Purdue Boilermaker Half-Marathon

Few college-town halves pull a field this size. The race has grown into one of Indiana's largest half marathons, with a couple thousand finishers most years, and it stays cheap and open rather than capped or qualified. Purdue students and active or retired military get a discount, which keeps the front of the field young and the back of it broad.

The route leaves from outside Ross-Ade Stadium and works through the heart of campus, past the Engineering Fountain, Purdue Mall, and Memorial Union, before picking up West Lafayette streets and the smooth bike path along Celery Bog Nature Area. It is all pavement and it all stays on the west side of the Wabash. Campus rollers keep it honest without ever turning into a hill course.

Late October mornings here usually start in the 30s or 40s and warm slowly through the race. Wind across the open bike path stretches tends to matter more than temperature, and a cold start with a comfortable finish is the normal pattern.