I keep coming back for the Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon because it offers:
- Great pre-race weekend instructions and reminders via email
- Convenient, downtown location for the expo
- Much of downtown Indianapolis is connected via skywalks, and our hotel was one of several that directly connected to the convention center
- Pre-race warm up in the convention center with giveaways
- Wave start (5 waves total)
- Finisher's hat
- On-site medal engraving
- Post-race food included chocolate milk, water, Gatorade, chips, bananas, cookies, Cliff bars, and a ticket for one slice of Papa John's pizza
- Food trucks and various vendors were also at the finish line celebration area
- Plenty of porta potties downtown
- Many hotels within a block or two of the start/finish line
- Expo had a wide-range of vendors including other half marathons, local races, running/athletic gear vendors, sports nutrition vendors, etc. but try to get there early
- Poster with participant names
- Gear check
- Runner tracking
- AMAZING crowd and volunteer support
- Plenty of places to carb load downtown the night before
- Plenty of places to celebrate post-race
- Downtown Indianapolis feels safe and is very clean