Category: Uncategorized

What makes the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon so awesome? We surveyed participants and here is what some of the top reasons are!

1. Indianapolis Motor Speedway

No other race gives you the chance to be on the track of the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway and kiss the bricks (okay, there’s another one but we won’t make you qualify in a field of 33 going over 200 MPH). How legendary is IMS? It’s the largest sporting venue in the world and has been around since. That’s history, tradition, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience you get with your Indy Mini registration at no additional charge. 

2. The Gold Mile

As you enjoy the spectacle of the Speedway, you will reach the Gold Mile, a section of the course that pays tribute to the sacrifice made by fallen service men and women. Their families and volunteers will encourage you while you honor our soldiers. At the Expo, you can also pick up a Gold Mile bib to run in memory of a service member. 

• 

• 

3. Course Entertainment

Headphones aren’t a necessity during the Indy Mini, or should we say this 13.1 mile long concert? Nearly 500 entertainers line the course, from gospel singers to rock bands, string quartets to DJs. 

4. Hoosier hospitality

Ope, let me sneak right past ya to say our participants rave about the Hoosier Hospitality when they do the Indy Mini. From volunteers to businesses around the city, we’re all excited to celebrate the Greatest Spectacle in Running and help you have the best experience.

5. The Swag

Year after year, participants have a finisher medal and participant shirt fit for May. Past medals and shirts have incorporated recognizable Indy 500 attributes, such as the milk bottle, the Pagoda, and IndyCars. Coming soon: the 2020 shirt and medal reveal!

6. Expo

Step inside the field level inside Lucas Oil Stadium pickup your race packet. With over 90,000 square feet of exhibit space, you can check out some awesome vendors in the industry and fun activation to prepare you for the race. Two legendary sporting venues. One epic race weekend. 

7. Post Race Party

Here’s a party worth going to the distance for! After you receive your hard earned medal and grab your runners services goodies, reunite with friends & family and throw down at the Post Race Party in Military Park. 

Don’t miss out on the 2020 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon! Register now and see for yourself what makes our race one of the best in the U.S. on May 2. Register at indymini.com/register and share your training on social media by using #IndyMini!

Name: Danielle Shively

Where You Live: Lafayette, IN

Year of First Indy Mini: 2015

Fun Fact:
Never ran track or played sports until high school.  Volleyball and short distance were my thing, but long jump was my favorite. I became a group fit instructor as an adult and did everything to avoid running until 2015. 

Favorite Place to Run:

Outdoors on state park trails, wooded or paved, and when visiting Indy the Canal of course. 

Advice:

Running takes time, patience, and dedication.  Listen to your body and be patient for the transformation.  The running family is very welcoming to beginners, and extremely supportive on all levels.  Reach out ask for help and realize we all had to start somewhere.  There is never a question to be embarrassed by so don’t be afraid to ask, and most importantly enjoy your journey and realize that even your story will inspire someone new. 

Indianapolis loves to break records, including today’s record low-temperature for the day. Don’t miss out on crucial Indy Mini training time just because winter weather has moved in! Here are a few quick trips on how to manage your training when it’s, quite literally, freezing outside.

• Bundle up

It’s important to cover up during your run or walk to regulate your body temperature as well as protect your skin from cold winds. Dressing in layers allows you to adjust as your body temperature rises. And don’t forget to protect your hands and head! Looking for new training apparel? Check out our fall training shopping list.

• Hydrate

When it’s cold outside, it’s easier to forget about your water intake. Be sure to drink plenty of water and replenish your electrolytes to prevent dehydration.

• Watch where you’re stepping

Obvious advice in any running conditions but especially important when black ice is present!

• Stay inside

We know, we know. Nothing beats training outdoors but sometimes weather conditions make it unsafe to do so. If training on a treadmill is your worst nightmare, there are ways to make it more enjoyable! Try a new treadmill workout or incorporate other cross-training exercises. A fun playlist, TV show, or book also help the treadmill minutes fly by.

Register now for the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon happening on May 2, 2020. This can’t miss half-marathon takes you through downtown Indianapolis to the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where you can kiss the bricks just like racing legends. Plus, our flat, fast course makes it a great race for runners, walkers, and wheelchair participants! Register now at www.indymini.com/register.

Name: Kelly Halstead 

Hometown: Carmel 

Year of first IndyMini: 2015

Fun fact about myself: I’m trying to run 20 half marathons by the end of 2020 I’m at 8!

Favorite place to run: The Monon Trail! The people you see along the trail are always so motivating.

Advice for first timers: “One day you won’t be able to do this. And today is not that day!”

Name: Patti Hammerle

Hometown: Brownsburg, IN

Year of First #IndyMini: 2009

Fun fact about yourself: I didn’t start running until I turned 40!

Favorite place to run: At home, definitely downtown Indy; best place ever though is New York City!

Advice for first-timers: Have fun! Find a running tribe and use them for support. A mile is a mile no matter how fast you go – the important thing is that you are doing it!

Name: April Woodruff   

Hometown: Plainfield, IN

Year of first #IndyMini: 2008 and every year since except 2011 when my daughter was born

Fun fact about yourself:  I never considered myself a runner, but my husband loved running and so I figured I should love it too. The first race I ever ran was the Indy Mini, and I went straight from couch to half marathon.  I actually completed 3 half marathons before I ever ran a 5k.  To this day I have completed 32 half marathons and only a handful of 5ks.  I thought I was just going to run the Indy Mini once, but I immediately became hooked!  My daughter has watched me crossed the finish line of every Indy Mini since 2012 and she will be running it alongside of me in 2021!

Favorite place to run: My favorite place to run is right in my hometown of Plainfield.  We have miles and miles of paved trails that run all throughout the town. The trails have restrooms and water fountains as well.  They are also marked at every tenth of a mile, so you can even get some great speed work in! I love that I can just walk out my front door and go.  I have trained for almost every single one of my Indy Mini’s on the Plainfield trails system.  I can easily have my daughter join me on shorter runs, or have her hop on her bike while I do longer runs.  If you are ever on the west side I highly suggest you check out the Plainfield trails!

Advice for first-timers:  My advice for first timers is to have fun and enjoy the race!  There is so much support along the 13.1 mile course and the best volunteers around, so keep your head up and smile to all those supporters.  You also won’t want to miss all the creative signs people make.  I also think it is great to set 3 personal goals and know that it is OK if you do not hit your first or even your second.  I also always tell first timers to take the Friday before the Indy Mini off from work, so you can enjoy the expo.  The 500 Festival Mini-Marathon Expo is an amazing event in itself, and you can easily spend a couple of hours checking everything out.  Also, buy the finisher gear and wear it proudly after the race. You have accomplished something great and you should be proud!

The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon takes place in the greatest month of the year: May! With that comes some chilly training months. Here are five items needed for your fall training:

Technical shirt

A short or long sleeve technical shirt is perfect for your training in cooler temperatures. Dry-wicking, breathable fabric regulates your body temperature and also makes it easy to layer if needed.

Suggested item: 2020 In Training Long Sleeve PosiCharge Competitor Tee– $35

Also available in long sleeve and women’s style

Light jacket

Light layers come in handy in the colder months. One that’s easy to remove and light enough to keep around your waist as you warm up during your run or walk is crucial.

Suggested item: Mini Water Resistant Runner Jacket– $55

Hat

Wearing a hat while running not only protects your ears from wind chill but also keeps you warm while you log your miles in colder temps.

Suggested item: Indy Mini Beanie– $12

Water Bottle

Hydration is essential throughout your entire training, but it’s sometimes harder to remember to drink water when it’s cold out. A cute water bottle makes it easier to hydrate throughout the day!

Suggested item: 500 Festival Swell Bottle– $10

Blanket

Okay, so technically this isn’t exactly needed but come one, what’s better than snuggling up with a comfy blanket after a cold training walk or run?!

Suggested item: 500 Festival Polar Fleece Blanket, $19.95

With 30,000 participants lining the streets of downtown Indianapolis for the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon and Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K, you’re sure to see a lot of faces. In honor of 13 days until the first price increase, here are 13 famous faces who have conquered the #IndyMini and 5K over the years!

Tony Kanaan

Tony Dungy

Meb Kflezighi

Andrew Luck

Doug and Beth Boles

Alexi Pappas

Frank Shorter

Bill Rodgers

Lindsey Hein

John Green

Heather Carpenter

Andrew Peterson

Registration for the 2020 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon and Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K is now open! Sign up now- prices increase on November 6! www.indymini.com/register

Honorable Mention

Michael Kaltenmark

Congratulations to you and Trip on retirement!

You are probably seeing ads pop up on social media encouraging you to sign up for a half marathon, like the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, and might be thinking, “there’s no way I can do that.” I used to think that when friends mentioned they signed up for the Indy Mini and encouraged me to do the same. No way; I am not a runner.

I grew up participating in sports where running was conditioning, aka punishment. In middle school, we had a week to run the mile in the regulated time. When I was in the group to complete it on day one, I was required by my teacher to run it in the time my older sister did, who I would call a runner. Despite being a member of the track team, I didn’t enjoy that week or get close to my sister’s time. I was a sprinter, not a runner.

Throughout my life, I remained fairly active, going to the gym and staying involved in sports like tennis and climbing. However, I would curse the gym gods whenever the only machine open was a treadmill, or when my coach demanded laps after practice. I dreaded the thought of doing 5Ks with people and exposing the fact that I was not a runner. When my friends would go for runs, I would follow along on a bike. It seemed like anyone could complete longer distances. Why couldn’t I? The excuse I carried with me was that I was not a runner and that wasn’t going to change.

Then I joined the 500 Festival. Experiencing the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon start and finish lines was amazing for me. It’s more than the incredible elite athletes breaking course records and the inspirational stories of those overcoming adversity to participate in one of America’s Best Half Marathons. It’s the thousands of people who maybe once didn’t think that they could achieve such a feat, but put in the time and effort to train for the race and cross the finish line.

That next week, I signed up and began training for my first half marathon in the fall. Every frustrating mile or mishap in my training, I would groan “I’m not a runner.” But with each passing week, I accomplished a new goal and progressed in my training. For every bad run, there was a good one. Food poisoning, a minor hip injury, and a flu-like virus were obstacles I had to conquer during my training, but remained focused on the end goal.

During my training, a friend told me “if nothing is hurting, keep running.” It put into perspective for me how mental running has always been for me. Growing up, I didn’t hate running because of the side stitch or the fact that it made my legs hurt. I was overwhelmed by the thought of having to run a long distance and insecure about my ability to do it. Not only did I have to teach myself how to pace and use good form, I had to teach myself how to have positive thoughts throughout my run (and eventually no thoughts, which is GREAT!).

On October 19, I completed my first half marathon. I’m thankful for the community I assimilated into and all the support I received. I’m excited for my next race and to continue improving my finish time.  After all, I’m kind of a runner now.  

I’m even more excited to cheer on all of the participants at the 44^th #IndyMini on May 2^nd! There are fewer than 200 days left, but still plenty of time to start training. Whether you can run a mile today or just once around the block, your journey to being an Indy Mini finisher can start right now.  

TL;DR: You may think you can’t run the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon on May 2 but you can. Register: www.indymini.com/register

Our first-ever 500 Festival mini-mini Coloring Contest was a HUGE success! We challenged our youngest fans to color the 2019 mini-mini Coloring Contest Sheet and include a good luck message to runners participating in this year’s 500 Festival mini-mini. Kids from all over the state of Indiana participated in the contest for a chance to win free entries to the 2019 500 Festival mini-mini, 2020 IPL 500 Festival parade tickets or a 500 Festival Prize Pack full of goodies!

Thank you to all those who entered into this year’s contest. We had so many creative, original and imaginative pieces of work come through our mailbox. We are so excited to announce the 2019 500 Festival mini-mini Coloring Contest Winners!

---

The grand prize winner is 10-year-old Hayden H., from Indianapolis! A favorite theme to this creative piece was the bright and bold color choice. Congratulations, Hayden!

Also from Indianapolis, the second place winner is 9-year-old Rebecca D. Rebecca’s artwork is illustrated with fine detail and elegant color shading. Great work!

From Noblesville, Indiana and coming in third place is Sydney E.! Every color in the rainbow is in this work of art. We love what you have created, Sydney!

Congratulations to our contest winners and thank you to everyone who participated in the 2019 mini-mini Coloring Contest! All submitted entries will be randomly attached to mini-mini participant bibs and distributed at packet pickup on race day on October 5 – to serve as good luck messages to runners!

If your child is still interested in submitting a coloring sheet to be attached to the bibs of mini-mini participants as a good luck message on race day, you can download, print and color the sheet below and mail it to the following address:

500 Festival, Inc.

mini-mini Coloring Sheet

21 Virginia Ave, Suite 500

Indianapolis, IN 46204

---

Are your mini runners registered to race in the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway on October 5? Online registration for the mini-mini is now open at indymini.com/minimini