Saturday, July 29, 2017

The 8th Annual Eagle Creek Trail Marathon

The Eagle Creek Trail Marathon remains #1 for urban based trail marathons across the USA. Offering the quarter, half and full marathon distances, this race is one you won’t want to miss!

What You Get at the Race

  • An unforgettable experience running the “Best Urban Based Trail Marathon” in the country (Trail Runner Magazine, 2011)
  • Super soft, awesome design, Vintage Purple short sleeve tee that you’ll want to wear… always the best from 131 Events!
  • Unique 5″ Finisher Medal – Wood Engraved with polished silver frame and sublimated ribbon. Worthy of a center position on display!
  • Free to download, professional, high-res, race photos. If you know us, we’ll have 1,000’s to choose from.
  • Post-race trail-runner food and beverages… and snow cones!
  • A self gratifying sense of accomplishment that you conquered an event that only a small number of people get to do each year (remember the field is limited and this event will sell out!)

Register Now

Register Now!

Note:  This race is limited to the first 600 racers to make sure the trails are not overcrowded and parking remains under control.  

THIS EVENT HAS SOLD OUT EVERY YEAR – DO NOT DELAY YOUR REGISTRATION

8th Annual Finisher Medal

Unique 5″ Finisher Medal – Wood engraved with polished silver frame and sublimated ribbon. Worthy of a center position on display!

Awesome Race Shirt for 2017!

The 2017 Vintage Purple Race Shirt features an awesome classic design that you’ll want to wear! (Unisex sizes available from S through 3X)

Race Details

Schedule & Location

Start Times – All times APPROXIMATE and designed to help spread out the field. ALL DISTANCES – Please be prepared to start at 7:30am:

  • Full Marathon: 7:30 am (Eastern Time)
  • Half Marathon: 7:35am (Eastern Time)
  • Quarter Marathon: 7:40am (Eastern Time)

Race Cutoff time: 2:30pm (Full Marathon runners must start their second lap before 10:45am)

Location: Eagle Creek Park’s Eagle Crest, Indianapolis Indiana

  • ** THIS IS NOT THE NORMAL SIDE OF THE PARK. If you have to enter through a gate house, you’re in the wrong place. **
  • Physical Address: 7201 Fishback Road, Indianapolis, IN 46278

Early Packet Pickup – Friday, July 28:

  • 4:00-7:00pm
  • Location TBD

Race Day Packet Pickup – Saturday, July 29:

  • 6:00am-7:15am
  • Race Start Location at Eagle Creek Park
Awards

All racers receive the custom finisher medal.  

NOTE:  Overall Top 3 Awards are presented as soon as the 3rd place finisher in each group finishes.  Age Group awards can be picked up at the awards table after you finish, just check the results screen and look for your place in the Age Group column.

Top 3 Male and Female in all Divisions

Age Groups Male & Female (Awards are 3-deep for fields greater than 100, 1-deep for less than)
Divisions:

  • Under 18
  • 18-24
  • 25-29
  • 30-39
  • 40-49
  • 50-59
  • 60+ Masters Division

You will automatically be entered into the correct division based on your age.

Course Information

Course Map:  View the Course Map

Course Description:

The out and back course is 13.1 miles in length, Half Marathoners will run this once and Full course racers will complete the course twice.  It begins at Eagles Crest following the trails to the south, crosses the causeway on 56th Street (street will be closed) and then north into the trail system on the east side of the park.

The first mile is single track flat with a drop down into a ravine then levels until further dropped to a old road. The terrain during this first mile is pretty straight single track with some turns and most of the trail is clean of roots. All of the first mile is tree covered.

The next section is entirely old road with some small portions of grass, still mostly tree covered. From the old road section you will turn right onto single track that changes in elevation several times… some roots and small logs. A flat section of single track then brings you to a climb to the top of the ridge along the lake, one of the local favorite places to see the water. This section is also tree covered.

You then drop down onto a man made earth dam and then up to another ridge. The single track will take you to a small park road that you will run until you dump again on single track where you will begin a long elevation (50′) gain to another ridge. This section, near the 3 mile mark, is tight single track, some roots and small log crossings with lots of curves. At the end of this section you will be at the “Big Bear” which is the old steel bear brought to us by a long gone local business.

You will run a short section of grass to a fisherman’s single track, this takes you down to the waters edge and up to the 56th street. Once at 56th street, you will cross the lake on the causeway bridge, hopefully during a gorgeous sunrise! After you cross, you will run along a short section of bicycle paved path that will lead you into the East side of Eagle Creek Park and past the 4-mile marker.

Once thru the entrance you will take a left on to double track that is very fine gravel. This well traveled path will be level and run you along the East side ridge along the water. This section is tree covered and not technical. Here you will have a couple of road crossings as you work your way to a set of stairs that will lead you down into a ravine and up the other side and back along the ridge which is also very flat and not technical. Another road crossing and then a slight uphill to a set of stairs.

This year we will turn you right at the bottom and run you up and over a ridge to the start of some small sections of single track. You will run a short distance right next to the water and then up to the last ridge around mile 5. This last section is also tree covered and not technical. You will run past a park ornathology center and down along the water to the turn. This trail will take past mile marker 6 and onto the Lilly Lake gravel road for a large open causeway run. This will take you around and back to the last ridge you climbed going out. Do this all in reverse back to the finish!