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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 111 to 121]
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G. H. from Lombard, Illinios
(11/5/2005)
"Very well organized before, during, and after." (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Indianapolis Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Everything was well organized from packet pick-up, parking, porta-potties, directing runners, and post-race meal. Volunteers were pleasant and aid stations plentiful. You could get three gel packs on the course. As noted there were no clocks on the course but all mile markers were easily visible. You could run immediately from the start without having to worry about being cut off or having your head on a swivel when you wanted to go in another direction. I ran San Francicso in July and Runner's World could take lessons from this group since that race was poorly organized. Getting in and out before the race was exceptionally easy. | |
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L. M. from Savoy, IL
(10/25/2005)
"Great first race for girl from the Midwest!" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Indianapolis Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This was my first marathon. I enjoyed the race and the course thoroughly, and had a good time. The scenery was fantastic (I normally run among cornfields). The Gatorade stops were plentiful, and gel packs were handed out several times (3x?). There were probably about 600 marathon runners, and we were spread out like a string of pearls after the half-marathon runners finished. The race was fairly flat, with some gentle hills in the middle. I am from central Illinois (the flattest place on earth) and the hills weren't a big deal to me. The drawback was that the crowd was pathetic and didn't get into it until 26.1 miles in. Still, I enjoyed hearing my name on the loudspeaker while the Chariots of Fire theme was playing as I crossed the finish line. Fantastic! I would run this race again. | |
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W. M. from Texas
(10/19/2005)
"Thank you organizers!" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Indianapolis Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a good, old-fashioned race, period! Nice people, well organized, beautiful area at a great price. I guess if you give someone an opportunity to complain, they will. For example, one writer complained about the race being in Lawrence, not Indianapolis. Guess what, Boston ain't in Boston either! Another person complained about loops. These aren't loops; they're short out-and-back runs. No big deal and they keep you near the fans. Small expo - so what?! You can go in, pick up your packet and be out in minutes! It takes hours in New York and guess what, it's still 26.2 miles. No clocks on the course? Buy a watch! If you want a nice, no-hassle event, this is it! Don't forget to check out the Kendall Inn. It's fantastic and you only have to limp... uh... walk a couple of blocks! | |
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Brian Meyer from Lawrenceville, Georgia
(10/18/2005)
"I loved this marathon!" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Indianapolis Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I have run several of the 'big' marathons (Chicago, Marine Corps., etc.) and I thought this one was every bit as organized and fun. The course was relatively flat and fast. I qualified for Boston, if that says anything. There is one hill at mile 10 that is a little rough, but compared to what I train on in GA, it was nothing to worry about. Overall, I had a great experience and I look forward to doing it again. | |
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B. T. from Saint Louis, MO
(10/18/2005)
"I'd Run It Again" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Indianapolis Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 What a beautiful day for a race. You could not have asked for a better one. The whole process from packet pickup to the finish line was very well organized. I also enjoyed the enthusiasm at each aid station. Thank you volunteers! Thank you also to the local police and sheriff's departments. And to the lady at mile 20 offering a kind word of encouragement, ice and an energy bar. The course was mostly flat and each mile mark was clearly visible. Fans were few and far between, but that comes to be expected with a smaller number of runners/walkers. Those watching were friendly and offered encouragement. | |
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D. R. from Lawrence, Indiana
(10/17/2005)
"Small but FUN" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Indianapolis Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon and I chose it because I live right in Lawrence, Indiana where the race is actually run. I thought the course was great, though I would agree that the out-and-back at the last half of the marathon is a little 'lonely' at times, but the other runners and the volunteers at the water stations were great, and the last mile had plenty of people to cheer us on, which is when I really needed it. Seemed like plenty of opportunities to get photo taken during race (unlike much larger events), which is great for a first marathon. It would have been nice to have had some clocks out on the course or some timing stations, but was glad the event was chip timed. While I did not partake in the after race meal, I had heard was was very good. I would definitely run this marathon again. | |
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t. r. from Indianapolis, IN
(10/17/2005)
"What's to complain about?" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Indianapolis Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 To be fair, this was my first marathon, but I don't know what you could complain about. The course was varied (big roads, neighborhoods, brief trails, running paths), well-marked, and well-staffed. there weren't thousands of people lining the course, but as someone who runs solo 99.99% of the time, I'm not sure why that would make a big difference. Everyone involved was unfailingly kind and supportive, and I had a helluva time. It not only made me want to run another marathon, but I plan to run this one again next year. Plus, I would have to think it is a pretty fast course (as a first-timer, I ran 3:32) with only negligible hills. | |
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B. A. from Illinois
(5/3/2005)
"Only run this race if you need the state" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Indianapolis Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 The course has a bad layout, making two loops around the starting area before you wonder out through the neigborhoods. The worst part of the race is running in the state park, down a bad road and going around a orange cone having a kid sitting there writing down your bib number to make sure you ran the whole race. They do have the course marked well and have a good support staff and good traffic control. I would not recommend running this race for a first-time marathon; it will make you not run another one. Spectators are sparse along the course. | |
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N. B. from Kentucky
(11/18/2004)
"Not bad" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Indianapolis Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This is a decent marathon, not the best, not the worst. The first half of the course is nice, your family can see you 4 times. The second half was an out-and-back through a state park; it was kind of lonely since most of the runners only do the 1/2 marathon. The water stops were very plentiful. This marathon offers few thrills, like it was a very cold and windy day, and there were no Mylar blankets being handed out. I saw a lot of runners shivering. No clocks out on the course, and no other timing stations out there to record your time. There weren't many relay runners. On the plus side, the post-race meal was GREAT, and the mile markers were marked well on the course. The medal was decent. This is a marathon that you can run pretty much from the start. It's not crowded at all (especially the second half) and the other runners and support crew were very enthusiastic. | |
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J. D. from Chicago, IL
(11/17/2004)
"Well organized race, pretty course" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Indianapolis Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Small but well-organized race. The course was slightly hilly but it ran through a state park - the fall colors made it a really pretty course. Parking was easy and plentiful. Many missing mile markers (some were blown down by the wind) and no clocks but there were enough to be able to judge your time fairly well. Not many spectators after the first few miles but it was very peaceful and the volunteers were excellent. Wind was tough due to the long out-and-back in the middle of the course. Post-race meal was fun - made it feel like a picnic! It's very close to Indy (I didn't care that it wasn't actually in Indy) and we went there after the race. I would do this race again. |
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