks!
It’s a fairly flat course and generally an easy run. I ran this 3 weeks post Covid and found it to be fairly doable, if that says anything for the difficulty?
The swag is great and the attendance is definitely great. We got lucky and got a hotel right at the starting line. It’s a later start, so being able to walk right out the door and not run until 7:50am? Least stressful race start ever!
Flat and Fast!
If you're looking for a PR, this is the course for you! I loved this race and would definitely do it again. The expo was medium sized and packet pickup … MORE
If you’re looking for a PR, this is the course for you! I loved this race and would definitely do it again.
The expo was medium sized and packet pickup went smooth. Race location is very convenient to downtown hotels. The start was literally right in front of the Courtyard Mariott. They had start waves which went very well. The scenery was nothing special, but there were lots of bands along the course which was great! It was awesome being able to run on the speedway too. This was the flattest course I have run on. Highly recommended!