Nobody does (well, maybe NY and Chi), but I think the point he was trying to make is that the city handles three pretty large events (Indy 500, Brickyard 500, US Grand Prix) as well as a 35,000-person race in the spring pretty well, and with the new stadium may someday be in line for a Super Bowl. They have the means to accomodate something of that size - I think what people forget is that Indy is now one of the 10-15 largest cities in the country.
Of course Indy has enough hotel rooms. Second, I don't think anyone shows up for the New York Marathon, Chicago etc for the city itself - they show up for the event! Problem is there are plenty of great fall marathons close by; Chicago and Columbus and the current Indy marathons specifically. If you want a big city marathon, you go to Chicago, if you want a mid size, easy in-and-out, but flat and fast marathon you go to Columbus. If you just don't want to travel and just want a fall marathon you go to Indy. The full blown crowd comes out for the Indy Spring half. It is a great half marathon, but the crowd certainly does not reach the proportions that Chicago marathon does in the Fall. I think a better option would be to capitalize off of their "Mini" and offer a whole marathon along with it. Throw out some real dollars as well and bring in some better runners.
Oldie wrote:
I think a better option would be to capitalize off of their "Mini" and offer a whole marathon along with it. Throw out some real dollars as well and bring in some better runners.
Doubt this would ever happen, it's going in the other direction with the race not bringing in elites anymore, etc.
40K not unless they make registration free and put an iPod in the goody bag.
It's a pitty they aren't bringing in the elites. I think they oply care that it sells out every year at earlier and earlier times. The popularity of the race continues to increase but you are right, the actual race is unfortunately void of top runners. I wish they would be embarrassed into making it a legitimate road race, they certainly bring in enough money to do so. It will probably go back to local runners winning it other than the Kenyan or two who swoop in and walk away with its paltry (~$1,500 if I remember correctly) prize.
People run the Mini, because it is the Mini....It's just what you do in the Spring in Indy. If you aren't running it, you know someone who is. They seem to care about making it a local event, rather than a top race. That's not such a bad philosophy, as I think that the people in Portland will agree about their Marathon.
It really concerns me that many of us who know the local running community have never heard of this new race. We don't know the people organizing it, and most importantly, we don't think that it would succeed. I also agree that it is a slap in the face to Joel. Say what you want about his race, but he puts every bit of effort that he has into it, so for somone to try to stomp all over him is pretty bad.
I would love to hear mor information and details.
It all depends on the promotion. I say they get 5-10k first year. There aren't too many 40k marathons out there.
Alan
My bet is that it doesn't even happen...I can't believe that the Star would even print such a story.
Two people who are unknown to the local Indianapolis running community claim to have $4 million in sponsorship, pay $25 to apply for a city permit and announce that they are wanting to bring in 40,000 people for a first year marathon - and it ends up as a serious story in our local paper? My god!
I agree with the post directly above; I'm an Indy local too. This whole story just does not pass the smell test.
Bump
Sure, and after we finish running it, we can go over to the Garfield the Cat theme park they built in Plainfield.
In other words, it ain't gonna happen.
40K Great wrote:
Why are the biggest marathons always in dead towns with fat whale lardo populations who have nothing else to do but run a marathon. It's pathetic.
Like New York, London and Chicago? Three dead towns with fat whales. Let's run marathons in cities like St. Louis, Minneapolis, and Indy. There is so much to do in those cities that you can't do in the fat whale towns. Minneapolis is a great locale for cow tipping I heard.
Well....Here's the link.
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?board=1&id=1693508&thread=1693170
Half of the information about the race is still undiscolsed, the course definately does not show the city's best face, and $85.00!!!??? I also love that they list no sponsors at all, and there is no prize structure that I can find. Who are these people?....Seriously, who are they? I have no clue who is puting this on.
Sorry....Here's the link.
By the way, it is usually still pretty warm & humid in Indy in early September.
I sure don't get it. No one seems to know who these people are. There was a lengthy discussion of this on one of the Indy Star Topix forums, and no one else there knew either. The director of the Ocotober Indy Marathon seemed reasonably agreeable to their race, but I believe they are stealing his thunder.
Whoever these people are, I do not think they are runners, nor are they interested in helping the local community. It seems to me like all they are after is money, why else would they schedule their event 1 month before the pre-existing marathon? I also love gems like this from their website: "You can choose between the full 26.2 marathon, the 13.1 marathon or the 5k marathon".
Sorry if this comes across bitter; I'm fond of the October event, think it's well run, think highly of the race director, and can't imagine it surviving if this race pulls away all his participants.
Monon Runner wrote:
The exact route of the Indy Classic Marathon still needs to be approved by city officials, said DeAnn Milliken, special events coordinator in the city controller's office.
Johnson said the route will be submitted after it is certified by a national running organization. Plans call for the race to start Downtown and to encompass the south, west and north sides of the city.
The national running organization would be USATF. It is a little like putting the chicken before the egg to certify a course before getting it approved. It's prudent to get a layout approved first, then certify it, particularly a marathon w/the time & expense involved. I'm about to get involved in a similar enterprise and no way would I certify the course first and ask if it was okay later.
Their website is downright creepy. It reads like a phishing site, or like something Borat would have written.
"Enjoy downtown Indianapolis in a way you have never experienced before while you run through the circle on your way through the streets of Indy."
uhhhh...OK. And it's full of this stilted language.
And it says "Racing to Help Others". But no mention of who the charity/beneficiary is.
Then after all of this very general, no details stuff, they suddenly get extremely specific about a trivial topic:
"Once you have picked up your marathon Packet, proceed to the ChampionChip Verification Station to ensure your chip corresponds to your Bib Number. if there is an error, please report to the Chip Help Desk located in the Chip Verification area for correction."
You'd think it was lifted directly from some other race's site, except for the bizarre capitalization.
No way I would send any money to these people.
I would think the Indy Star would be capable of a little investigative reporting. $4 million in supposed sponsorship but then not a single company on the website? My money is that it never happens.
"This just smells more like a money grab on the part of the organizers than anything." Most races lose money if they draw enough runners. If the budget is set for 40,000 runners (which they won't get) this is sure to be a money loser...not a money grab.
Most likely the organizers have a breakeven point around 5 -10,000 the first year (at a loss) and hope to build from there.
Thanks for the clarification. My point was that this isn't a race being done with the runners and good organization in mind, it's for the sole purpose of somehow, someway eventually putting money in someone's pocket.