State # 6: Carmel Marathon (IN) April 16, 2016

I first became interested in the Carmel Marathon in the spring of 2015 when I was looking for a fast course to run a PR. However, as the date grew closer and I wasn't getting over my IT band issues I had to pass on it. I ended up taking my first pacing job at the Murray half marathon on that day instead, which worked out amazingly for where I am now! So, in the spring of 2016 when I saw that a fellow pacer was looking to fill her spot at Carmel due to work conflicts I couldn't pass it up. I was going to be the 4:55 pacer for my third time pacing a full. It was a last minute addition to my schedule and I was excited! (I've actually paced this race twice now, 2016 & 17, and planning to go back for 2018.)

Carmel is just off of 465 on the north side of Indianapolis. It is quite a nice community with an excessive number of traffic circles (roundabouts). The course is mostly on the streets, with a few sections of paved bike trail, but I guess I really don't need to go into a lot of detail as the course will be all new in 2018. One of the quirks of this race, which I believe will be changed, is that 4 races all started from the same start line at the same time. (5k, 8k, half and full) This made for a crowded start and I couldn't really get up to pace until the second mile.

In 2016 the weather got a little bit warm although it was only 48 at the start. I had a contingent from Ft Wayne in my group that complained about the heat. That year I lost the last person in my group around mile 20. He was a man of Indian descent who was running his first marathon. In 2017 we passed each other on the course and he was running the half. The 2017 race was cold and windy throughout and was only 41 at the start. One of my favorite things about that year was two friends from Lexington (who are sisters) came to do the race--one running her first half and the other her first full marathon.

The success rate of runners in my pace group was very different for 2017 with the cooler temperatures. I still lost a few that had been with me at the beginning, but that is typical as it is quite common for people to overestimate their preparedness. This time everyone who was still with me at mile 21 went on to finish ahead of me, and a few that had fallen behind still managed to come in under 5 hours.

 in both 2016 and 2017 they gave the pacers VIP passes, which gave us access to the beer tent and more food options. In 2016 I felt the regular food was pretty good, including pizza, but in 2017 they gave a prepackaged box that didn't include any hot food. It seems that more races are moving in this direction to both save money and to improve the traffic flow in the finish chute.

Overall, this is a well organized race with a good expo and packet pickup. The course is very flat, without excessive turns, and the new course for 2018 is supposed to be even better. The medals are big and bling-y. For 2018 they will be white to finish out a loose 3 year series of red, white, and blue Indiana-shaped medals.