Indianapolis Monumental Marathon Reviews

  Flat, fast, great weather, great crowd support

By Rebecca B. about 2024

Review

The start line had waves so it was easier to navigate to my appropriate wave. The crowd support was actually very good! I was surprised that so many neighborhoods along the course had people out cheering! The weather was perfect as far as temperature (low 50s), it was a little windy (7-9 mph) but not too bad- I stayed in a pack most of the time to help shield the wind. Speaking of, it is crowded! Sometimes a good thing because I almost always had someone to run with (ran 2:56:04) but also, in the beginning it was hard to run tangents because of rubbing with a group.
- right after about mile 6 it was the sweet spot of plenty of people to run with but not too crowded. Overall, I would definitely pick running with a few too many people over running by myself! Indianapolis marathon did not disappoint! It exceeded my expectations! Super fast course, great atmosphere- you should run it for sure!

Race Tips

Even pacing is probably best. Super flat but the only hills do come at about mile 15.5-17, a few ups and downs. Expect the start to be crowded but also decently easy to navigate to your appropriate corral. Not quite enough porta potties if you are someone who likes to go one last time at the absolute last minute like me.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

We stayed in an Air BnB in "The Block" and it was super close to the start and a bit more affordable then the hotel rooms that close to the start. Lots of good food options nearby.

  Great Race Event!!

By J about 2023

Review

Likes- Overall event very well managed and great race event!!

Dislikes- Please get more portable restrooms at starting line! Very inadequate for number of runners, 30+ min wait time.

  Great Race

By AJB about 2021

Review

Great Race. Loved the route - nice and flat. Good atmosphere - would definitely run again. Getting to the starting corral was a bit of a nightmare pre race but once the race started everything was great.

Race Tips

Plenty of hotels within walking distance to starting line. Get out a bit early to make sure you have time.

  Nice flat race, logistical challenges

By Anonymous about 2021

Review

No complaints about the race itself, but allow LOTS of time to get to the start corrals. Sidewalks on S. Capital were jammed (2021) with spectators, making it almost impossible to get to starting corrals. It took 20-25 minutes to walk about 2 blocks, and many of us were fearful we would miss the start of the race.

Race Tips

Water stations aren't well marked, so the first few can come as a surprise. On the positive side, the split at mile 7 between the marathon and the half marathon is the best I've ever seen.

  

By Anonymous about 2021

  Nice, flat course

By Anonymous about 2019

  Great Course for PR!!!

By MD about 2019

Review

This course is great for a PR! The course is flat and fast. Just beware of the potholes! The roads are in pretty bad condition. I kinda wish the half marathon had a later start! It took a while for it to thin out... like 4 miles or so! Also, I'm not gonna lie, the swag was awful!! A SHORT sleeve shirt for a November marathon... What the!?!?! The hat was OK, I guess.The metal was fine, but I did not like how they made it part of a series!? It's supposed to fit together with the 2018 metal, but what if you didn't run the 2018 marathon? Kinda stupid in my opinion. The strangest part was after you crossed the finish line, you didn't get your metal right away. I thought in all my exhaustion, I somehow missed it. It was really weird. I've never seen that before! I had to walk about 20 feet and get my own metal off a cart that was set up with the metals. It didn't seem super organized to me.

Race Tips

You will have to pay to park for packet pickup. I suggest getting a hotel close to the expo (which was close to the start line) and walking from the hotel to get your packet. Get in your wave early!!! It's a BIG race and it gets pretty crowded!

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

A lot of hotels near the start line! I stayed at Crown Plaza at Union Station and it was just a couple blocks from the start/finish.

  Great course. BAD swag.

By Mariah P. about 2018

Review

The course is fantastic. No hills, perfect fall weather, heat shield at the end, with great snacks.

Horrible medals and the shirts are ALWAYS so ugly!!! AND the biggest disappointment is the price of pictures!!! They should be free like most races!

Race Tips

Great fall weather, no hills, good cheering crowds.

  Run Indy!

By LCBV about 2018

Review

Fun, flat, friendly, lots to look at....in a great foodie town!

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Get an airbnb and then uber to the starting line.

  This race has gone downhill fast

By Jim about 2018

Review

Sure this race is fast and flat. Other than that I see no reason to do this race. I've done it several times and The New Director of Monumental has taken this race to new lows. Blake Bolton, the old director was great. The after race food is horrible, the awards are $1 socks, the on course nutrition used to be great (cliff blocks every mile or two), it is now a no name brand in a couple of locations. The shirts are down right ugly and made of a cheap material. Yes, it's flat and fast, and that is the only reason to do this race.

  Flawless

By Bill about 2018

Review

Great organization. Speedy, flat course. The hills from 15-18 are not much at all, and our rolling, so you can ease up then make up time on the downhill. Some potholes on streets but no big deal. Frequent, small aid stations. Mobile medical support on bikes all over the course. And they separate the slower half runners from the full at the end when the courses recombine, so you don't have to leave. Very thoughtful.

Race Tips

Don't run too fast at the crowded beginning. Bib pickup was a breeze. Lots of good hotels within blocks of start/finish.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Access to the starting corrals is very easy, so don't worry about showing up too early if it's cold. Half an hour before your start is plenty.

  Beautiful Scenery

By F.M. about 2018

Review

Cold start 35 degrees, nice and flat course,not all stations had Gatorade. Beautiful place to PR.

Race Tips

Just trust your training. Be careful not all the roads are closed to traffic. Watch your footing, pavement had holes.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

I stayed at the Hyatt downtown, the start and finish line just outside the entrance.

  Flat route!

By EE about 2017

Review

I'm from Indianapolis but didn't start running until I'd been gone for 14 years. Once I built up enough experience with 5k, 10k, half-marathon races, I knew I wanted my first marathon to be in my hometown. It's a flat course and has great support from the community in the cheer/water stops. The course goes through historical neighborhoods, a college campus, downtown Indianapolis, and the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art ... basically, for the ones who look around while they're running, there's plenty of things to look at! They just finished a 4 year medal series and will be starting a new series in 2018. I thought I'd be a one-and-done marathon runner but this is now my annual race that I will continue to do.

Race Tips

Stick with your corral and trust your training. Right around the time most people are hitting the wall (mile 21-24) is probably the least scenic part of the route -- or maybe I'm just exhausted by then I don't look around as much. I'm a mid-to-back of the pack runner so I just enjoy my run the best I can. There are also PLENTY of portapotties throughout the course. If you get to a set and there's a line and you don't have to go RIGHT THEN, there will be another set coming up that might not have a line.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

check for hotels early or try Air-BnB. Plenty of parking available too but you can also reserve a parking spot for race day online.

  Great course....Great weather

By Paul about 2017

Review

Great course....Great weather.

Race Tips

Don't go out too fast.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Stay at the Hilton Indianapolis Hotel & Suites.....the start line is literally right outside the back door. The finish line is maybe a quarter a mile away

  

By Anonymous about 2016

  

By Anonymous about 2016

Review

Well organized, great pace teams, great course, great city, solid expo.

Race Tips

Negative split it. I ran it twice...Fastest two I have run. First one had a 3 minute negative split; the second, 7 minute. Last half mile sucks...Two turns, feels like you are going to finish and them you just keep going.

  

By ASF about 2016

Review

Flat, Fast, Well Organized.

Race Tips

Best Pacing Strategy, Personal Best Course.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Easy access to get around Indianapolis.

  

By RR about 2016

Review

This is a flat, fast course with minimal hills. It's well supported, the aid stations were fantastic, and it was never too crowded. I loved the course- we went through some really cute neighborhoods, and there were plenty of long straightaways towards the end that facilitated a fast last 10 miles. My only criticism is that the pavement was not amazing in sections.

Overall this is a go-to course for a PR and BQ!!

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

We stayed downtown which was great- walked to the race start and packet pick-up. All of the businesses and hotels opened their lobbies on race morning so I never once used a port-a-John the whole day!

  

By Anonymous about 2015

  

By EMR about 2012

Review

Well organized; flat course; nice expo; welcoming feel

Race Tips

Flat course you could PR on. Can expect cool temps this time of year

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Host hotels are walking distance from expo and start and finish lines.

  

By AT about 2010

Review

Fast, Flat race. It was a little on the colder side the year I did the race. (2010) It was about 27 degrees at the start. The sun came up and helped a little but it didn't ever get up much past high 30s. The race was well organized and fell on a good date in early November. It falls a couple weeks after some of the larger marathons for those multiple marathoners that are looking to sneak in another good race. Hope to do the race again someday.