Run even, or slightly negative
On a course this flat, even pacing is your best plan. Run the first half within a few seconds per mile of goal pace, and only press after mile 20 if you still feel controlled.
Indianapolis, IN · Saturday, November 7, 2026
Indianapolis Monumental Marathon race guide
Monumental is one of the best PR courses in the Midwest. It starts and finishes downtown, loops north through Indianapolis neighborhoods, and has nothing on the route that should force you off your pace. That means your challenge is mostly pacing discipline and the weather, which on an early November morning can be near freezing and windy.
Pace plan
Plan your race on this course
Set your goal and start time. Your checkpoints, the time of day you’ll reach each one, and the course guide below all update to match.
Build your plan01
Pacing
A little slower on the climbs, a little faster on the downhills and flats, for the same finish time. Based on where this course climbs. Treat it as an effort guide.
The race starts at 8:00 a.m. Later waves cross the line a few minutes after that.
Splits
Your Monumental Marathon02
Average pace
8:01/mi
- First half
- 1:44:59
- Second half
- 1:45:01
- Finish line
- 11:30 a.m.
Hover or tap a bar to see that mile.
| Checkpoint | Elapsed | Clock |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown milesMile 5 · Should feel almost too easy | 40:03 | 8:40 a.m. |
| Half/full splitMile 7.5 · Marathoners must be here by 10:25 a.m. | 1:00:03 | 9:00 a.m. |
| Halfway, Broad RippleMile 13.1 · On even pace, or a few seconds behind | 1:44:59 | 9:45 a.m. |
| Naval ArmoryMile 20 · Final 10K. Start racing if you feel good | 2:40:12 | 10:40 a.m. |
| FinishMile 26.2 · Downtown, near the Statehouse | 3:30:00 | 11:30 a.m. |
Save it to your phone, or send the link to the people cheering for you.
- Date
- Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Start time
- 8:00 a.m. ET, wave start
- Start
- Downtown Indianapolis, near the Indiana Convention Center
- Finish
- Downtown, near the Indiana Statehouse
- Time limit
- 7 hours; 16:00 per mile minimum pace
- Elevation gain
- About 190 ft
- Official site
- monumentalmarathon.com
- Profile
- Flat and fast, with only a few short, gentle rises
- Best for
- A PR or a Boston qualifier
- Biggest mistake
- Starting fast because the first miles feel easy in the cold
- Cutoff
- Marathoners must reach the half/full split (miles 7–8) by 10:25 a.m.
The course
Mile by mile, at your pace
- Miles0–7
Downtown & the shared miles Flat
The marathon and half marathon start together on a wave start and share the first several miles through downtown. These miles are flat and crowded, and it’s easy to run them too fast. Find your rhythm and let the half marathoners go.
8:00 /miMile 7 at 56:038:56 a.m.
- Miles7–13
The split & heading north Flat
The courses split between miles 7 and 8, and the field opens up. You head northeast on Fall Creek Parkway past the State Fairgrounds, then north up Washington Boulevard toward Broad Ripple, where you reach halfway. It’s quieter here, so it’s a good place to lock into goal pace and start fueling on schedule.
8:01 /miMile 13 at 1:44:079:44 a.m.
- Miles13–20
Meridian Street & down to the river Rolling
From Broad Ripple you turn south on Meridian Street, where the course’s only real rise comes around miles 15–16, about 30 feet. You pass Butler University, then drop down to the White River before mile 19. None of it is big enough to change your plan. Keep the effort steady rather than holding the exact split.
8:01 /miMile 20 at 2:40:1210:40 a.m.
- Miles20–23
The Naval Armory & the turn for home Flat
You pass the historic Heslar Naval Armory just after mile 20 and start heading back toward downtown. Wind can matter on the open stretches. Tuck in behind a group if you can.
8:01 /miMile 23 at 3:04:1611:04 a.m.
- Miles23–26.2
Back downtown Flat
The skyline gets closer and the crowds come back. This is a flat finish, so if you paced well, this is where you can race. You finish downtown, near the Statehouse.
8:00 /miFinish at 3:30:0011:30 a.m.
Every mile split for 3:30:00
| Mile | Terrain | Pace /mi | Elapsed | Clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flat | 8:01 | 8:01 | 8:08 a.m. |
| 2 | Flat | 8:01 | 16:01 | 8:16 a.m. |
| 3 | Flat | 8:02 | 24:03 | 8:24 a.m. |
| 4 | Flat | 8:01 | 32:04 | 8:32 a.m. |
| 5 | Flat | 7:59 | 40:03 | 8:40 a.m. |
| 6 | Flat | 7:59 | 48:02 | 8:48 a.m. |
| 7 | Flat | 8:02 | 56:03 | 8:56 a.m. |
| 8 | Flat | 8:00 | 1:04:03 | 9:04 a.m. |
| 9 | Flat | 8:02 | 1:12:06 | 9:12 a.m. |
| 10 | Flat | 8:01 | 1:20:07 | 9:20 a.m. |
| 11 | Flat | 8:03 | 1:28:10 | 9:28 a.m. |
| 12 | Flat | 8:00 | 1:36:09 | 9:36 a.m. |
| 13 | Flat | 7:58 | 1:44:07 | 9:44 a.m. |
| 14 | Flat | 7:59 | 1:52:06 | 9:52 a.m. |
| 15 | Flat | 8:03 | 2:00:09 | 10:00 a.m. |
| 16 | Flat | 8:06 | 2:08:14 | 10:08 a.m. |
| 17 | Flat | 8:02 | 2:16:17 | 10:16 a.m. |
| 18 | Flat | 8:01 | 2:24:17 | 10:24 a.m. |
| 19 | Downhill | 7:54 | 2:32:11 | 10:32 a.m. |
| 20 | Flat | 8:00 | 2:40:12 | 10:40 a.m. |
| 21 | Flat | 8:01 | 2:48:12 | 10:48 a.m. |
| 22 | Flat | 8:01 | 2:56:14 | 10:56 a.m. |
| 23 | Flat | 8:02 | 3:04:16 | 11:04 a.m. |
| 24 | Flat | 7:59 | 3:12:15 | 11:12 a.m. |
| 25 | Flat | 8:02 | 3:20:16 | 11:20 a.m. |
| 26 | Flat | 7:59 | 3:28:15 | 11:28 a.m. |
| Finish | Flat | 7:59 | 3:30:00 | 11:30 a.m. |
Lap your watch at each marker; GPS distance drifts over 26.2 miles. Even-pace card for 3:30:00
Race strategy
How to pace the Monumental Marathon
Use the pace groups
Monumental runs pace groups for a wide range of goals. A group helps most on windy stretches. Just don’t follow one that’s running faster than its target.
Dress for mile 20, not the start
Start mornings are often in the 30s or low 40s°F. Wear throwaway layers, gloves, and a hat you can toss. Once you’re moving, you’ll warm up fast, and overdressing costs more than a cold first mile.
The last few weeks
Train for this course
- Do flat long runs with long marathon-pace blocks, like 2 × 6 miles or 10–14 continuous miles at goal pace. A flat course means the same muscles do the same work all the way.
- Practice holding pace in the cold: wear your race-day layers on a cold long run and see what you can take off and when.
- Run some long runs into a headwind so a breezy stretch on race day doesn’t rattle you.
Race-day weather
Early November mornings in Indianapolis are cold, often in the 30s or low 40s°F at the start, warming into the upper 40s or low 50s by the finish. Wind is common, and rain or even snow is possible. Cold weather is great for fast running, so dress so you can toss layers and race comfortably.
Race morning
Getting to the start
- Hotels downtown are a short walk from the start, which is a real advantage. Main downtown streets close early on race morning, so if you’re driving in, arrive well before the start.
- Line up in the wave shown on your bib. The marathon and half start together.
- Gear check uses the clear bag from packet pickup. Other bags may be turned away.
- Packet pickup is at the expo at the Indiana Convention Center on Thursday and Friday before the race.
Questions runners ask.
Is Monumental a good Boston qualifier?
Yes. It’s flat, usually cold, and well organized, and it’s a popular race for qualifying attempts. Recent coverage puts the share of qualifying finishers at about 18–22%. As always, the course only helps if your training supports the goal.
What is the time limit?
Seven hours, with a minimum pace of 16:00 per mile. Marathoners must reach the half/full split, between miles 7 and 8, by 10:25 a.m. to continue on the marathon course.
Are there pacers?
Yes. The race fields pace groups for the marathon from about 3:00 through 6:33. Check the official pace team page for exact groups.
Is there a half marathon?
Yes. The half marathon starts with the marathon and shares the first several miles before splitting off. There’s also a 5K.
Last checked October 20, 2026. This is an independent guide from Miles. We’re not affiliated with the race organizer. Start times, cutoffs, and logistics can change, so confirm everything on the official race site before race day.
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