The fast version
If you want the higher raw BQ rate, easier race-day logistics, and a bigger field with pace groups, run the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. If you want a scenic point-to-point with a net-downhill course, a small intimate field, and a destination weekend in the Finger Lakes, run the Wineglass Marathon. Neither is the wrong answer. They are different races for different runner types, and picking the right one matters more than most people think.
Here is the quick comparison before we dig in.
Course profiles: point-to-point downhill vs. flat urban loop
Wineglass runs point-to-point from Bath to Corning, New York. The 202 feet of net drop sounds modest, and it is. This is not a steep mountain descent. It is a course that gently tips in your favor, with rolling terrain early and a flatter second half. There are very few turns. You lock into a rhythm and hold it. That is the appeal.
The catch with any net-downhill course: your quads take the hit. Downhill running is eccentric work, and if you have not trained for it specifically, miles 20 to 26 will remind you. A 202-foot drop is free speed, until it is not.
Indianapolis Monumental is a downtown loop that starts and finishes at the Indiana State Statehouse. The course is essentially flat, with some minor rises in the middle miles. What you get is a predictable, honest surface. Pacing a flat loop demands discipline rather than nerve, because there is no gravity to borrow against and nowhere to hide from a bad early split. The flip side: your legs arrive at mile 20 in better shape.
If the point-to-point downhill profile is what draws you, it fits a broader category worth exploring. The Best Net-Downhill Marathons collection covers courses in this mold across the country, with full stat comparisons.
BQ rates and field size
The BQ rate gap here is real and worth taking seriously.
Six percentage points sounds small. It is not, once you account for field size. Indy draws roughly 6,200 finishers to Wineglass's roughly 1,971. A higher BQ rate across a larger, more diverse field is a stronger signal. Wineglass skews toward self-selected runners who specifically seek fast courses, which inflates its BQ rate relative to what a typical runner should expect. Indy's 19% across a bigger field is arguably the more reliable number.
The practical consequence at Indy: more pace groups, more runners near your target time, and more competitive energy through the back half. At Wineglass, the small field means it can feel sparse by mile 15, especially mid-course. That is fine if you run well alone. It is a problem if you rely on the pull of a pack.
For a deeper look at how BQ rates are calculated and what they actually mean, the I Scored 200 Marathons for BQ-Friendliness. Here's the Method. post walks through the methodology. Worth reading if you are weighing races primarily on this metric.
Weather: October Finger Lakes vs. November Indianapolis
Wineglass runs in early October in upstate New York, with an average race-day high of 64°F. That is close to ideal marathon weather. The risk is that early October in the Finger Lakes can occasionally deliver a warm spell, and warm in upstate New York still means humid. You have a narrower window between a good day and a hard one.
Indianapolis Monumental runs in early November, with an average high of 58°F. Cooler on average, which is a genuine advantage for BQ attempts. The tradeoff is variability. November in Indiana can swing from the low 30s to the low 60s depending on the year. You might get a perfect crisp morning. You might need throwaway layers at the start. Plan for both.
If you are heat-sensitive and weather is your primary concern, Indy's cooler average edge is meaningful. Wineglass has the better average temperature on paper, but October carries more heat-wave risk than November. The Best Cool-Weather Marathons for a PR post covers this tradeoff in more detail if you want to pressure-test both options against other fall races.
Logistics: getting there and getting to the start
Wineglass is a destination race in the way that term is supposed to mean something. Corning is a small city. The closest airports are Rochester (roughly 90 minutes) and Syracuse (roughly 60 minutes), and you will be driving either way. Because the course is point-to-point, you ride a race bus to the start in Bath and finish in Corning. That is one more thing to coordinate the morning of. It works, and the race organization handles it well, but it adds friction that a loop race simply does not have.
Spectating is sparse mid-course, as it tends to be on point-to-point courses through rural areas. If your crew wants to see you multiple times, they will need a plan and a car.
Indianapolis Monumental is the opposite experience. Downtown Indianapolis hotel, walkable to the start, same finish. Your family can watch you go out, grab breakfast, and be back at the finish with time to spare. Major city, direct flights from most hubs, no rental car required if you stay downtown.
The one logistics trap at Indy: hotel blocks fill early. Indianapolis hosts concurrent events in early November, including large marching band competitions, and hotels within walking distance of the start go fast. Book early or pay a premium.
One more thing on race morning at Indy: the marathon shares early miles with half-marathoners, so the first few miles can feel crowded. It sorts itself out, but if you are locking into goal pace from the gun, plan for some congestion.
Who should run which race
Run the Wineglass Marathon if:
- 01You have trained for downhill running and your quads are ready for it
- 02You prefer a small, intimate field and run well without a pack
- 03A fall foliage destination weekend in upstate New York sounds worth the routing
- 04You are within driving distance of the Finger Lakes or do not mind the two-airport logistics
- 05You want a course with very few turns and a rhythm you can hold for 26 miles
Run the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon if:
- 01You want the highest raw BQ rate of the two races
- 02You prefer a flat loop where you can pace evenly without managing downhill fatigue
- 03You need easy logistics: direct flights, walkable hotel, no race bus
- 04You run better with pace groups and a bigger competitive field around you
- 05You are traveling from the Midwest and want a low-friction race weekend
One edge case worth naming: if your training has gone worse than expected and you need to bank a qualifier without a lot of margin, Indy is the lower-risk choice. The flat course eliminates the quad-fatigue variable, and the larger pace group structure gives you something to lean on. Wineglass rewards runners who arrive in control of their fitness. Indy is slightly more forgiving if things are messier.
Both races appear in The Best Boston Qualifier Marathons and The Best Fall Marathons collections if you want to compare them against a wider field before committing.
The verdict
On the numbers, Indianapolis Monumental edges Wineglass. Higher BQ rate, larger field, cooler average temps, and dramatically easier logistics. For most runners chasing a qualifier, Indy is the safer, more reliable choice.
Wineglass earns its reputation, but for a specific runner type. If you have done the downhill training, you want a scenic destination race, and the small-field atmosphere sounds like a feature rather than a bug, Wineglass will deliver. It is a genuinely good race. It is just not the default recommendation.
Neither race requires a lottery. Both are open now. July is when training blocks start for October and November races, which means this is the decision window. If you are still not sure which one fits your profile, the quiz below will ask you the right questions.
If you are also weighing a West Coast option for December, the CIM vs Indianapolis Monumental: Which Is the Better BQ Race? post covers that matchup separately. Different race, different tradeoffs, worth a read if your schedule is still open.