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☰
Indianapolis Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Indianapolis Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.6 
Spectators 3.1
Number of comments: 157 [displaying comments 1 to 11]
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Y. F. from USA
(10/23/2015)
"Well-done and low-cost but lacks variety" (about: 2015)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 After the exclamatory praise heaped upon this race by Runners World, I expected something pretty exciting. Pretty perhaps, but far from exciting. The packet pickup was tiny - I don't crave the big commercial expos, but this was really small! I did the half and I am glad I did not do the full because I was really bored with the course after a few miles. The volunteers and water stations were perfect, however. No spectators to speak of. It was very cold (31 degrees F at the start). I was told at packet pickup that there would be a warm place to wait (You are required to park at least one hour before the race start). That did not materialize. I exhausted myself stamping my feet to try to keep warm. The post-race food was not as comforting as I expected. You had to choose (fast) between pizza and something wrapped in aluminum foil. Despite the tasty cookie, I was starved and left quickly. The medal is fine. I hear this is the last running. | |
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J. S. from Columbus, Ohio
(10/21/2015)
"A pretty nice & small marathon" (about: 2015)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Indianapolis Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was my 31st marathon. The first half of this marathon course is very pretty. The second half disappoints as the roar of Rt.465 overpass and the swoosh of fast moving cars destroys the beautiful silence of the two beautiful parks in the first half. My recommendation is to simply loop us through the parks for the second half of the race. The gel/bananas are not handed out until mile 17. I would like to see these at an earlier mile markers. Also would like to see more stuff like vaseline or salty items at the aid stations. The race is decent size - 500 marathoners and 1500 halfers but the expo is tiny and you get nothing at packet pickup except the shirt and bib. Still the beauty of the course makes the race a 'recommend' especially if you dislike urban decay marathons. This one is almost all nature, trees, and changing leaves. | |
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C. B. from Detroit, Michigan
(10/19/2014)
"Great if you like quiet races, boring if you don't" (about: 2014)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Indianapolis Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I am a 50-states person and this race fit with my schedule, but I wish I had done the other Indianapolis one two weeks from now instead. I can't fault the organization at all. Everything from expo to course marking to aid stations was perfection. This race had no city in it at all, and was mostly parks and beautiful views. That said, I got bored pretty quick and stayed bored. The first half was okay because there were enough hills and turns to break things up. The second half was almost all a very long out-and-back. This race had fewer spectators than almost any other marathon I've ever done (this is #28). Also, the 2-mile-long uphill finish was a bit of a drag. Post-race festivities appeared to be good but I didn't stay because I had to drive home right away. Medal and shirt (long-sleeved tech shirt) are both nice. Overall this was a really nice course for people who like quiet, small races. Unfortunately I'm not one of those people. | |
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T. S. from Indianapolis
(11/1/2013)
"1 city, 2 marathons, both great" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Indianapolis Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 For 50 staters (or anyone for that matter) wondering which of the Indianapolis marathons only two weeks apart to try, the answer is simple: Either one. You like gorgeous scenery in a park setting with some challenging (yet doable) hills and a small-town post-race vibe, go with this race at Fort Ben. You want something more urban and flat, try the Monumental a couple of weeks later. No, I don't work for the Indy Chamber of Commerce, but I'm proud of my two hometown marathons and would recommend them to anyone. (Note: I only ran the half at this race this year, so my ratings reflect that.) | |
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M. B. from Fort Wayne, IN
(10/31/2013)
"Excellent, Low-Stress Race" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Indianapolis Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was a perfect fall marathon for me, even though the weather was cold and rainy. The organization was first-rate, and everything from the expo to the start line was easy to navigate. This is not a typical big city marathon, though it is in a metropolitan location. Starting at Fort Ben Harrison and using the state park there, it is mostly rolling hills and falling leaves, and it would be very beautiful on a sunnier day. There was even a pace group to help get me to Boston, just like in the pricier marathons. I absolutely loved this race, and now I wonder why I waited so long to try it. | |
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E. R. from IN
(10/29/2013)
"Beautiful, quiet, easy to get to marathon" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first Indianapolis Marathon. Like everyone else I was dissappointed with the weather, but, that is always a gamble when signing up for any race. The event was really nice and though the spectators were few (weather), the volunteers were awesome and toughed it out with us. I was pleased with the course and amenities and the great prices that Indiana racing provides! I will probably do the Monumental next time, only because I like to run different marathons. | |
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m. h. from Virginia Beach, VA
(10/22/2013)
"Beautiful fall marathon" (about: 2013)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Indianapolis Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Wow, what a great place to run a marathon. Deep in the forest but close to the big city made this one interesting course. The course is not an easy one with the first half mostly consisting of inclines and hills but nothing really bad. The second half is in the State Park which was beautiful with the leaves turning but sadly it was pouring rain for most of the race and cold-44 degrees. Had great post-race food selections of pizza, bratwurst and hamburgers with beans, cole slaw, and big cookies. The race also had fire places with hay to sit on. The race shirt was a green tech shirt with the trees in different colors. Some people said they didnt like it but I did. I will use it this winter on my training runs. Medal was big with the marathon logo of the leaf with Indianapolis marathon at historic Fort Harrison on it. The date is on the ribbon. The volunteers were awesome at all the aid stations and there were plenty on the course. Some suggestions for runners of future Indianapolis marathons: Hotels are plentiful all around the area. I even stayed on the other side of town to use points and it was no problem with jumping on 465 and getting anywhere quick. Think about staying over until Sunday to see a Colts game if they are in town. Lucas Oil Field is really an awesome stadium with great views of downtown Indianapolis. In summary, as I am near the beginning of the 50 State project, I am glad I ran this one for the Indiana Marathon. The course is a good if you pace yourself, train for the hills, and go out a little slower on the first half to save some energy for the second half. | |
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P. W. from Dublin OH
(10/21/2013)
"Small, quiet, hilly, beautiful and boring" (about: 2013)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Indianapolis Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 If you like to zone out while running, letting it just be between you and the road, this can be a good race. Best features: beautiful fall leaves and gorgeous run through park; quiet and non-disruptive for your zen moments; easy for family and friends to see you off and greet you upon finishing (harder now with security measures heightening at races), and lots of pleasant helpful staff and volunteers. Didn't like: too hilly to be good for qualifying for Boston; virtually no spectators or bands, and repetitive course with several double-backs, giving you a regular diet of racers in view who are ahead and behind your time. One caveat, if race day turns out sunny and hot, could be a great race because you're shaded quite a bit of the time. In my humble (and unprofessional) opinion, if Indy wants to keep this a quiet, casual kind of race they should keep it just as is. Maybe they don't want to turn into the next Chicago or even Columbus. | |
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S. B. from Ilinois, US
(10/20/2013)
"Very disappointed this year (2013)" (about: 2013)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Indianapolis Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I ran this race in 2012 and 2013 and must say that 2013 was very disappointing. Yes the weather was a very minor factor (cold and rain), but beyond that it was just a disappointing experience 1. There was no GU gel (or at least I couldn't find any) pretty much throughout the course. Lucky I carried my own 2. Narrow paths for running in many stretches with folks also coming in the opposite direction. I was jolted from my state of concentration at least twice with the blare of a police motorcyle in the opposite direction trying to make way for one of the elite runners and once for a wheelchair participant. I can only imagine how the elites felt sharing such a narrow track with amateurs in the opposite direction 3. Two instances where volunteers seem to provide preference to women? I could be imagining this, but when I ran up to grab for a Gatorade from volunteers, at the last minute their outstretched hands would retract from toward me and hand the drink to women behind me!!! 4. Poor post race refreshments (by any standard) - bananas, granola bar, water and a salty snack. That's all I could find... 5. The race long sleeved tshirt must have been designed by a non-runner. The print on the front of the tshirt is a 'rubber' layered mess and so heavy that it probably weights 3-4 times the tshirt 6. Hardly any spectators (probably because of the weather) | |
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D. O. from Normal, IL
(1/6/2013)
"Laid Back Marathon" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Indianapolis Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Ran this race as a 'back of the packer' this time around as I helped a friend complete her first full marathon. That was a great feeling. I can attest that the volunteers and the limited number of fans were as enthusiastic and engaged for those at the end as they were when I ran this race an hour and a half faster a couple years ago. This is a well-run race where the folks hosting make you feel like they're really glad you're there. They get it that Midwest runners have a lot of choices as to where to do their Fall marathon. Course: This is kind of an odd course as you go a couple of different directions and run over the same area a couple of times. It's not a traditional loop or out-and-back course. However, there is some really pretty turf, especially in the park, and a couple of decent sized hills. Nothing too brutal, though. The best way I can describe it is that it would be a really nice training course but it's not the kind of course where you can't wait to come back and do it again. However, I would come back again because it's a low-key race with plenty of elbow room after the first mile or two and simple race day logistics-easy access and parking, plenty of port-a-johns and water stations. |
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