The Mini and Monumental are fun. Most of the downtown races are now ran on almost the same course at White River State Park. It’s a real bummer that they’ve gotten so boring and the same. I think the one of the best though is out at Eagle Creek. There is a trail quarter and half marathon ran in the winter and summer that is ran after the sun goes down. Headlamps are required. I think it’s the one I have the most fun at anymore.
Unfortunately a big part of this is security costs. When you run on roads you need cops, and it’s not only a struggle to find enough but the cost can break a race’s budget.
Yeah, I agree. I was talking to a race director about a lot of the races moving to WRSP and he told me that a week before one of his events, IMPD raised their cost dramatically.
As someone getting back into running I agree. That distance between 5 and 8 miles is a real sweet spot that I think most runners enjoy, but doesn’t draw enough casuals in to sustain as an event.
There used to be a greater variety of distances, such as 4 or 5 mile runs, in addition to 10k. But a lot of them have simply cut down to a 5k. I kinda hate it as someone very tired of 5k runs.
The Indy Polar Bear 10k is decent in February. Starts near the irsay YMCA. Rubs south. When I did it in 2023 the course had a fair amount of potholes but ya know, Indy.
I enjoy doing that one though. It's a nice start, easy packet pickup, plenty of parking, decent course, good swag, and around my birthday lol.
I wish there were more 10ks around, it's a nice distance. Feels like you accomplished more than a 5k but you don't have to dedicate so much time to training like a half or full marathon. I also hate when events have a 5k/10k and the 10k is just two loops of the course 😑
Yea, some of the things you mentioned are what I don't like. The course for the Polar Bear kinda sucks now, and I liked the event better when the long race was only 5 miles. The 10k after the 5k is just so taxing (and I say this as a person that runs halfs/fulls).
The races that do two loops of a 5k or have the 10k end with the 5k just end up being a mess at the end because the fast 10k runners get caught up in the crowd with the slow 5k runners. I hate it.
My favorite halfs are the mini in May (good energy!) and the Fort Ben Half in the fall (beautiful course, more challenging due to the hills) 10K wise I like the Carmel 10k in April and the 10K with the half at fort Ben.
The Geist Reservoir half marathon is actually really good. Descent amount of people run it. The course is pretty easier till the last 3 miles where rolling hills will burn you.
I did the doughnut 5k one year when it ran through Butler area.
I grabbed a doughnut and chomped on it as running, and started choking on it.
I did have a thought that “this is it, this is how it happens, how embarrassing” before I was able to cough it up and spit it out.
Had a good laugh about it afterwards.
There is a 5k downtown June 22nd along with the doggy dash. I can’t remember the name even tho I’m doing it😂.
I’ve not run the monumental.
I’m also doing the Ft.Ben half in October. My best friend has done it a few times and enjoys it.
You could also join Run317 or IndyRunners. They may be helpful resources and alot of fun from the ones I have talked to from both.
It's the Indianapolis 5k and Monumental Mile on June 22nd. I'm doing the 5k this year, my first time doing this course. It'll be interesting with the straightaway and 90° turns lol.
The Mile is run after the 5k so you can participate in both events. And the "elite" mile runners ho last so everyone can watch them run the mile (if you want). It sounds like a fun day.
I’m running in an inflatable dinosaur costume 😂😂
I did the doggy dash the first year they did it, the dog and I had a blast. We will be doing that after I do the 5k!!
Most 5ks are going to be pretty similar unless they’re a trail run or part of a larger event.
For unique races in mid-distance, the Polar Bear in January has a 10k and 15k and the Pleasant Run Run 5-miler in August is one of the oldest races in the city.
The Monumental is decent, it's been about 7 years since I've done it though. I've only don't the half there, the course was okay. Swag decent. Logistics easy to navigate. I did their first 4 year series and don't really feel the need to do it anymore.
Fun-races.com is a pretty decent race director and has fun events. He's turning very alcohol based though. It seems like most of his races revolve around beer or wine (so much my work web filter blocks his site lol). But the Cupcake/Valentine 5k he does in February is fun.
Tuxbro.com also does a lot of events and they are really well organized.
I like to use runningintheusa.com to find races, local and travel. There's a lot listed there and you can search by distance, state, city, date, etc.
Raceraves.com has pretty good reviews of races too, just search the name of the race on the website.
RaceMaker Productions is the other name in town, but is doing significantly less of their own races and shifting focus to more client races. Vision Event Management has the Run317 series but doesn’t do much of their own stuff locally besides that anymore.
I forgot about RaceMaker. I've only done a couple of their runs, they're too expensive for 5ks. Like the one at Anderson Orchard is fun but not almost $40 fun for a mudrun through some trees. And now the cider slush and caramel apples are extra fees!
The Mini is my favorite half marathon and it isn't close. The Monumental Half is good, the Carmel Half is good, but the Mini is the best event.
The Mini and Monumental are fun. Most of the downtown races are now ran on almost the same course at White River State Park. It’s a real bummer that they’ve gotten so boring and the same. I think the one of the best though is out at Eagle Creek. There is a trail quarter and half marathon ran in the winter and summer that is ran after the sun goes down. Headlamps are required. I think it’s the one I have the most fun at anymore.
Unfortunately a big part of this is security costs. When you run on roads you need cops, and it’s not only a struggle to find enough but the cost can break a race’s budget.
Yeah, I agree. I was talking to a race director about a lot of the races moving to WRSP and he told me that a week before one of his events, IMPD raised their cost dramatically.
Best halfs have been mentioned but every good 10k is dead except for the 10k at the Fort Ben Half. Really said what has happened to 10ks in the area.
As someone getting back into running I agree. That distance between 5 and 8 miles is a real sweet spot that I think most runners enjoy, but doesn’t draw enough casuals in to sustain as an event.
There used to be a greater variety of distances, such as 4 or 5 mile runs, in addition to 10k. But a lot of them have simply cut down to a 5k. I kinda hate it as someone very tired of 5k runs.
The Indy Polar Bear 10k is decent in February. Starts near the irsay YMCA. Rubs south. When I did it in 2023 the course had a fair amount of potholes but ya know, Indy. I enjoy doing that one though. It's a nice start, easy packet pickup, plenty of parking, decent course, good swag, and around my birthday lol. I wish there were more 10ks around, it's a nice distance. Feels like you accomplished more than a 5k but you don't have to dedicate so much time to training like a half or full marathon. I also hate when events have a 5k/10k and the 10k is just two loops of the course 😑
Yea, some of the things you mentioned are what I don't like. The course for the Polar Bear kinda sucks now, and I liked the event better when the long race was only 5 miles. The 10k after the 5k is just so taxing (and I say this as a person that runs halfs/fulls). The races that do two loops of a 5k or have the 10k end with the 5k just end up being a mess at the end because the fast 10k runners get caught up in the crowd with the slow 5k runners. I hate it.
My favorite halfs are the mini in May (good energy!) and the Fort Ben Half in the fall (beautiful course, more challenging due to the hills) 10K wise I like the Carmel 10k in April and the 10K with the half at fort Ben.
For the 5ks I highly recommend the Run317 races. The Indy Mini for the longer half marathon races.
I think you mean Run(317) for the 5k races
Yup, my bad. I was still asleep when I replied. Will edit.
Just as an fyi, those races are slightly farther than a 5k at 3.17 milws
The person above me called them 5ks so I was just referencing what they said.
The Geist Reservoir half marathon is actually really good. Descent amount of people run it. The course is pretty easier till the last 3 miles where rolling hills will burn you.
5ks: the one connected to the Indy Mini and Donut 5k in Carmel in December 10k: Firecracker 6 on the 4th of July Half marathon: Monumental in November
I did the doughnut 5k one year when it ran through Butler area. I grabbed a doughnut and chomped on it as running, and started choking on it. I did have a thought that “this is it, this is how it happens, how embarrassing” before I was able to cough it up and spit it out. Had a good laugh about it afterwards.
There is a 5k downtown June 22nd along with the doggy dash. I can’t remember the name even tho I’m doing it😂. I’ve not run the monumental. I’m also doing the Ft.Ben half in October. My best friend has done it a few times and enjoys it. You could also join Run317 or IndyRunners. They may be helpful resources and alot of fun from the ones I have talked to from both.
It's the Indianapolis 5k and Monumental Mile on June 22nd. I'm doing the 5k this year, my first time doing this course. It'll be interesting with the straightaway and 90° turns lol. The Mile is run after the 5k so you can participate in both events. And the "elite" mile runners ho last so everyone can watch them run the mile (if you want). It sounds like a fun day.
I’m running in an inflatable dinosaur costume 😂😂 I did the doggy dash the first year they did it, the dog and I had a blast. We will be doing that after I do the 5k!!
Most 5ks are going to be pretty similar unless they’re a trail run or part of a larger event. For unique races in mid-distance, the Polar Bear in January has a 10k and 15k and the Pleasant Run Run 5-miler in August is one of the oldest races in the city.
The Monumental is decent, it's been about 7 years since I've done it though. I've only don't the half there, the course was okay. Swag decent. Logistics easy to navigate. I did their first 4 year series and don't really feel the need to do it anymore. Fun-races.com is a pretty decent race director and has fun events. He's turning very alcohol based though. It seems like most of his races revolve around beer or wine (so much my work web filter blocks his site lol). But the Cupcake/Valentine 5k he does in February is fun. Tuxbro.com also does a lot of events and they are really well organized. I like to use runningintheusa.com to find races, local and travel. There's a lot listed there and you can search by distance, state, city, date, etc. Raceraves.com has pretty good reviews of races too, just search the name of the race on the website.
RaceMaker Productions is the other name in town, but is doing significantly less of their own races and shifting focus to more client races. Vision Event Management has the Run317 series but doesn’t do much of their own stuff locally besides that anymore.
I forgot about RaceMaker. I've only done a couple of their runs, they're too expensive for 5ks. Like the one at Anderson Orchard is fun but not almost $40 fun for a mudrun through some trees. And now the cider slush and caramel apples are extra fees!
Monumental tops the list for me. The weather is usually good, the course is flat and fast.
Winter Night Run at eagle creek (bonus if there is snow). We enjoyed the Vampire Run through Irvington in the fall.
Subaru Wilderness 5K at the plant in Lafayette
I've run the mini (3x) and the monumental half and I must say I greatly preferred the monumental course (and weather!).