Indianapolis Monumental Marathon
Indianapolis Monumental Marathon race day weather
Cool start, moderate wind challenges
Runners will face temperatures rising from 36°F at the start to 50°F by race's end. Winds will be moderate, peaking at 13 mph from the WNW, creating varying conditions with headwinds in several segments. Adjust pacing, especially during the headwind stretches from Miles 3-6 and 9-14, while taking advantage of the tailwind from Miles 22-27. A light layer may be beneficial before the race as feels-like temperatures drop to 30°F.
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Indianapolis Monumental Marathon route and elevation
The Indianapolis Monumental Marathon course has about 224 ft (68 m) of climbing and 231 ft (70 m) of descent, and finishes near the elevation it starts. It is flatter than 68% of the marathon courses racecast.io has mapped, measured by what the hills cost in time. It has no steep miles: no mile climbs more than 50 ft (15 m).
Biggest climbs
- Miles 14.7 to 18.4 (Newfields to the River): climbs about 75 ft (22 m).
What the hills cost
- 3:30 on a flat course is about 3:30:25 here (25 seconds slower).
- 4:00 on a flat course is about 4:00:30 here (30 seconds slower).
- 4:30 on a flat course is about 4:30:30 here (30 seconds slower).
Hills only, priced mile by mile on the course map. The pace calculator above adds the race-day weather.
Even-effort splits for a 3:30, 4:00 or 4:30 finish
| Mile | Climb | Descent | 3:30 | 4:00 | 4:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 ft | 17 ft | 7:57 | 9:05 | 10:13 |
| 2 | 19 ft | 12 ft | 8:03 | 9:12 | 10:21 |
| 3 | 14 ft | 7 ft | 8:02 | 9:12 | 10:21 |
| 4 | 8 ft | 9 ft | 7:59 | 9:07 | 10:16 |
| 5 | 9 ft | 6 ft | 8:01 | 9:09 | 10:18 |
| 6 | 4 ft | 15 ft | 7:57 | 9:05 | 10:12 |
| 7 | 9 ft | 5 ft | 8:01 | 9:10 | 10:19 |
| 8 | 8 ft | 6 ft | 8:01 | 9:09 | 10:18 |
| 9 | 21 ft | 10 ft | 8:04 | 9:14 | 10:23 |
| 10 | 15 ft | 5 ft | 8:05 | 9:14 | 10:23 |
| 11 | 6 ft | 11 ft | 7:58 | 9:06 | 10:15 |
| 12 | 25 ft | 34 ft | 7:57 | 9:05 | 10:13 |
| 13 | 13 ft | 20 ft | 7:57 | 9:06 | 10:14 |
| 14 | 9 ft | 11 ft | 7:59 | 9:07 | 10:15 |
| 15 | 17 ft | 11 ft | 8:02 | 9:11 | 10:20 |
| 16 | 48 ft | 11 ft | 8:18 | 9:29 | 10:40 |
| 17 | 37 ft | 24 ft | 8:06 | 9:16 | 10:26 |
| 18 | 17 ft | 14 ft | 8:01 | 9:09 | 10:18 |
| 19 | 23 ft | 87 ft | 7:45 | 8:51 | 9:57 |
| 20 | 6 ft | 9 ft | 7:58 | 9:07 | 10:15 |
| 21 | 9 ft | 7 ft | 8:00 | 9:09 | 10:18 |
| 22 | 16 ft | 7 ft | 8:04 | 9:13 | 10:22 |
| 23 | 7 ft | 6 ft | 7:59 | 9:08 | 10:16 |
| 24 | 17 ft | 10 ft | 8:03 | 9:11 | 10:20 |
| 25 | 7 ft | 10 ft | 7:58 | 9:07 | 10:16 |
| 26 | 5 ft | 21 ft | 7:56 | 9:03 | 10:11 |
| Last 0.2 | 5 ft | 0 ft | 1:49 | 2:05 | 2:20 |
Explore the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon course with the weather and your pace along the route, or compare it with other races.
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About the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon
The Indianapolis Monumental Marathon (also known as the CNO Financial Group Indianapolis Monumental Marathon for sponsorship reasons) is an annual road marathon usually held in early November in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The marathon was first held in 2008 and includes a half marathon and 5K run. Since 2016, it has been the only full fall marathon run in Indianapolis. In 2015, it claimed to have become one of the 20 largest marathons in the U.S. Wikipedia
Race weekend
Tips from Runners
From 50 race reports by runners: what worked for them, not official race information.
Book a downtown hotel near the Indiana Convention Center. Several runners walked a few blocks to the corrals and stayed in their rooms until shortly before the start.
Accept a slow first mile or two in the downtown crowd. You can settle into your pace once the half marathoners peel off near mile 7.
Expect large, tightly packed pace groups in the first half. A 2024 runner found the pacers lined up far back in the corral, so don't worry if yours isn't near you at the start.
Think about carrying a handheld bottle. A 2023 runner couldn't see the stations ahead in the early crowd, and a 2024 runner had to stop at an understaffed one near mile 12.
Watch your footing the whole way. In a pack, leave a little room to the runner ahead so you can see holes in the pavement before you reach them.
Run the rolling miles north of downtown by effort, including the climb near mile 15. Don't spend too much on the mid-teens downhills.
Have supporters cheer late on the way back into downtown, where one 2024 runner saw her people at mile 23.5 and again at mile 25. Tell them to stand on the side they need to leave from. A 2024 family got stuck across the course for half an hour.
Use the Indiana Convention Center before the start. A 2024 runner used its indoor restrooms and a 2023 runner warmed up there before gear check.
- Book a downtown hotel near the Indiana Convention Center. Several runners walked a few blocks to the corrals and stayed in their rooms until shortly before the start.
- Have supporters cheer late on the way back into downtown, where one 2024 runner saw her people at mile 23.5 and again at mile 25. Tell them to stand on the side they need to leave from. A 2024 family got stuck across the course for half an hour.
- Use the Indiana Convention Center before the start. A 2024 runner used its indoor restrooms and a 2023 runner warmed up there before gear check.
- Accept a slow first mile or two in the downtown crowd. You can settle into your pace once the half marathoners peel off near mile 7.
- Expect large, tightly packed pace groups in the first half. A 2024 runner found the pacers lined up far back in the corral, so don't worry if yours isn't near you at the start.
- Run the rolling miles north of downtown by effort, including the climb near mile 15. Don't spend too much on the mid-teens downhills.
- Think about carrying a handheld bottle. A 2023 runner couldn't see the stations ahead in the early crowd, and a 2024 runner had to stop at an understaffed one near mile 12.
- Watch your footing the whole way. In a pack, leave a little room to the runner ahead so you can see holes in the pavement before you reach them.
Indianapolis Monumental Marathon FAQ
When is the 2026 Indianapolis Monumental Marathon?
Is the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon a Boston Marathon Qualifier?
What is the time limit for the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon?
What will the weather be like for the 2026 Indianapolis Monumental Marathon?
What is the elevation gain of the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon?
Is the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon flat?
What is the weather usually like for the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon?
What was the hottest Indianapolis Monumental Marathon?
What was the windiest Indianapolis Monumental Marathon?
Indianapolis Monumental Marathon reviews and race reports
Flat, fast and crowded early, with pothole-scarred streets. The back half by the river gets lonely.
The shared first seven miles downtown — The marathon and half run together for about seven miles, with many turns through downtown. Runners describe a packed start that stays congested until the half splits off.
Potholes on Indianapolis streets — Several runners warn about potholes along the course, some running parallel to the road. A runner in a big pace group found them hard to see through the legs ahead.
Rolling hills, Butler and Newfields — North of downtown the course rolls, with a hill near mile 15 and downhills in the mid-teens. Runners liked passing through Newfields and the Butler campus near the White River.
The quiet river stretch and the return downtown — Crowds thin in the second half as the route drops to the river and through parks. One runner found no crowds at all from miles 20 to 23. Spectators come back on the turn into downtown.
Struggled in the last 5 miles but held on for a solid finish.
The weather was perfect, about 45 degrees at the start without any wind. My plan was to take 6 gels (45g carbs each), throughout the race, at 15 minutes and then every 30 from thereon. I settled in behind the 2:55 pacer group and cruised with them to the half way point. I was surprised how many runners were in the group, it felt fairly packed all through the first half.
Skipped hydration stations, finished strong with a negative split
Race plan went nearly perfect. Weather was spot on at 45 degrees with minimal wind. My HR was a little higher than I would've liked the whole way, but my body felt good so I chose to be aware but not obsess over HR. Effort level was the perfect mix of comfortable, but still ambitious for the first 20 miles.
Felt strong in the second half, qualified for Chicago & Boston!
Race day weather - perfect. Couldn’t have asked for better. Especially considering it snowed the next day! Had been debating pace all week, but really wanted to give myself a shot at 3:20 (main goal was to qualify to run Chicago next year) - so I decided to go for between 7:30-7:40/mi pace during the first half, trying to keep it closer to the 7:40 range in the beginning so I wouldn’t burn out.
Felt relaxed and controlled, despite usual late-race fatigue.
Truly cannot recommend Indy enough. The weekend was seamless from start to finish. Easy, inexpensive flight from NYC, plenty of affordable hotels walkable to the start and expo. I ate ~450–500g of carbs the two days before the race. Race morning: 2 Maurten solids, a few graham crackers, coffee, beet juice. I jogged about half a mile to warm up and hopped into the A corral 15 minutes before the start — incredibly easy logistics.
Felt heavy at mile 12 but maintained pace to a 12-minute PR
At mile 12 I hit a water stop that was fairly understaffed. I ultimately had to STOP and pick up water at a table. You know how your legs feel when you end a long run and they start to seize up? This happened to me at the water stop.... at mile 12. My legs just felt heavy and tired.