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Indiana > Sam Costa Half Marathon & Quarter Marathon
Carmel, IN
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Date

Saturday, March 29, 2008



Event Details

Named for a Chicago police detective who became friends with many of the local area runners who popularized what was known back in the 1960s as the Central Indiana Striders Half Marathon, the Sam Costa Half Marathon will celebrate its 39th annual running in 2008, making it one of the oldest 13.1-mile road race events anywhere in the country. Its 6.55-mile quarter marathon, sponsored by Mike Helms, was added for the first time in 2006 and will mark its third annual running this year.

Thanks in part to its origins as a friendly race among running buddies who knew each other well -- back when it started, the winner of the race would time his fellow runners as they crossed the finish line -- the Sam Costa is also both a participant- and fan-friendly race, without the hordes of runners crowding the starting line that are such a common feature at big-city races. Instead, the field is relatively small -- in 2007, the half-marathon saw 320 runners cross the finish line, and another 123 finish the quarter marathon.

The course itself is also one of the draws for the race, as it takes runners through some of central Indiana's most scenic suburban and rural country roads. Fast and mostly flat, the course is run entirely on paved surfaces, and starts and finishes at Carmel's Northview Christian Life Church on 131st Street. From there, the out-and-back race coure proceeds in a northeasterly direction, reaching its turnaround point at East 160th and River Avenue, where runners begin their trek back to the finish.

All half marathon participants need to be aware that there is a three-hour time limit for the race, which means you should keep a pace of at least 13:45 per mile. The race starts at 9:30 AM.


Race Weather & Climate

Located just outside and to the north of the I-465 perimeter highway that circles Indianapolis, the town of Carmel tends to experience crisp, cool-to-cold weather conditions in the early spring. In March, monthly temperatures average between 50°F and 29°F, while rainfall amounts average around 3.28 inches for the month.


Fees

$25 if registered before March 22, 2008 (with t-shirt)
$30 after March 22

$35 with sweatshirt (no t-shirt) before March 22



Registration

To reserve your spot in the 2008 running of the Sam Costa Half Marathon, register online at Active.com or fill out and mail in this printable registration form.


Website

www.indyrunners.org


Course Map


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