FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: March 31, 2021
Contact: Kim Jackson
media@carmelmarathon.com
317-498-4343

Past Champions, Chinese Olympic Bid Highlight Fast Field for Carmel Marathon Weekend

11th Annual Event Returns to Live Racing with Eight Past Race Winners Among 3,000 Participants from 40 States

CARMEL, IN - The Carmel Marathon Weekend returns to the streets of Carmel, Indiana for its 11th annual event on Saturday, April 3, 2021 after staging a virtual-only race in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Carmel Marathon Weekend will be an in-person event in 2021, with registration number restrictions 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 Presented by Franciscan Health 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 on Friday, April 2, 12 – 8 p.m., at the 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.

Click on the link below for additional information and full course maps.

About the Carmel Marathon Weekend

The 11th annual Carmel Marathon Weekend on Saturday, April 3, 2021 will feature 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. The Carmel Marathon is the second largest marathon in Indiana and the largest running event in the city of Carmel. The event offers a fast course (certified Boston Qualifier) through the popular Indianapolis suburb of Carmel, Indiana. To learn more, please visit CarmelMarathon.com.

Carmel Marathon Prompts Temporary Road Restrictions on Saturday, April 3

Carmel, IN - The Carmel Road Racing Group would like to remind residents in Carmel, Indiana 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 6.5 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 below:

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 7:50 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Southbound between Elm and City Center 7:50 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Southbound between City Center and 106th 8 – 8:35 a.m.
Northbound between Executive Drive and City Center Drive 7:50 - 8:25 a.m.
Northbound between City Center and Main Street and City Center 7:50 – 8:30 a.m.

Main Street
Full closure between 3rd Avenue SW and Range Line 7:50 – 8:35 a.m.
Delays at Monon Greenway crossing 7:50 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.

106th Street
Eastbound between Westfield Blvd and Gray 8 – 9:20 a.m.
Westbound between Hazel Dell and Gray 8:05 – 9:35 a.m.

North Range Line at Circle Drive
Runners crossing US 31 exit ramp and North Range Line 8:10 – 8:40 a.m.

Clay Terrace Blvd
Runners crossing at 146th Street 8:10 – 8:50 a.m.

John Street
From 146th Street to Thornberry Drive to 146 St 8:15. – 9:00 a.m.

Thornberry Drive
From John Street to Pearl Street 8:15 – 9:00 a.m.

Hazel Dell Parkway
One southbound lane ONLY closed 8:20 – 10:25 a.m.
Center southbound lane and both northbound lanes open to traffic all morning

Dellfield Boulevard
Eastbound between pool and Hazel Dell 8:20 – 10:25 a.m.

Bridgeton Lane
Eastbound to Gladecrest 8:20 – 10:30 a.m.

Gladecrest Drive
Northbound to Autumn Gate Way 8:25 – 10:30 a.m.

Autumn Gate
Northbound to 126th 8:25 – 10:30 a.m.

126th Street
Westbound between Hazell Dell to Gray 8:30 – 10:40 a.m.

Limberlost Drive
Northbound between 126th to Harrison Drive 8:35 – 10:50 a.m.

Harrison Drive
Northbound between Limberlost to Main Street 8:35 – 10:50 a.m.

Main Street
Westbound between Harrison Drive to Hawthorne 8:35 – 11 a.m.

Hawthorne Drive
Northbound between Main Street to Smokey Row 8:40 – 11:10 a.m.

Smokey Row Road
Westbound from Carmel High School stadium to Range Line 8 – 8:30 a.m.
Westbound between Hawthorne Drive to Range Line Road 8 – 11:40 a.m.
Delays at the Monon Greenway crossing 8 a.m. – 2:25 p.m.

Gradle Drive
Delays at the Monon Greenway crossing 9:10 – 11:40 a.m.

111th Street
Delays at the Monon Greenway crossing 9:15 – 11:55 a.m.

106th Street
Delays at the Monon Greenway crossing 9:15 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.

96th Street
Westbound closed between Monon Greenway parking entrance to College 9:20 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

N. College Avenue
Southbound closed between Pennsylvania Pkwy to 96th Street 9:25 a.m. – 12:40 p.m.

Penn Parkway
Southbound curb lane closed between 111th Street to College 9:40 a.m. – 1:10 p.m.

111th Street
Westbound lane closed between Penn to Illinois 9:40 a.m. – 1:10 p.m.

N. Illinois Street
Northbound curb lane closed between 111th to 136th Street 9:40 a.m. – 1:55 p.m.. Center northbound and both southbound lanes will be open to traffic all morning

Oak Ridge Road
Northbound closed between 136th to Nevelle Lane 10 a.m. – 2:10 p.m.

Nevelle Lane
Eastbound closed between Oak Ridge to Rohrer Road 10:05 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Rohrer Road
Northbound closed between Nevelle Lane to 146th 10:05 a.m. – 2:25 p.m.

146th Street
One eastbound lane restricted under the Monon Greenway crossing 10:05 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.