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Marathon Details - Crossroads of Indiana

North America Marathons > USA > IN > Lowell > Crossroads of Indiana

Crossroads of Indiana

Crossroads of Indiana & Half Marathon

Lowell, IN USA

May 26, 2019

http://crossroadsmarathon.weebly.com

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Race Details

A country Indiana scenic route on A relatively flat course designed for a satisfying marathon experience. The course begins in a park and runs to and around two lakes before heading back to the park.

Contact Information

Name:	Frank Johnson
Address:	5940 Wildrose Lane Schererville, In 46375
Phone Number:	219-805-6526
Email:	Email the organizers

Race Organizer

Welcome to Northwest Indiana's first marathon. (3/18/11)

Frank Johnson

This course has been carefully designed so anyone from a first time marathoner to the runners with numerous races logged will enjoy this event. This event will take place the first Sunday in April. The race will start and finish in Freedom Park which is located in Lowell Indiana, one hour southeast of Chicago, IL.. So come out and enjoy the beautiful scenery and great hospitality of Northwest Indiana.

Runner Reviews (15)

Course 4.1

Organization 3.8

Spectators 2.5

Write a review

Number of comments: 15 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]

Rob Klein from Paradise, Michigan (5/28/2019) "Crossroads: US 41 and US 30" (about: 2019) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Crossroads of Indiana COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I will start by saying that there was no expo or prior day packet pick-up. I think they can do that because they are a smaller sized race; smaller being a relative term. And I actually do not know how many marathon runners there were. As I write this early Monday morning, times are not available on marathonguide.com or on the race website. They have been doing this for a few years now, so hopefully they get the times published. Frank, the RD, sent e-mails ahead of time so we knew what was going on and what to expect. They started handing out bibs, et al, about 5:30 in the morning. Everyone seemed to be taken care of in a timely manner. Next, there were scattered thunderstorms forecast for Sunday. That was the forecast all week, but by Saturday they removed the word 'scattered' from the forecast. Sounds bad, right? In a late week e-mail, Frank said we would try to get this race completed before the bad weather rolled in (my paraphrase). As if it was planned that way, the thunder and lightning held off; but the rain did not. We had sprinkles before the race started and then it rained off and on throughout the morning. And the sky was overcast for the duration, but the sun was trying to break through the overcast by about noon-time. Otherwise, the temperature was about 60 degrees and the wind was never a factor on the course, but the wind did blow some stuff around before the race started. The race start and finish was at the same park, but they were across the parking lot from each other. So we all had good parking options. Packet pickup was right there too, under a roof. The RD delayed the start of the race for several minutes so people in line at the port-a-potties could finish their business. That seemed nuts to me given the foul weather that was supposed to be rolling in. But that is how it played out. The first 4.5 miles were on roads. That worked out okay; a police presence was there to help out too. After that we turned on to a trail that kind of went to the NW and SE. First we went NW toward Griffith. Then there was an out and back through a nature area with a loop in a neighborhood. Back on the trail, we continued, still heading toward Griffith. At, or about MP10 we came to the turn-around point - just before the RR tracks. Frank told us if we crossed those tracks, we had gone too far. The turn-around was well marked. After the course reversal we headed SE toward Merrillville, still on the same trail. The paved trail kind of ended abruptly in Merrillville, and we crossed a busy street - with police assistance - and into another neighborhood. After a short loop there in Merrillville, we headed back NW on the same paved trail. Just past MP21 we turned left and exited the trail. This brought us back into neighborhoods, and we meandered through some area neighborhoods, eventually returning to the park. Then we kind of went around the perimeter of the soccer fields there and ended at the finish line. Additional comments: The municipality would not let the race committee paint arrows or directions on the pavement. So they used sand to make arrows and such on the pavement. That was probably a good idea, except that the rain washed a lot of the sand away before the race started; sometimes all of the sand was gone. Other times they used directional arrows on signs stuck into the ground. Those worked most effectively, I thought. A couple of times - later in the race - I was making turns through neighborhoods and saw no signs of sand arrows. After finishing, I suggested a few places that really needed a sign to point the way. Still, as far as I know, nobody got lost. So that is a good thing. Also, there were no carb snacks on the course. I brought my own gels and blocks for this event. There was plenty of Gatorade and water available along the way. I appreciate the volunteers that so willingly serve, and I don't want to be too hard on them. But close to the SE end of the path - in Merrillville - the volunteer did not have any extra Gatorade poured into cups. Waiting until a runner shows up before opening and pouring the Gatorade wastes the runner's time. And on the way back, I had to pour my own because the volunteer stepped away. The station just before MP 23 had turned into a self-serve station, as the volunteer(s) had left. At MP 24.5 the girls had closed up shop, but were still there. Again, the Gatorade was in the bottles, and the bottles were in their case on the ground. And I know there were at least 8 runners behind me. I understand that it is difficult for volunteers to keep hanging around late in the race when the runners get so spread out. But we runners depend on fluids; especially slower runners that are on the course much longer than the fast runners. Still, this course is flat and relatively fast. It is easy to get to, parking is great, and race-day packet pick-up is the routine for this race.
M. D. from Lincoln, NE (4/28/2014) "i enjoyed it, but might not be for everyone" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Crossroads of Indiana COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Packet pickup very convenient, but only 3 stars for organization because everyone seemed confused as to where to start. I didn't see a start mat, no signs, and you couldn't hear the director - everyone just kept asking each other until we figured it out. Start was also 15 minutes late which bugs me. But on the flip side, it was really nice to be running with only full-marathoners right from the beginning. The course directions were not marked extremely well, but I didn't hear of anyone getting lost. Speaking of markings, there were no mile markers until mile 8. I LIKED IT, because it made those first 8 miles go a lot easier for me, but this might bother some people. The course was not FLAT like the website says, but the hills weren't bad. Probably better to have some variation. The weather was extremely windy, but weather is uncontrollable and changes from year to year. At least it wasn't humid or raining. Spectators - what spectators? There really were none except a couple fun kids, a small group or two with signs, and aid station volunteers. That's why I said one-star, but personally, I didn't mind it. There was enough to look at and the other participants were friendly and encouraging - felt like a long run with a running group. Took the pressure off. If you're looking for a large venue, this is not your race. But if you like easy parking, friendly people, a good course, and a good chance for an age-group award, there's a good chance you'll enjoy this one.
T. C. from MA (4/24/2013) "Small Field of Runners but a Great Race" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Crossroads of Indiana COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The Crossroads of Indiana Marathon is a small race but there is no reason it should not be much bigger. Unless you must run for 26.2 miles on streets lined by screaming spectators, this is a perfect marathon. Yes, the field currently is small but that means each runner can receive more personalized attention. I ran this marathon as part of my quest to run a marathon in all fifty states. I flew in from an area well known for its marathon, Boston, and I specifically chose the Crossroads because it was run the same weekend as the Boston Marathon. That way I could coordinate my training with many New England races established as preparation for Boston. Once in Lowell, Indiana, I was not disappointed. Let's get into the details. I registered late for this race but still paid a reasonably priced $80 entry fee. There were water stops about every 1.5 miles. The course was well marked which is important because of the small crowd. A little breezy at the start, the weather was otherwise perfect for marathon running as was the course. Not as pancake flat as the Chicago Marathon course, the hills were gentle and rolling and rather than being a hindrance, they were more of a welcome change. The road is not closed but the auto traffic was very light. We had a cloudy day but the Indiana countryside offered a pleasant view, especially as we ran along some lake resort areas. Now for the people; this was my favorite part of the race. I had questions regarding logistics and concerns because a previous runner had complained about a lack of water stops. My email to the race director was quickly answered and my worries disappeared - plenty of water stops. There were no sports gels on the course but most runners want to make sure they have their favorite brand with them and do not rely on having them available at the water stops. The packet pickup was convenient and I received directions to the start of the race while there. The morning of the race when I discovered I did not have a place for my large rental car keys while I ran, the race director's mother offered to hold them for me. I am a back of the pack finisher and sometimes things are sparse when I cross the finish line. Not at the Crossroads of Indiana marathon. There was plenty of water and food available for me, the people at the massage tent were still there and I could have enjoyed a nice massage if I hadn't been in a mad dash to catch a flight. Gathering my keys and my prize for finishing in the top three for my division (something that has never happened to me before), I said my thanks and jumped in my car. For the many Marathon Maniacs and Fifty Staters, as well as people local to the area, let me encourage you to run this race. The drive from and back to Chicago was short and very easy. I stayed near the race in Hebron at a Super 8 which kept my expenses down. However, if you want something more upscale, there was a special race rate at a Radisson a little farther away. For the New England readers of this review, let me strongly encourage you to see a change in scenery. The open countryside is quite a contract to the wooded hills of New England. Enjoy the views but come for the race.
J. G. from Goshen,IN (4/16/2013) "Great midwest marathon" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Crossroads of Indianas COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 If you are looking for a great midwest marathon this one is it. It has some hills, but also downhills. Plenty of flat stretches as well. You go around a very nice lake as well. The shirts and medals were very neat.
Matt West from Kaukauna WI (4/15/2013) "Not a bad day for a run." (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Crossroads of Indiana COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The start was a little confusing. The full went one way and the Half went the other way. This would have made more sense if we could have heard the announcements. It was a beautiful coure. Not a lot of spectators. because it was a country course. But everyone cheered for you. They were great. All in all a 10 out of 10 in my eyes. If you ever get a chance and your in lowell indiana i recommend this run. Its a beautiful medal.
N. K. from Marion,IN (4/16/2012) "Brutal conditions" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Crossroads of Indiana COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 The race director should not be blamed for conditions. Head wind for 18 or so miles, but I do think there should of been more aid stations in the marathon. Was a 6 or so mile stretch with no aid station. Maybe offer gels in marathon as well. Gets pretty lonely in marathon, maybe have cheer spots or something. Hilly course, and windy. It was brutal. Pretty expensive marathon for what you get in return.
c. b. from chicago west suburbs (4/15/2012) "Not enough water, No spectators, NO t-shirts" (about: 2012) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Crossroads of Indiana COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 As only my second marathon, I do not have a lot to compare it to. Compared to the Flying Pig, it's actually impossible to compare. Different races, I understand this. But: Cons: 1) Terrible placement of water. There was a water stop somewhere around mile 13, which also was the next water stop, st around 18 miles. 5 miles of no water at 70 degrees? Crazy. There was one more longer stretch with no water. 2) The race is advertised as being flat. It is not flat. No way, no how. I realize I'm from Chicago and what's considered flat in Chicago is not universal, and while this was no where near as hilly as the Flying Pig, it is certainly very 'rolling'. The amount of change from minimum elevation to maximum is not a lot, but there are many small hills, and about 2 or 3 bigger ones. All that being said, the course is fine, just know what you are getting into. 3) No t-shirts at packet pick-up. Rumor has it we will get them in the mail. 4) No GU along course, no response from race director when emails were sent asking if there would be. 5) Incredibly mean looking dog almost attacking runners at mile 23. Not race director fault, but just want to mention it. 6) No spectators. None. Maybe 10 total, and they were obviously there to follow a specific runner. Pros: 1) Course was a little above adequate. I actually enjoyed the rolling aspects of it, and there were portions in which it actually was decent scenery. I kept waiting for the 'breathtaking' views, but maybe I missed them. Lots of bad pavement and lots of traffic. 2) the other runners. THe nice thing about small races like this seems to be the sense of camaraderie with other runners. A plus. 3) the merging with the half marathoners, pretty cool twist Overall, if you need an April race to qualify for Boston, or you live in Lowell, this might be a good race for you. Otherwise, with Schaumburg now hosting a race a few weeks later, this may become obsolete. This is unfortunate, and in my opinion shouldn't happen. I believe the town of Lowell/ Hebron needs to get more involved. I stayed overnight in Hebron and couldnt get a checkout past noon!! Thats crazy. I got to drive back to the west suburbs to take a shower. Yummy. If you got this race entry on Groupon, probably money well spent. Otherwise, it was about the same as my twenty mile, self-supported training run.
J. M. from Lowell, Indiana (7/19/2011) "Great inaugural race" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Crossroads of Indiana COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I thought the race was great for a first time marathon. Well organized. I ran the full and I love the overlap start with the half marathon. Very unique. The weather was rough, which made for a tough course, but living in the area, I have run this course several times and if the wind was from the Northwest, which is predominant here, it would have been an entirely different story. That gives a tail wind for the second half and for most of the hills. In fact, when the wind is from that direction, you barely notice most of the hills. I also like how the course intertwines with the half marathon enough to see those folks and encourage them and get some encouragement. That's as good as spectators if not better. There were still some stretches that were quiet where I could focus on my pace. Just enough turns to break up the monotony but not be confusing. Awards were great, very unique. Cool race, I'll definitely be back in 2012 for the second running. Great job!
P. T. from Chicago, IL (4/16/2011) "Excellent, small-town marathon!" (about: 2011) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Crossroads of Indiana COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my first ever road marathon, and despite the constantly rolling hills, and the 20-30 mph winds, I blew my goals out of the water and BQ'd... all in all, a great day! I usually run trail races that could be classified as "self-supported," so coming into this race I was really surprised by the level of support and the frequency of aid stations - it was awesome! If you are used to road races, you may disagree, but I was very happy with how many water stops there were, which meant I didn't need to run with bottles - woo hoo! One thing I would change would be porta-johns... I didn't see any, but supposedly there was one at mile 13. The volunteers and race staff were wonderful and very encouraging. Plenty of water and Gatorade. Almost no spectators due to the very rural course, I'm guessing. Results were posted very quickly (I'm used to waiting a week or more for those!), and photographers seemed to be everywhere, so there are a ton of pictures. Course was very easy to follow, except in one spot near the end of the marathon course where it was unclear which way to turn (a police officer/course official stopped me from going right and said to go left :)) Not pancake-flat like Chicago, but enough rolling to keep things interesting. The final mile or so of the course was uphill, and while it's probably not much in reality, it certainly felt like climbing a mountain after 26 miles of redlining, ha! I didn't notice the mile markers until halfway through, but they are there and were close to what was reading on my Garmin. Nice to have those, but not necessary. I would definitely return to this race. I like the smaller field and more intimate race experience. Very fun, and very easy to get to from Chicago!
David Bell from Chicago, Illinois (4/8/2011) "good course but improvement needed" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 6+ Crossroads of Indianas COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 There should have been porto-toilets at points along the race. Markers should have clearly identified each mile point. At a few points there should have been a timer with stop watch telling runners their time. Car traffic interfered with runners and vice versa along the Cedlar Lake Road. Most runners would not object to paying a little more for better service.

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Rob Klein from Paradise, Michigan (5/28/2019) "Crossroads: US 41 and US 30" (about: 2019) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Crossroads of Indiana COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I will start by saying that there was no expo or prior day packet pick-up. I think they can do that because they are a smaller sized race; smaller being a relative term. And I actually do not know how many marathon runners there were. As I write this early Monday morning, times are not available on marathonguide.com or on the race website. They have been doing this for a few years now, so hopefully they get the times published. Frank, the RD, sent e-mails ahead of time so we knew what was going on and what to expect. They started handing out bibs, et al, about 5:30 in the morning. Everyone seemed to be taken care of in a timely manner. Next, there were scattered thunderstorms forecast for Sunday. That was the forecast all week, but by Saturday they removed the word 'scattered' from the forecast. Sounds bad, right? In a late week e-mail, Frank said we would try to get this race completed before the bad weather rolled in (my paraphrase). As if it was planned that way, the thunder and lightning held off; but the rain did not. We had sprinkles before the race started and then it rained off and on throughout the morning. And the sky was overcast for the duration, but the sun was trying to break through the overcast by about noon-time. Otherwise, the temperature was about 60 degrees and the wind was never a factor on the course, but the wind did blow some stuff around before the race started. The race start and finish was at the same park, but they were across the parking lot from each other. So we all had good parking options. Packet pickup was right there too, under a roof. The RD delayed the start of the race for several minutes so people in line at the port-a-potties could finish their business. That seemed nuts to me given the foul weather that was supposed to be rolling in. But that is how it played out. The first 4.5 miles were on roads. That worked out okay; a police presence was there to help out too. After that we turned on to a trail that kind of went to the NW and SE. First we went NW toward Griffith. Then there was an out and back through a nature area with a loop in a neighborhood. Back on the trail, we continued, still heading toward Griffith. At, or about MP10 we came to the turn-around point - just before the RR tracks. Frank told us if we crossed those tracks, we had gone too far. The turn-around was well marked. After the course reversal we headed SE toward Merrillville, still on the same trail. The paved trail kind of ended abruptly in Merrillville, and we crossed a busy street - with police assistance - and into another neighborhood. After a short loop there in Merrillville, we headed back NW on the same paved trail. Just past MP21 we turned left and exited the trail. This brought us back into neighborhoods, and we meandered through some area neighborhoods, eventually returning to the park. Then we kind of went around the perimeter of the soccer fields there and ended at the finish line. Additional comments: The municipality would not let the race committee paint arrows or directions on the pavement. So they used sand to make arrows and such on the pavement. That was probably a good idea, except that the rain washed a lot of the sand away before the race started; sometimes all of the sand was gone. Other times they used directional arrows on signs stuck into the ground. Those worked most effectively, I thought. A couple of times - later in the race - I was making turns through neighborhoods and saw no signs of sand arrows. After finishing, I suggested a few places that really needed a sign to point the way. Still, as far as I know, nobody got lost. So that is a good thing. Also, there were no carb snacks on the course. I brought my own gels and blocks for this event. There was plenty of Gatorade and water available along the way. I appreciate the volunteers that so willingly serve, and I don't want to be too hard on them. But close to the SE end of the path - in Merrillville - the volunteer did not have any extra Gatorade poured into cups. Waiting until a runner shows up before opening and pouring the Gatorade wastes the runner's time. And on the way back, I had to pour my own because the volunteer stepped away. The station just before MP 23 had turned into a self-serve station, as the volunteer(s) had left. At MP 24.5 the girls had closed up shop, but were still there. Again, the Gatorade was in the bottles, and the bottles were in their case on the ground. And I know there were at least 8 runners behind me. I understand that it is difficult for volunteers to keep hanging around late in the race when the runners get so spread out. But we runners depend on fluids; especially slower runners that are on the course much longer than the fast runners. Still, this course is flat and relatively fast. It is easy to get to, parking is great, and race-day packet pick-up is the routine for this race.
M. D. from Lincoln, NE (4/28/2014) "i enjoyed it, but might not be for everyone" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Crossroads of Indiana COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Packet pickup very convenient, but only 3 stars for organization because everyone seemed confused as to where to start. I didn't see a start mat, no signs, and you couldn't hear the director - everyone just kept asking each other until we figured it out. Start was also 15 minutes late which bugs me. But on the flip side, it was really nice to be running with only full-marathoners right from the beginning. The course directions were not marked extremely well, but I didn't hear of anyone getting lost. Speaking of markings, there were no mile markers until mile 8. I LIKED IT, because it made those first 8 miles go a lot easier for me, but this might bother some people. The course was not FLAT like the website says, but the hills weren't bad. Probably better to have some variation. The weather was extremely windy, but weather is uncontrollable and changes from year to year. At least it wasn't humid or raining. Spectators - what spectators? There really were none except a couple fun kids, a small group or two with signs, and aid station volunteers. That's why I said one-star, but personally, I didn't mind it. There was enough to look at and the other participants were friendly and encouraging - felt like a long run with a running group. Took the pressure off. If you're looking for a large venue, this is not your race. But if you like easy parking, friendly people, a good course, and a good chance for an age-group award, there's a good chance you'll enjoy this one.
T. C. from MA (4/24/2013) "Small Field of Runners but a Great Race" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Crossroads of Indiana COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The Crossroads of Indiana Marathon is a small race but there is no reason it should not be much bigger. Unless you must run for 26.2 miles on streets lined by screaming spectators, this is a perfect marathon. Yes, the field currently is small but that means each runner can receive more personalized attention. I ran this marathon as part of my quest to run a marathon in all fifty states. I flew in from an area well known for its marathon, Boston, and I specifically chose the Crossroads because it was run the same weekend as the Boston Marathon. That way I could coordinate my training with many New England races established as preparation for Boston. Once in Lowell, Indiana, I was not disappointed. Let's get into the details. I registered late for this race but still paid a reasonably priced $80 entry fee. There were water stops about every 1.5 miles. The course was well marked which is important because of the small crowd. A little breezy at the start, the weather was otherwise perfect for marathon running as was the course. Not as pancake flat as the Chicago Marathon course, the hills were gentle and rolling and rather than being a hindrance, they were more of a welcome change. The road is not closed but the auto traffic was very light. We had a cloudy day but the Indiana countryside offered a pleasant view, especially as we ran along some lake resort areas. Now for the people; this was my favorite part of the race. I had questions regarding logistics and concerns because a previous runner had complained about a lack of water stops. My email to the race director was quickly answered and my worries disappeared - plenty of water stops. There were no sports gels on the course but most runners want to make sure they have their favorite brand with them and do not rely on having them available at the water stops. The packet pickup was convenient and I received directions to the start of the race while there. The morning of the race when I discovered I did not have a place for my large rental car keys while I ran, the race director's mother offered to hold them for me. I am a back of the pack finisher and sometimes things are sparse when I cross the finish line. Not at the Crossroads of Indiana marathon. There was plenty of water and food available for me, the people at the massage tent were still there and I could have enjoyed a nice massage if I hadn't been in a mad dash to catch a flight. Gathering my keys and my prize for finishing in the top three for my division (something that has never happened to me before), I said my thanks and jumped in my car. For the many Marathon Maniacs and Fifty Staters, as well as people local to the area, let me encourage you to run this race. The drive from and back to Chicago was short and very easy. I stayed near the race in Hebron at a Super 8 which kept my expenses down. However, if you want something more upscale, there was a special race rate at a Radisson a little farther away. For the New England readers of this review, let me strongly encourage you to see a change in scenery. The open countryside is quite a contract to the wooded hills of New England. Enjoy the views but come for the race.
J. G. from Goshen,IN (4/16/2013) "Great midwest marathon" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Crossroads of Indianas COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 If you are looking for a great midwest marathon this one is it. It has some hills, but also downhills. Plenty of flat stretches as well. You go around a very nice lake as well. The shirts and medals were very neat.
Matt West from Kaukauna WI (4/15/2013) "Not a bad day for a run." (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Crossroads of Indiana COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The start was a little confusing. The full went one way and the Half went the other way. This would have made more sense if we could have heard the announcements. It was a beautiful coure. Not a lot of spectators. because it was a country course. But everyone cheered for you. They were great. All in all a 10 out of 10 in my eyes. If you ever get a chance and your in lowell indiana i recommend this run. Its a beautiful medal.
N. K. from Marion,IN (4/16/2012) "Brutal conditions" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Crossroads of Indiana COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 The race director should not be blamed for conditions. Head wind for 18 or so miles, but I do think there should of been more aid stations in the marathon. Was a 6 or so mile stretch with no aid station. Maybe offer gels in marathon as well. Gets pretty lonely in marathon, maybe have cheer spots or something. Hilly course, and windy. It was brutal. Pretty expensive marathon for what you get in return.
c. b. from chicago west suburbs (4/15/2012) "Not enough water, No spectators, NO t-shirts" (about: 2012) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Crossroads of Indiana COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 As only my second marathon, I do not have a lot to compare it to. Compared to the Flying Pig, it's actually impossible to compare. Different races, I understand this. But: Cons: 1) Terrible placement of water. There was a water stop somewhere around mile 13, which also was the next water stop, st around 18 miles. 5 miles of no water at 70 degrees? Crazy. There was one more longer stretch with no water. 2) The race is advertised as being flat. It is not flat. No way, no how. I realize I'm from Chicago and what's considered flat in Chicago is not universal, and while this was no where near as hilly as the Flying Pig, it is certainly very 'rolling'. The amount of change from minimum elevation to maximum is not a lot, but there are many small hills, and about 2 or 3 bigger ones. All that being said, the course is fine, just know what you are getting into. 3) No t-shirts at packet pick-up. Rumor has it we will get them in the mail. 4) No GU along course, no response from race director when emails were sent asking if there would be. 5) Incredibly mean looking dog almost attacking runners at mile 23. Not race director fault, but just want to mention it. 6) No spectators. None. Maybe 10 total, and they were obviously there to follow a specific runner. Pros: 1) Course was a little above adequate. I actually enjoyed the rolling aspects of it, and there were portions in which it actually was decent scenery. I kept waiting for the 'breathtaking' views, but maybe I missed them. Lots of bad pavement and lots of traffic. 2) the other runners. THe nice thing about small races like this seems to be the sense of camaraderie with other runners. A plus. 3) the merging with the half marathoners, pretty cool twist Overall, if you need an April race to qualify for Boston, or you live in Lowell, this might be a good race for you. Otherwise, with Schaumburg now hosting a race a few weeks later, this may become obsolete. This is unfortunate, and in my opinion shouldn't happen. I believe the town of Lowell/ Hebron needs to get more involved. I stayed overnight in Hebron and couldnt get a checkout past noon!! Thats crazy. I got to drive back to the west suburbs to take a shower. Yummy. If you got this race entry on Groupon, probably money well spent. Otherwise, it was about the same as my twenty mile, self-supported training run.
J. M. from Lowell, Indiana (7/19/2011) "Great inaugural race" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Crossroads of Indiana COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I thought the race was great for a first time marathon. Well organized. I ran the full and I love the overlap start with the half marathon. Very unique. The weather was rough, which made for a tough course, but living in the area, I have run this course several times and if the wind was from the Northwest, which is predominant here, it would have been an entirely different story. That gives a tail wind for the second half and for most of the hills. In fact, when the wind is from that direction, you barely notice most of the hills. I also like how the course intertwines with the half marathon enough to see those folks and encourage them and get some encouragement. That's as good as spectators if not better. There were still some stretches that were quiet where I could focus on my pace. Just enough turns to break up the monotony but not be confusing. Awards were great, very unique. Cool race, I'll definitely be back in 2012 for the second running. Great job!
P. T. from Chicago, IL (4/16/2011) "Excellent, small-town marathon!" (about: 2011) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Crossroads of Indiana COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my first ever road marathon, and despite the constantly rolling hills, and the 20-30 mph winds, I blew my goals out of the water and BQ'd... all in all, a great day! I usually run trail races that could be classified as "self-supported," so coming into this race I was really surprised by the level of support and the frequency of aid stations - it was awesome! If you are used to road races, you may disagree, but I was very happy with how many water stops there were, which meant I didn't need to run with bottles - woo hoo! One thing I would change would be porta-johns... I didn't see any, but supposedly there was one at mile 13. The volunteers and race staff were wonderful and very encouraging. Plenty of water and Gatorade. Almost no spectators due to the very rural course, I'm guessing. Results were posted very quickly (I'm used to waiting a week or more for those!), and photographers seemed to be everywhere, so there are a ton of pictures. Course was very easy to follow, except in one spot near the end of the marathon course where it was unclear which way to turn (a police officer/course official stopped me from going right and said to go left :)) Not pancake-flat like Chicago, but enough rolling to keep things interesting. The final mile or so of the course was uphill, and while it's probably not much in reality, it certainly felt like climbing a mountain after 26 miles of redlining, ha! I didn't notice the mile markers until halfway through, but they are there and were close to what was reading on my Garmin. Nice to have those, but not necessary. I would definitely return to this race. I like the smaller field and more intimate race experience. Very fun, and very easy to get to from Chicago!
David Bell from Chicago, Illinois (4/8/2011) "good course but improvement needed" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 6+ Crossroads of Indianas COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 There should have been porto-toilets at points along the race. Markers should have clearly identified each mile point. At a few points there should have been a timer with stop watch telling runners their time. Car traffic interfered with runners and vice versa along the Cedlar Lake Road. Most runners would not object to paying a little more for better service.

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Marathon Details - Crossroads of Indiana