Carmel Marathon: Street closures, where to park and everything you need to know – Indianapolis Star

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Thousands will fill the streets of Carmel’s Arts & Design District for the annual marathon which is also a Boston Marathon qualifying race. Natalia E. Contreras, Indianapolis Star

Thousands of people will fill Carmel’s streets this weekend for the ninth annual Carmel Marathon. And this year organizers added a new race distance to Indiana’s second largest marathon event. 

The event, which begins at 7:45 a.m. Saturday, includes a marathon, a half-marathon, a 5K run and relay and, new this year, a 10K. 

A fitness expo, which starts at 11 a.m. Friday, will feature vendors and several running-organization booths.  

The 10K replaces the 8K, which had been run since the marathon’s inception in 2011, event spokeswoman Sarah Bustamante told IndyStar.

This year the Carmel Marathon was also awarded the 2019 State Championship race designation by the Road Runners Club of America, the largest running-based membership organization in the U.S.

The event has become popular among Hoosiers and people from across the country because it’s a Boston Marathon qualifying race. The Carmel Marathon course is certified by USA Track & Field, which allows those who qualify to apply for the 2020 Boston Marathon.

“The flat and fast course is ideal and a great opportunity to finish your first marathon or get that Boston Marathon qualification time,” Bustamante said. “People also love to visit Carmel and get that medal with the shape of the state of Indiana to add to their running medal rack.”

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More than 4,000 runners are registered for the Saturday event, Bustamante said. 

All races use the same start and finish line, City Center Drive and Third Avenue South West,  which allows spectators to see the opening ceremonies and cheer on runners as they finish.

Whether you’re running or cheering on friends and family, here’s everything you need to know about the Carmel Marathon:

How to register and cost

Registration is open online at www.carmelmarathon.com and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the fitness expo at Carmel High School, 520 E. Main St.

Cost until Thursday:

• $85 for the marathon.
• $75 for the Drewry Simmons Vornehm Half Marathon.
• $50 for the Indiana Spine Group 10K.
• $45 for the the Indiana Credit Union 5K.
• $25 for the 5K for ages 13 and younger. 

Cost at fitness expo Friday:

• $90 for the marathon.
• $80 for the half-marathon.
• $55 for the 10K.
• $50 for the 5K.
• $25 for the 5K for ages 13 and younger.

Packet pickup

Participant packet pickup will be  11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the fitness expo at Carmel High School, 520 E. Main St.

Every registered participant will receive a Carmel Marathon goody bag event packet with samples and a participant guide on race day.

Vendor booths include Carmel Runners Club, Personal Best Training, National Running Co., Geist Half, Hilly Half Marathon, Zionsville Half Marathon, Hello Fresh and Back on My Feet. 

Carmel Marathon schedule

The Carmel Marathon is Saturday. 

• 7:45 a.m. opening ceremonies.
• 7:50 a.m. national anthem.
• 7:55 a.m. final pre-race announcements.
• 8 a.m. all events begin.
• 9 a.m. 5K awards ceremony.
• 9:30 a.m. 10K awards ceremony. 
• 11 a.m. Half-marathon awards ceremony.
• 11:45 a.m. marathon awards ceremony.

Weather

Runners might want to bring a rain jacket, and spectators should carry an umbrella. 

According to the National Weather Service, Saturday will be cloudy with an 80 percent chance of rain and a high temperature of 57 degrees. 

Carmel Marathon distances and route  

Distances

• The Carmel Marathon is 26.2 miles.
• The half-marathon is 13.1 miles.
• The 10K is 6.2 miles.
• The 5K is 3.1 miles.
• The two-person marathon relay is 13.1 miles per runner.
• The four-person marathon relay is about 6.5 miles per runner.

The courses will take runners through Carmel’s Arts and Design District. the Monon Greenway, Carmel Clay Park trails and back to Carmel’s Center Green.

And yes, finishers in every race receive a medal.

Parking and where to drop off runners

Parking for runners and visitors will be available at the Tarkington Theatre parking lot and the Veterans Way Parking Garage at 100 City Center Drive, just south of the start and finish line. Additional parking will be available on Third Avenue across from the Actors Theatre of Indiana near Industrial Drive.

Another parking lot is at the corner of Guilford and City Center Drive, and it’s about a 15-minute walk to the start and finish line. 

Shuttles for race participants staying at the Renaissance Hotel on North Meridian Street will be available from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

The best place to drop off runners will be at the intersection of Third Avenue and Gradle Drive. 

Street and lane closures

• City Center Drive will be closed between Rangeline Road and Third Avenue starting at 10 p.m. Friday and until 5 p.m. Saturday.
• Third Avenue South West will be closed from Center Green to City Center Drive from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Saturday.
• Rangeline Road will be closed southbound between Main Street and Elm Street Saturday from 7:50 a.m. to 9:10 a.m.; southbound between Elm Street and City Center Drive from 7:50 a.m.  to 2:30 p.m.; southbound between City Center Drive and 106th Street from 7:50 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.; northbound between Executive Drive and City Center Drive from 7:50 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and northbound between Main Street and City Center Drive from 7:50 a.m. to 8:20 a.m.
• 106th Street will be closed eastbound between Westfield Boulevard and Gray Road from 8:10 a.m. to 9:10 a.m.; westbound between Hazel Dell Parkway and Gray Road from 8:10 a.m. to 9:25 a.m.
• At Hazel Dell Parkway one southbound lane will be closed between 8:25 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.
• Bridgeton Lane will be closed eastbound to Gladecrest Drive from 8:30 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.
• Gladecrest Drive will be closed northbound to Autumn Gate Way from 8:30 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.
• Autumn Gate Waywill be closed northbound to 126th Street from 8:30 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.
• 126th Street will be closed Westbound between Hazel Dell to Gray Road from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Limberlost Drive will be closed northbound between 126th Street to Harrison Drive from 8:40 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.
• Harrison Drive will be closed northbound between Limberlost Drive to Main Street from 8:40 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.
• Main Street will be closed westbound between Harrison Drive to Hawthorne Drive from 8:40 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.
• Hawthorne Drive will be closed northbound between Main Street to Smokey Row from 8:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Smokey Row will be closed westbound between Hawthorne Drive to Rangeline Road from 8:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Main Street will be closed eastbound between the Fourth Avenue roundabout to Rangeline Road from 7:45 a.m. to 9 a.m. and westbound from Rangeline Road to the Fourth Avenue roundabout from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
• Expect delays at Gradle Drive, 111 Street, 106th Street, Smokey Row, and Main Street near the Monon Greenway crossing.  
• 96th Street will be closed westbound between the Monon Greenway parking entrance to College Avenue from 9:20 a.m. to 12: 20 p.m.
• North College Avenue will be closed southbound between Pennsylvania Parkway to 96th Street from 9:25 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• One southbound lane will be closed at Pennsylvania Parkway between 111th Street to College Avenue from 9:40 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• One westbound lane will be closed at 111th Street between Pennsylvania Parkway to Illinois Street from 9:40 a.m. to 1 p.m.; one eastbound lane will be closed from Tottenham Drive to Pennsylvania Parkway from 9:40 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• One northbound lane at North Illinois Street will be closed between 111th to 136th Streets from 9:40 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
• Oak Ridge Road will be closed northbound between 136th Street to Nevelle Lane from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Nevelle Lane will be closed eastbound between Oak Ridge and Rohrer Road from 10:05 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.
• Rohrer Road will be closed northbound between Nevelle Lane and 146th Street from 10:05 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• One eastbound lane will be restricted under the 146th Street Monon Greenway crossing from 10:05 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• First Street South West will be closed between Veteran’s Way and Third Avenue from 8:15 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.
• Veteran’s Way will be closed southbound between First Street and Elm Street from 8:15 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.
• Elm Street will be closed eastbound between Veteran’s Way and Rangeline Road from 8:15 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.