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A survey following the 2017 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon revealed 98 percent of Indy Mini participants would recommend the race to a friend or family member. That’s pretty high praise from our loyal participant base, but why?

 

Here’s a list of our participants’ 13 favorite features (one per mile) that make the Indy Mini such a unique race experience.

 

• The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Kissing the Bricks)
• Celebrity Runners (Check out this year’s lineup)
• History (42 years running!)
• Bands & Entertainment (Nearly 100 Course Entertainment acts)
• Volunteers (Hoosier hospitality is at it’s finest)
• Making a Difference (Your race registrations fund the 500 Festival’s free events and programs that promote youth fitness and education)
• Pit Stations (11 water stations and 5 Gatorade stations)
• Wave Starts (A smooth race start keeps things rolling early on!)
• Post Race Party (An epic celebration in Military Park with participants, friends and family members)
• Location (with the start and finish line located in downtown Indy, participants are steps from hotels, restaurants, and a great race weekend experience)
• Challenges (Combine 500 Festival running events to get more shirts, medals and bragging rights!
• Employee Wellness Challenge (Embrace the competition with your coworkers)
• It’s perfect for everyone! (An 18-minute per mile limit means just about anyone can take on 13.1 miles at their own pace)

 

These are just a few of the reasons 98 percent of Indy Mini participants said they’d recommend the race. Experience it for yourself and be part of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing on May 5! 🏁

Indy Mini Ambassador Alexandria Bergman explains how to get your running essentials and start a new routine without spending much green. 

 

One of the biggest reasons I was able to get into running was because of how budget-friendly it is. That is if you do it right!

 

As you go, you learn what you’d like to have, what you need to have, and what you can invest in later. Here are some tips and tricks I’ve found for finding the right gear and accessories to get your running kick-started with minimal investment.

 

1. Jogger Strollers

There’s a good chance some of our beginner runners are trying to squeeze in a workout while taking care of the kiddos. Jogger strollers can help make that possible, but don’t buy them new! I found one for $20 at a yard sale that lasted for years. I sold it later and made that money back.

 

2. Cell Phone Arm Bands

I’ve found them on clearance at Kroger for $1 and I have several. They’re a great way to connect to your music. I like to keep an extra one in my car along with a change of running clothes and shoes in case a running opportunity comes up anywhere.

 

3. Running Clothes

Check clearance sections at big box stores or places like T.J. Maxx. You can find stylish, functional workout clothes for cheap at Walmart and Goodwill.

 

4. Food & Drink

I like Swedish Fish for a sugar boost during a run. They act like gels but without the distinction of being a running food. There are also all sorts of affordable protein bars and energy bars with natural ingredients.

I also bought a cheap water bottle and a camelback backpack that I found on sale at a sporting goods store.

 

5. Free Places to Run

Take advantage of parks and sidewalks. Tracks at high schools or middle schools are great for speed workouts. Most are fenced in and allow you to run while watching your kids play in the grass. Finding a free place like this can help you avoid paying for a babysitter or skipping your run because you can’t take them with you.

 

6. Apps 

There are many free running and exercising applications for your phone that track your routine, distance, and time. A few of the more popular ones include Pacer, Strava, and Under Armour’s Map My Run app.

 

7. Early Bird Pricing

What better way to save money than to get the lowest prices on your races? For most races, the earlier you sign up, the more you save.

 

And by the way, the price for the 2018 Indy Mini increases in just ONE WEEK! Register before Feb. 28 at 11:59 pm ET to save yourself $10!

 

 

You’re not a runner. You’re a musician, a performer, an artist. Chances are this post was forwarded to you from a Mini-Marathoner friend who knows the importance of course entertainment acts (cue Mini-Marathoners sharing this link with their talented friends).

 

If you know someone who has participated in the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, ask them about the course entertainers! In what’s been called the largest four-hour music festival, anywhere, Indy Mini course entertainers are one of the most important and memorable pieces of the race. And we accept just about anyone! (As long as you’re family friendly.) Here are the top 5 reasons to perform at this year’s race:

 

1. Have Fun

“Be prepared to have a blast. It is a ton of fun!” – Past Entertainer

It’s pretty difficult to not have fun when you’re jamming out or performing your talents for four hours in front of a new audience every 10-15 seconds. And that brings us to point number two…

 

2. Get Practice

Whatever your talent is (we’ve seen everything from rap to the iconic Circle City Cloggers), you can practice in front of a live audience!

 

3. The Giveaways

Course entertainers receive a t-shirt, tickets to an Indianapolis 500 practice day, and more! Participants will even vote on their favorite acts, and the winners will be featured on our Facebook pages (more than 40,000 followers).

 

4. Free Exposure

If you’re looking to boost your brand or get noticed for whatever talent you possess, where else can you get free exposure to perform in front of 40,000+ participants, volunteers and spectators?

 

5. Inspire Thousands

Playing for those 40,000+ is great for you and your group, but it’s inspiring for those participants. You play a part in helping runners and walkers accomplish their goals. In 2017, participants voted course entertainment as their No. 1 favorite unique thing about the Indy Mini. While conquering the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the staple of the race, the roster of course entertainers every 1/8 of a mile might be the most defining characteristic of this gigantic party we call the Mini-Marathon.

 

“No other race has this many music groups and performance acts. It’s like a never-ending show that keeps you motivated the entire way!” – 2017 Mini-Marathon participant

 

Interested in performing in on May 5?

Apply now  |  Learn More

 

 

A record-breaking 42 #IndyMini Ambassadors are training, recruiting and inspiring others in preparation for the 42nd running of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. We’re sharing their stories through a series of blog posts; 2018 Ambassador Features.  Here is one of their stories. 

 

April’s Story

I decided to start running because I had watched my husband run for years. He loved running, and I felt like I was missing out. The moment I crossed the finish line of the Mini in 2008, I understood why he loved it. It was such an amazing feeling to know that I could run 13.1 miles. I continued to run the Mini each year. I took off in 2011 after having my daughter. I was back in 2012, but now I was running for my daughter. I wanted her to see that she had a strong mother. She has watched me cross the finish line of every Mini-Marathon since 2012. She is six years old now and has competed in the JPMorgan Chase 500 Festival Rookie Run three times and the 500 Festival mini-mini twice. She clearly has a love for running.

 

April’s #IndyMini Experience

I was getting married in May of 2008, and my husband (fiancé at the time) convinced me to run the Mini.  I had never run a race in my life, and could not even run a mile without walking. I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. In February of 2008, I was not a runner. In May of 2008, I was a half marathoner!

 

My favorite thing about the Mini is the energy. I have never felt so much energy in a race. The crowd, the volunteers, the bands, and the participants are like no other.  There is truly nothing like it. I have completed 21 half marathons and my top three times are all on the Mini course, and this is all because of the crowd of people that are cheering me on for the entire 13.1 miles.

 

The Mini started my running career and turned me into a runner. It changed who I was as a person. The Mini will always be my race, and I will run it every year as long as I am physically able.

 

April’s Advice

I would tell a first-time participant to know you can do it, and don’t doubt your training. So much of the race is mental. I would also tell a first-timer to just enjoy every moment. Give high fives to little kids, thank the officers and volunteers, cheer on fellow runners, and cross the finish line strong. There is a great sense of accomplishment in finishing.

 

Feeling inspired by April’s story? If you’re interested in participating in the 2018 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, click here. 

 

April, along with our other Ambassadors, will be sharing her training experience and motivation leading up to the race. Follow along and share your experience using #IndyMini on social media!

 

On Tuesday morning, the 500 Festival announced the addition of Olympian Alexi Pappas to the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon field. Shortly after, Bravies on Twitter let their enthusiasm loose.

 

Pappas’ social media followers and band of brave runners – dubbed “Bravies” – couldn’t believe one of their favorite runners is making her Indy Mini debut (and alongside American running icon Meb Keflezighi, no less).

 

Check out the full lineup of notable elite runners in this year’s Indy Mini

 

Here are just a few examples of “Bravies” and #IndyMini regulars losing their minds over the news:

 

Want to be a Bravey and join Alexi Pappas and Meb Keflezighi on May 5?

 

< Register for the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon >

 

#IndyMini

Get ready, Indy. Another running icon is coming to compete in the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon on May 5. Don’t know Alexi Pappas? You should.

 

A woman of many titles; Olympian, filmmaker, writer, essayist, actress and Greek national record holder are a few of those titles. An array of talents, yet they all encompass the physical grit and mental stamina embodied by a runner who commits herself to the vulnerability that brave running demands.

 

She artfully masters the daily grind as a professional athlete. The capacity of a running career is often misunderstood, in that training exists beyond scheduled workouts. Planned eating and sleeping are important to Pappas in the balancing act and pursuit of a goal. From Dartmouth to Eugene, Oregon, her thoughtful training has resulted in her success as an NCAA All-American, 10,000-meter national record holder, and Olympian.

 

Refreshed by her one year stint in Eugene, Pappas embraced the culture of the running town that built legends. It was the place that inspired the creation of “Tracktown”, a movie she co-wrote with her now fiancé, Jeremy Teicher. She also produced and starred in the movie, all while boasting an Olympic run. Nothing is out of the question for someone so driven and diverse. Her undergraduate years at Dartmouth were spent as a creative writing major, dabbling in improv groups among her athletic commitments.

 

Her passionate band of followers, also known as “Bravies,” feed off of her clever, witty and fearless motivation. Bravey, a self-coined term that capitalizes on a positive approach toward goals, is used as a noun to signify those who are brave in their actions, through running and beyond. Bravies take on their role in full-stride and many have displayed their devotion with a personal bravey tattoo. Pappas defined some stipulations to the tattoo via Twitter:

1. You must be brave.

2. Bravey must be written in your handwriting.

3. Tattoos are permanent and so is bravery.

 

Pappas’ impact transcends her running success and her outreach is rooted in intention.

 

Check out Alexi’s platforms of positivity across all social media and find out how to run WITH her in the 2018 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.

 

Alexi’s Channels: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

 

Feeling inspired to run like a Bravey? Indianapolis is paved for your graces on May 5! Register Here

Hey there, Indy! We shared some pretty exciting news earlier this week; the opening race of the 500 Festival Miler Series, presented by OrthoIndy, will have a change in venue on February 10. The 3-Miler will now start and finish at The Pavilion at Pan Am Plaza; a location known for hosting ESPN broadcasts at the Super Bowl, NCAA Final Fours and Big Ten Football Championship Games, as well as 100th Running events, Colts tailgates and concerts to name a few.

 

The Pan Am Plaza is one city block located on Illinois Street, Georgia Street, Louisiana and Capitol Avenue, and within easy walking distance to Lucas Oil Stadium, Monument Circle and most major downtown hotels. It’s only two blocks west of Bankers Life Fieldhouse! The 6-Miler and 10-Miler will remain at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, but the 3-Miler change will affect a few things on race morning, and we’re here to help answer all of those questions.

 

So let’s address a few of them!

 

Where is race day registration & packet pickup?

Spectators and participants will be able to visit vendors, pick up their packets and register onsite indoors at The Pavilion prior to the race. The Pavilion is heated and will provide a comfortable pre-race and post-race experience for everyone at the 3-Miler!

 

Is everything else the same?

While the start and finish location changes, the 3-Miler’s date and time will remain the same (Saturday, Feb. 10 at 9:00 am).

 

What does the new course look like?

The 3-Miler course weaves through downtown Indianapolis along iconic sights like Monument Circle, the Indiana War Memorial, the Scottish Rite Cathedral, and more!

Click here to see the updated course map

 

Where should I park?

There are several paid parking garages nearby at the Pan Am Plaza and Indiana Convention Center that should leave you steps from the start and finish line. More parking options will be announced closer to the event.

Click here to view parking options

 

When is the last day I can pre-register? 

Pre-registration for the Miler Series closes February 4. You can still register onsite at the event for just $20 (3-Miler) or $65 (all three races)!

 

What if I signed up and can’t make it or I’m training from out of town? 

You can always sign up for the Virtual Miler Series and join the Indy Mini training from a distance! The Virtual Miler Series allows you to collect the shirt and medal following the 10-Miler by simply running or walking on your own and submitting your race photos and times to get credit for the race.

Learn more about the Virtual Miler Series

 

Any other questions about 3-Miler morning? Comment below or ask us on social media and we’ll be sure to follow up. Use #IndyMilers to join the conversation!

 

We can’t wait to see all of our Milers, Maniacs and half marathoners in training on February 10!

Already committed? Click here to let us know if you’re attending!

Not yet registered for the 500 Festival Miler Series?

Learn More  |  Register

With the status of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon over the past few decades, growing in prominence as one of the nation’s largest, bucket list half marathons, the itch to experience the excitement has grown across Indiana and much of the Midwest.

 

Many Hoosiers desire to experience one of the 500 Festival’s largest events and month of May welcome party, but not everyone is up for 13.1 miles. Enter the 500 Festival 5K.

 

From aspiring youth runners to Mini-Marathon veterans, participants can experience the same Indy Mini fun with only a fraction of the distance. There have been parents with children strapped to their chests, friends wheeling loved ones across the finish, and celebrities like Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck who have conquered the 5K.

 

So what does that “same fun, less distance” phrase really mean?

 

It’s the same start line, the same finish line, and the same post race party celebration after cruising down Victory Mile. The same Mini-Marathon Expo experience and the same race morning electricity as 30,000 line up along Washington Street. Participants won’t be able to trek around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but the 5K is a great way to join the excitement of a grandiose event like the Mini-Marathon.

 

In 2017, the 500 Festival 5K saw nearly 5,000 finishers and it continues to grow as all sorts of Hoosiers, runner or not, join in The Greatest Spectacle in Running.

 

Whether 13.1 or 3.1, we hope to see you on May 5!

 

Interested in registering for the 500 Festival 5K? The price increases Monday, January 15 at 11:59 pm ET. Register here to lock in the lowest rate!