[srlopez]

Ok, I'm NOT talking about the giant mini (half).<br><br>
There's been an <b>Indianapolis Marathon</b> for years... though it's always been kind of funny because it is in Lawrence and has basically nothing to do with Indianapolis. It's an ok race - small and low-key. This year it is on Saturday, 10/20.<br><br>
There's a new marathon... one that actually goes through the heart of Indianapolis. <b>The Indy Classic Marathon</b>. It'll be on Saturday, 9/8. The website is a bit sketchy on details (especially regarding the course for an out-of-towner), and they don't allow day-of-race packet pickup.<br><br>
Anyway, I'm doing both.<br><br>
Anybody doing one or the other of these races? Or both?

 

[rundadrun]

I will be doing the Indy HM in Lawrence(3rd time). I enjoy the field size and the course. It has been a lot of fun in the past for me. I have heard about the "new" Indy Classic and it was about the same as you posted( sketchy web site and such). It will be interesting to see how it turns out. See you in Lawrence.<br>
Rob

 

[arc918]

SR - go over to let's run and look for the old Indy Classic thread - that race got off to a very sketchy start - the RD was calling for 40K runners in the first year - seemed to be put on by a bunch of non runners

 

[srlopez]

thanks, arc. I know a little about that... and the website is very sketchy so it is clear something ain't quite right. But I've already got it booked, so it'll either work or it won't.<br><br>
Hope it does... I could have done a trail run that day outside of SLC. Would have been a harder run, but easier and cheaper logistics.

 

[sophielarue]

I am running the half for the Indy Classic. It looks like the race starts at the circle and then goes north. It might be kind of pretty, going through some of the older, tree-lined neighborhoods.

 

[srlopez]

Hi sophielarue... what is "the circle"?<br><br>
Have you heard anything regarding traffic control?

 

[sophielarue]

The circle is the very center of the city, hence the name 'circle city.' There's a monument in the middle, a roundabout, and some old-style buildings which includes the Hibert Circle Theater, which is where the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra plays. It's actually quite pretty.<br><br>
I am unsure about traffic control. I hope the organizers of this race have that figured out. Because this is on a Saturday, I would think this won't be a huge issue. The downtown area is usually pretty quiet on weekend mornings.

 

[sophielarue]

Whoa! Check it out!<br><br><a href="http://www.indyclassicmarathon.com/Datechangeinfo.html" target="_blank">http://www.indyclassicmarathon.com/Datechangeinfo.html</a><br><br><br>
The date has been changed from 9/8/07 to 11/3/07! Uh...I think I'm going to ask for my money back.

 

[Nettie]

Freaky!

 

[srlopez]

That SUCKS.<br><br>
I wonder if they'll pay the airlines the 100 dollar fee to change my ticket?<br><br>
I wonder if they'll work with the hotel to refund my pre-paid room???<br><br>
I bet not.<br><br>
These people are TOTALLY on my shit list now.

 

[sophielarue]

1. I think it sucks because they didn't even bother to email a message. I just happened to look at the website because of this very discussion.<br><br>
2. I think it sucks because they should have had these details nailed down before they even started advertising for this race. The organizers of this race seem very sloppy, and sketchy, indeed.<br><br>
3. I think it sucks because my friends were training for this as their first marathon. Now their training schedule is screwed up.<br><br>
4. I think it sucks because people coming in from out of town will lose money on booked flights and hotels.<br><br>
I am sure I can come up with more reasons.

 

[srlopez]

I sent them email... and I sent a comment to marathonguide.com, which hopefully will get posted.<br><br>
CRAP.

 

[srlopez]

Their local paper finally wrote a story on this. There's a familiar name in the middle, though the reporter didn't use much of what I said:<br><br><br><a href="http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070823/SPORTS/708230474/1247" target="_blank">http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...708230474/1247</a>

 

[sophielarue]

interesting! I can say that I kinda, <i>but not really</i>, know the guy from Seattle quoted in the article!<br><br>
I don't understand the motivation of the people who are organizing this marathon. There is a strong running community here in indy, and it seems odd that this has pretty much been disconnected from that. ah well...I'm still running a half marathon on the 8th...in Bloomington. It's going to hot and hilly!

 

[PacerChris]

Holy cow! How ridiculous - I found it odd from the get go...the Sept date, not much publicity (Heck, srlopez found out about it from me and he knows everything there is to know about marathons!!), then it sold out and now this? I would steer clear of this one until it's a few years old - if this is indicative of their organization skills, this could be run without water, on a long course, starting 1 hour late, etc. Perhaps these are the same characters that used to hold the Lakefront (Chicago) Marathon?!

 

[srlopez]

I am the king, THE KING, of screwed up marathons.<br><br>
I ran Lakeshore the year before the course was long. It still sucked.<br>
I showed up at the canceled Denver Marathon.<br>
I was signed up for the canceled DC Marathon and almost missed the note that it was canceled.<br><br>
And I signed up for this one too.<br><br>
Speaking of that IU half... and it sounds nice... there's a guy (I think it is the same person) who keeps posting about it over on coolrunning and in the indy letsrun thread. Like "hey, if you were planning on coming to the indy marathon, come to this race instead!"<br><br>
Sorry, man, it could be the greatest half ever, but I'm not traveling half way across the country to run a half <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile">.<br><br>
Good like at IU, sophie.