Nearly 3,000 people from 40 states participating in this weekend’s Marathon
The Carmel Marathon Weekend returns to the streets of Carmel for its 11th annual event on Saturday, April 3, after staging a virtual-only race in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The Carmel Marathon Weekend will be an in-person event in 2021, with restrictions on numbers of registration and COVID-19 policies in place in accordance with local guidelines. A virtual race option is also available.
Nearly 3,000 people from 40 states are expected to participate in this year’s events, which include the Carmel Marathon presented by Franciscan Health, the Carmel Half Marathon presented by Drewry Simmons Vornehm, the Indiana Spine Group 10K, the Indiana Members Credit Union 5K, and a marathon relay.
Eight former Carmel Marathon Weekend champions will toe the start line of the certified Boston Marathon qualifier course along with the field of 60 elite runners, promising a fast and potentially record-breaking race. Past champions in the elite field include:
- Ann Alyanak, women’s half marathon (2011)
- Jesse Davis, men’s marathon (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2019) and half marathon (2011)
- Erin LaRusso, women’s marathon (2017)
- Kelby Laughner, women’s marathon (2018)
- Laurah Lukin, women’s half marathon (2019)
- Pasca Myers, women’s half marathon (2019)
- Bryan Morseman, men’s marathon (2017)
- Lucie Sulewski, women’s marathon (2015)
In addition, Ball State University graduate Sophia Liu will race the Carmel Marathon in pursuit of the highly-coveted spot for non-professionals on the Chinese Olympic Marathon Team. Due to travel restrictions, she was unable to travel to Chinese Olympic Trials. Aiming for a finish time of 2:35, Liu will use the Carmel Marathon as a qualifier for the national team. Liu, raised in China, is now a research scientist at University of Washington in Seattle.
“We are excited to share in the celebration of each and every one of our participants’ achievements this weekend,” said Todd Oliver, race director for the Carmel Marathon Weekend. “From the initial unknowns to postponements, cancellations and virtual events this past year, we are pleased we can offer a live event for our communities, which include both the Carmel community and the running community in general. We know it will be an emotional yet rewarding day for all.”
Members of the public are invited to the Fitness Expo from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday at Carter Green on the south side of the Palladium, featuring exhibitors with unique items and opportunities in sports, fitness, and nutrition. In addition, the new Indiana Vein Specialists Cheer Zone at Midtown will be a central location on race day for spectators to cheer on runners, catch a live stream of the finish line on the big screen, and enjoy music on the Midtown stage.
Learn more at CarmelMarathon.com.
Marathon prompts temporary road restrictions on Saturday
The Carmel Road Racing Group reminds residents to prepare for temporary lane restrictions and brief street closures in parts of the city due to the 11th annual Carmel Marathon Weekend on Saturday, April 3. Short delays can be expected. Motorists are advised to plan alternate routes, allow for extra driving time and take extra caution along the event route.
The Carmel Road Racing Group and City of Carmel Police Department have worked together to plan the event route in a way to lessen the impact on road closures while ensuring the safety of race participants and volunteers.
The race course begins and finishes at Carmel’s Palladium at the Center for Performing Arts (at 3rd Avenue and City Center Drive) with the course passing through the Carmel Arts and Design District, Old Town Carmel and a variety of Carmel Clay Parks. All events begin at 8 a.m., with a maximum course time of six-and-one-half hours. The course and finish line will officially close at 2:30 p.m. All lanes of all roads will open throughout the morning immediately following the last race participant.
Both lanes of City Center Drive, eastbound and westbound, will close just west of Veteran’s Way at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 2 and remain closed until 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 3 for the start/finish area of the race. Traffic will be able to access City Center during those times.
Temporary single-lane delays to occur between approximately 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 3.
City Center Drive: Between Range Line Road and Third Avenue, Friday at 10 p.m. until Saturday at 5 p.m.
Range Line Road: Southbound between Main Street and Elm from 7:50 to 8:30 a.m.; southbound between Elm and City Center from 7:50 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; southbound between City Center and 106th 8 to 8:35 a.m.; northbound between Executive Drive and City Center Drive 7:50 – 8:25 a.m.; and northbound between City Center and Main Street and City Center 7:50 to 8:30 a.m.
Main Street: Full closure between 3rd Avenue SW and Range Line 7:50 to 8:35 a.m.; delays at Monon Greenway crossing 7:50 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
106th Street: Eastbound between Westfield Blvd and Gray from 8 to 9:20 a.m.; and westbound between Hazel Dell and Gray from 8:05 to 9:35 a.m.
North Range Line at Circle Drive: Runners crossing U.S. 31 exit ramp and North Range Line from 8:10 to 8:40 a.m.
Clay Terrace Boulevard: Runners crossing at 146th Street from 8:10 to 8:50 a.m.
John Street: From 146th Street to Thornberry Drive to 146 Street from 8:15 to 9 a.m.
Thornberry Drive: From John Street to Pearl Street from 8:15 to 9 a.m.
Hazel Dell Parkway: One southbound lane ONLY closed from 8:20 to 10:25 a.m.; center southbound lane and both northbound lanes open to traffic all morning.
Dellfield Boulevard: Eastbound between pool and Hazel Dell from 8:20 to 10:25 a.m.
Bridgeton Lane: Eastbound to Gladecrest from 8:20 to 10:30 a.m.
Gladecrest Drive: Northbound to Autumn Gate Way from 8:25 to 10:30 a.m.
Autumn Gate: Northbound to 126th Street from 8:25 to 10:30 a.m.
126th Street: Westbound between Hazell Dell Parkway and Gray Road from 8:30 to 10:40 a.m.
Limberlost Drive: Northbound between 126th Street and Harrison Drive from 8:35 to 10:50 a.m.
Harrison Drive: Northbound between Limberlost Drive and Main Street from 8:35 to 10:50 a.m.
Main Street: Westbound between Harrison Drive and Hawthorne Drive from 8:35 to 11 a.m.
Hawthorne Drive: Northbound between Main Street and Smokey Row Road from 8:40 to 11:10 a.m.
Smokey Row Road: Westbound from Carmel High School stadium to Range Line Road from 8 to 8:30 a.m.; westbound between Hawthorne Drive and Range Line Road from 8 to 11:40 a.m.; and delays at the Monon Greenway crossing from 8 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.
Gradle Drive: Delays at the Monon Greenway crossing from 9:10 to 11:40 a.m.
111th Street: Delays at the Monon Greenway crossing from 9:15 to 11:55 a.m.
106th Street: Delays at the Monon Greenway crossing from 9:15 a.m. to 12:05 p.m.
96th Street: Westbound closed between Monon Greenway parking entrance and College Avenue from 9:20 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
N. College Avenue: Southbound closed between Pennsylvania Parkway and 96th Street from 9:25 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.
Penn Parkway: Southbound curb lane closed between 111th Street and College Avenue from 9:40 a.m. to 1:10 p.m.
111th Street: Westbound lane closed between Penn Parkway and Illinois Street from 9:40 a.m. to 1:10 p.m.
N. Illinois Street: Northbound curb lane closed between 111th and 136th streets from 9:40 a.m. to 1:55 p.m. Center northbound and both southbound lanes will be open to traffic all morning.
Oak Ridge Road: Northbound closed between 136th Street and Nevelle Lane from 10 a.m. to 2:10 p.m.
Nevelle Lane: Eastbound closed between Oak Ridge Road and Rohrer Road from 10:05 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Rohrer Road: Northbound closed between Nevelle Lane and 146th Street from 10:05 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.
146th Street: One eastbound lane restricted under the Monon Greenway crossing from 10:05 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.