The purpose of this year’s hidden tribute in the participant shirt and finisher medal is to honor the life and legacy of Pat Kennedy, a passionate race fan and 500 Festival ambassador, who unfortunately passed away in April after contracting COVID-19. Kennedy was a past 500 Festival Board Director, a board member of the 500 Festival Foundation, and was part of the 500 Mile Oldtimers Organization.
Kennedy was the fourth-generation President of Kennedy Tank & Manufacturing Co., which was a longtime gas tank supplier for the Indy 500. In an IndyStar article on Kennedy’s life, his sister, Ann Bolin, said, “Every single race day, he would say, ‘Today is better than Christmas.’” It is no secret that Kennedy felt at home at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Dedicated to educating others on the history of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, Kennedy wrote two books: “The Official Indy 500 Trivia Book,” including 704 multiple choice questions, and “Indy 500 Recaps the Short Chute Edition,” which summarizes every running of the Indy 500.
Each year, Kennedy would donate his latest edition of “Indy 500 Recaps – The Short Chute Edition” to the 500 Festival & Indianapolis 500 Education Program, presented by Indiana University Health. His generously donated books continue to be an integral component acting as an encyclopedia of sorts on the subject for the thousands of Indiana fourth grade students in the program. Kennedy’s contributions over the many years have a lifelong impact and will continue to enrich the lives of Hoosiers through his surviving mission to celebrate the spirit and legacy of the Indianapolis 500 and 500 Festival events.
In a special edition of “Kennedy Tank Talk,” the Kennedy family said, “Pat will be remembered as one of the most selfless, generous, and kind leaders in the industry.” Kennedy’s passionate heart will leave a lasting legacy that will continue to further the spirit and celebrations of the 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500.
Are you up for the challenge? Get ready to conquer the 2021 Indy Mini Challenges like never before! Each challenge features unique medals, shirts, and bibs. Check out this year’s gear to tackle your mileage and crush your goals in style!
All three challenge shirts are short-sleeved, gender-specific shirts made of a blended poly fabric to maximize ventilation and comfort. This year’s medals are heavier in weight, which is unique from years before. All three challenge shirt designs correlate with their medal in design and color.
The Greatest Spectacle Challenge
The Greatest Spectacle challengers will conquer all five of the 500 Festival running events throughout the spring, including the 500 Festival Miler Series, presented by OrthoIndy, the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K, and the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. The Greatest Spectacle Challenge participants will receive a unique, commemorative shirt and medal as well as shirts and medals for the Miler Series, 5K, and Mini-Marathon. A total of FOUR sets of medals and shirts!
About the shirt and medal: This heathered orange shirt features the oval shape of the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway enclosed around the famed yard of bricks that represent the track as well as our city. The name of the challenge and total mileage of 35.2 miles are also featured. The back of the shirt boldly commemorates the challenge with the words “5 races. Total Dedication.” The medal correlates in color and design, also featuring the sleek exposed brick design, as well as the name of the challenge and total mileage.
The Mini Maniac Challenge
Mini Maniac Challenge participants will take on all 32.1 miles of the 500 Festival Miler series, presented by OrthoIndy, and the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. Mini Maniac challengers will receive a commemorative shirt and medal in addition to the shirt and medals for the Miler Series and Mini-Marathon – THREE total sets of shirts and medals!
About the shirt and medal: Featuring a similar design to the Greatest Spectacle shirt, this teal blue shirt also shows off the oval shape of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the iconic bricks. The name of the challenge and total mileage of 32.1 miles are also displayed. The back of the shirt highlights each individual challenge race distances listed “3-6-10-13.1” The Mini Maniac medal correlates with the shirt in color and design and also features the name of the challenge and total mileage conquered.
The Mega Mini Challenge
Participants who tackle the Mega Mini Challenge will complete both the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K and the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon on race morning. Mega Mini Challenge participants will receive a commemorative shirt and medal as well as the shirts and medals for the Mini-Marathon and 5K!
About the shirt and medal: The total distance of 16.2 miles is enclosed around the name of the challenge and the beloved yard of bricks are located inside the oval shape of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The back of this royal blue shirt commemorates the year 2021 in a victorious green color. The Mega Mini medal correlates with the shirt in both design and color and also showcases the name of the challenge and the total mileage.
For each challenge, you must be registered for the actual challenge to receive the shirt and medal for that challenge, not each event separately. Email raceinfo@500festival.com if you’d like to upgrade your registration to a Challenge. The last day to register for the 500 Festival Greatest Spectacle and the Mini Maniac Challenges and the 500 Festival Miler Series, presented by OrthoIndy, is Feb 7. Register here.
Showcase your hard work and dedication with the 2021 Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K gear! Make this year’s unique participant shirt and finisher medal yours by crossing the finish line on May 8.
Participant Shirt
The 2021 Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K shirt is a sleek, white color made of a blended poly fabric to maximize ventilation and comfort. The shirt is gender-specific, allowing for optimal fit.
The 2021 participant shirt highlights this year’s Race Day theme. Famous for the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the historic Indy 500, the city of Indianapolis and racing go hand in hand. The front of the shirt features total race mileage and the colors of the Indy 500 flags, recognized and beloved by all Hoosiers and race fans. Not only is Indy home to The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, but also home to The Greatest Spectacle in Running, the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon and Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K, which is proudly displayed on the back of the shirt.
Finisher Medal
The 2021 finisher medal proudly displays the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K mileage of 3.1 miles, race location of Indianapolis, and the year of the race. The finisher medal also features the historic colors of the Indy 500 flags and is upheld by the iconic checkered flag ribbon, a hallmark of the race. Paying tribute to the racing capital of the world is the downtown Indianapolis skyline and the famed Yard of Bricks, which are etched into the finisher medal.
Ready to conquer the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K and earn your swag? Visit indymini.com/register to sign up for the 5K, the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon or one of the Challenges.
THE RESULTS ARE IN… The BibRave 100 has been released, and the results are in! The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon has been named the: #1 HALF MARATHON IN THE NATION OF THE DECADE 🎉 The Indy Mini was also listed among the races with Best Medals & Swag over the past decade. Additionally, the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K was listed as one of the Best Races of the Decade … Continue reading “The #IndyMini Has Been Named #1 Half Marathon in the Nation of the DECADE!”
“We are thrilled that the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon has been voted as the Best Half Marathon of the Decade,” said Bob Bryant, president, and CEO of the 500 Festival. “Like so many other races, we made the decision to cancel the in-person component of our 2020 Indy Mini due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After making such a difficult decision, we received an outpouring of support from our participants. Knowing that they nominated us for these awards makes it all the more meaningful.”
The BibRave 100 is an annually published list of America’s best races. Rankings are determined based upon runner nominations, surveys from the running industry, and online voting.
THANK YOU!
We cannot thank our participants enough for nominating the Indy Mini and 5K for these awards and for entering their votes. We promise to do everything we can to make the next decade just as memorable for our Indy Mini and 5K participants!
Congratulations, you took a giant step for your health by registering for a virtual challenge! There’s no limit to how you can log your miles. However, sometimes life gets in the way and finding time for those extra miles can be a challenge. We’re here to help! Here are some almost effortless ways to sneak … Continue reading “How to Add More Miles to Your Day”
Congratulations, you took a giant step for your health by registering for a virtual challenge! There’s no limit to how you can log your miles. However, sometimes life gets in the way and finding time for those extra miles can be a challenge. We’re here to help! Here are some almost effortless ways to sneak in some more miles into your day.
Take a ten minute break from work by going for a walk
Find a free 30 min fitness class on YouTube
Park a few spots away from the entrance when running errands or going out to eat
Take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible
Set your fitness watch or phone to remind you to get up and move once an hour
Recommend fun fitness activities with friends and family, like biking, paddling, hiking and more!
Go for a morning walk with your dog
If in the office, walk to a coworker to ask a quick question instead of sending an IM or email
Power walk through a few extra aisles at the grocery store
Use a smaller cup or bottle for water to sneak some extra steps in for refills!
We have been overwhelmed with the positive response we have received about the newly launch Indianapolis 500 Mile Challenge and Indianapolis Freedom 100 Mile Challenge! It’s been so inspiring to see everyone’s personal journey to their 100 mile or 500 mile goal. Our participants come from across the globe and are a full range … Continue reading “96 Years and 100 Miles”
We have been overwhelmed with the positive response we have received about the newly launch Indianapolis 500 Mile Challenge and Indianapolis Freedom 100 Mile Challenge! It’s been so inspiring to see everyone’s personal journey to their 100 mile or 500 mile goal.
Our participants come from across the globe and are a full range of ages. Each one has their own reasoning for joining, from needing some extra fitness motivation during the COVID-19 pandemic to some friendly virtual competition between loved ones they have been separated from.
At 96 years old, our oldest participant, Phyllis Hart, is also grandmother to the 500 Festival’s Jen Lowe! Phyllis is ready to take on this new virtual challenge and got excited when she learned of this opportunity. Her retirement community was thrilled for when they learned she was the oldest participant and are cheering on their impressive neighbor.
“All my life I have tried to walk,” said Phyllis. My late husband and I use to walk around our neighborhood or at the mall often. As years progressed, I’ve been a member of the YMCA and attended classes at our local senior center which offered me the opportunity to have exercises specifically tailored towards those my age and work out with my peers.”
Check out what Phyllis has to say about this new fitness experience!
What made you interested in joining the virtual challenge?
I thought the virtual challenge sounded interesting. My daughter, granddaughter-in-law, and granddaughter (who works for the 500 Festival) were all doing one of the challenges and I wanted to join them. I wanted to have another achievement to strive for. And, I thought it would be helpful for me to have something positive to focus on during these times.
What’s your favorite way to exercise/get your miles in?
My preferred exercise would be to take a walk outside when it’s not too hot. It feels so good to be outside moving around. In addition to walking, I do the stationary bike for ½ a mile daily and attend a seniors exercise class 3 times a week where we do a variety of exercises and stretching. I don’t have a set schedule so it’s not rigid but does prioritize exercise.
What advice would you give other participants to encourage them toward their goal?
Do something every day! Don’t overdo it and know your capacity. But do something every day.
Join us in cheering on Phyllis as she works toward her goal of 100 miles! She’s started her journey and intends to keep powering through until the end of the year.
“I’ve already started tracking my miles and got a new pedometer to help me keep on top of it. It’s nice to look at my daily progress and see where the differences are and what I’ve accomplished. I estimate that I will reach my 100 miles in 2-3 months. I plan to keep going even after I’m passed my 100 miles until the end of the year. I didn’t want to sign up for the 500-mile goal as I thought it might be a bit much for me, but you never know where the road will take you. I’ll keep exercising and we’ll see.”
Interested in participating in the Indianapolis 500 Mile Challenge or the Freedom 100 Mile Challenge? Registration is open NOW and you can even backlog your miles starting on June 22! Sign up today at indymini.com/500 miles.
Judy Parker never imagined she would complete a 5K. However, on June 11, she did just that. Together, Judy and her niece Michelle conquered the 2020 Virtual Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K in Judy’s hometown of Pittsboro, IN. Judy was married to her late husband, Marvin, for 41 wonderful years. However, Marvin battled Parkinson’s disease for 25 of those years. Judy … Continue reading “Healthy Steps Toward the Future”
Judy Parker never imagined she would complete a 5K. However, on June 11, she did just that. Together, Judy and her niece Michelle conquered the 2020 Virtual Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K in Judy’s hometown of Pittsboro, IN.
Judy was married to her late husband, Marvin, for 41 wonderful years. However, Marvin battled Parkinson’s disease for 25 of those years. Judy had spent many of these years taking great care of Marvin, graciously putting his needs before her own. Unfortunately, this took a toll on Judy’s health. Two years ago, Judy was diagnosed with stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver and primary liver cancer. Herdiagnosis was a major eye opener for Judy. This prompted her to make some lifestyle changes, which led her to her first 5K.
Leading up to the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K, Judy began walking at least one mile a day and gradually added more. Though a challenge at first, the distance grew easier with time. She was thrilled that her niece, Michelle, had agreed to show her support by also participating in the virtual 5K. Though they were hoping to conquer the in-person course in 2020, they embraced the new challenge while still looking forward to next year’s race. Walking their virtual 5K in Judy’s hometown was incredibly special, as the two had endless support from local friends and family. Their encouragement made Judy work even harder and their support means more to her than they will ever know.
Michelle is so proud to have been a part of her aunt’s journey. For her, the virtual 5K was more about Judy’s success than her own. Judy was their motivation to push toward the finish line. Michelle is grateful to support Judy in all she does.
“My aunt Judy is a larger than life character,” Michelle says.” Anyone that knows her, loves her. She deeply and unconditionally loved my uncle through his illness for many years. She always makes you laugh even when her heart is breaking. She misses my uncle terribly, but I know he is looking down on her today and saying ‘Judy I am so proud of you.’ You don’t see this kind of love often, but when you do, it makes an impact. She is a one of a kind lady. She has made my life so much sweeter and I am so blessed to be a part of this journey with her.”Healthy Steps Toward the Future
Family and friends from all over the world have been crushing their 2020 Virtual OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathons! For this group of five, the virtual Indy Mini was a chance to participate with thousands of runners across the globe, but to conquer their Indy Mini. On a sunny Saturday morning in Marion, Indiana, Caleb Hawkins, … Continue reading ““Our” Indy Mini”
Family and friends from all over the world have been crushing their 2020 Virtual OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathons! For this group of five, the virtual Indy Mini was a chance to participate with thousands of runners across the globe, but to conquer their Indy Mini.
On a sunny Saturday morning in Marion, Indiana, Caleb Hawkins, Micah Hawkins, Dr. Rusty Hawkins, Nathaniel Beck, and Jeff Tabone set out for their virtual Indy Mini. These runners are no strangers to athletic challenges. Caleb, Micah, and Nathaniel are avid runners that compete in cross country and track for Marion County Schools. With the cancellation of their regular track season, the three boys did not shy away from their Indy Mini training. They maintained 5-6 runs per week. Running has been their source of mental and physical health during the pandemic. It broke up the days, gave them somewhere to go, and something to look forward to. Caleb and Micah’s father, Dr. Rusty Hawkins, is a History & Humanities professor at Indiana Wesleyan University. As a way to keep the boys entertained while training, he gave history lectures during their long runs. This came about as the university moved online mid-March and his sons became the audience for his recorded lectures. Some of the boys’ favorite lessons included the Civil Rights Movement, Watergate, and the O.J. Simpson trial. Luckily, giving history lectures was just as entertaining for Dr. Hawkins as it was for the boys. The 2020 virtual Indy Mini was Dr. Hawkins eighth consecutive Indy Mini, Caleb’s fifth, and Micah’s second. Dr. Jeffrey Tabone is also a faculty member at Indiana Wesleyan University. Though his first Indy Mini, Dr. Tabone enjoys competing in triathlons and Ironman races.
The morning of their Indy Mini, over 50 friends, family, church members, and coaches came out to support the runners while following social distancing guidelines. To enhance their race experience, they volunteered to keep time, work aid stations at every mile, ring bells, blast music, and more! To ensure COVID-19 safety measures were in place, the volunteers wore masks and cheered from afar after setting up the hydration stations. The runners said they always love the support from thousands of spectators during the Indy Mini, but this was particularly special as the fans were cheering just for them. Caleb, Micah, and Dr. Hawkins all broke their personal records as well. Though their Indy Mini may have looked different, these runners, family, and friends were able to overcome challenges to show what community and resilience truly mean.
Run, walk, hike, bike or swim your way to 500 miles with the BRAND NEW Indianapolis 500 Mile Challenge! Register now and log your miles from June 22 to December 31. You’ve accepted a major challenge, now let the world know it! Our social media toolkit is filled with resources to help you promote your … Continue reading “Social Media Toolkit for the Indianapolis 500 Mile Challenge”
Run, walk, hike, bike or swim your way to 500 miles with the BRAND NEW Indianapolis 500 Mile Challenge! Register now and log your miles from June 22 to December 31. You’ve accepted a major challenge, now let the world know it! Our social media toolkit is filled with resources to help you promote your challenge and stay motivated on your goal.
Click here to access our library of images you can post on your social media channels
How to download social media shareables from Dropbox
1. Click the link to the Dropbox folder filled with images (you do not need a dropbox account)
2. Select the photo you want to download
3. Right click the photo OR click the three dots button
4. Select “save photo as” or download
How to add a frame to your Facebook profile pic 1. Go to Facebook.com/profilepicframes
2. Search for Freedom 100 Mile Challenge or Indy 500 Mile Challenge
3. Select the frame and reposition your photo if necessary
4. Select the time you would like for it to remain your profile pic
5. Push “Use As My Profile Pic”
How to add a photo as your phone background
iPhone
Go to Settings > Wallpaper > Choose a New Wallpaper.
Do one of the following:
Choose a preset image from a group at the top of the screen (Dynamic, Stills, and so on). Wallpaper marked with changes appearance when Dark Mode is turned on.
Select one of your own photos (tap an album, then tap the photo).To reposition your selected image, pinch open to zoom in on it, then drag the image with your finger to move it. Pinch closed to zoom back out.
Tap Set, then choose one of the following:
Set Lock Screen
Set Home Screen
Set Both
Android
Tap and hold the home screen.
Tap Styles & wallpapersfrom the drop-down menu.
Choose from the collections of wallpapersincluded with your phone, or from third-party applications.
Tap the wallpaperyou want to use.
Adjust the positioning and size and then tap Set wallpaperin the bottom right corner of your screen.
Choose whether you want to set the wallpaper for your Home screen, Lock screenor both Home and lock screen.
As we continue to celebrate the Month of May in a new way, many of our 500 Festival staff members and interns have gotten into the spirit by participating in the virtual OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. The 500 Festival team has been running and walking right alongside all of our incredible Indy Mini participants from all across the state! Check out … Continue reading “A New Way to Mini”
As we continue to celebrate the Month of May in a new way, many of our 500 Festival staff members and interns have gotten into the spirit by participating in the virtual OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. The 500 Festival team has been running and walking right alongside all of our incredible Indy Mini participants from all across the state! Check out some of their Indy Mini stories below:
Adrianne, Program & Event Manager:
I hiked (read: walked) my Indy Mini on May 2. I had the date down as the Mini anyway and it felt right to do the Mini on the first Saturday of May. My mom, Anita Johnson, joined me for the race. She had signed up for this year’s race and deferred to 2021, but she was tempted with our celebration ice cream. I am SO PROUD of her for pushing through! We ventured to Bloomington and did our race on the Pate Hollow Trail that is part of Hoosier National Forest and just up the road from Paynetown SRA. We did one full lap, then cut across for a half lap and one lap around the parking lot to reach our 13.1-mile goal!
My Indy Mini experience both hard and relaxing at the same time. I knew if I was going to do this, I didn’t want to do it in a city. I needed a nature fix in the midst of stay-at-home. We were exhausted to be honest. We didn’t feel celebratory until we got to Bruster’s Ice Cream for our finish line treat.
I have only experienced one Indy Mini as a staff member, but I can say it is almost nothing like being a participant. I share the excitement of kicking off the race, but from day two of the Mini Marathon Expo through the end of Post-Race Party, we are up just about 34 of 36 hours (roughly) so it all blurs together. There’s a lot of adrenalin, smiles, and congratulating. I am always so excited for all of the participants!
This was my fourth Indy Mini in five years. The other three years I walked the race as a volunteer. I always take ibuprofen a half hour before I start my race. Grapes make for a great, healthy energy boost. Listen to your body. It’s okay to slow your pace, you know you’re going to win this year!
Maggie, Digital Marketing Manager:
I completed my virtual Indy Mini in downtown Indianapolis. I started along the canal but it started to fill with more people (shout out to a positive of a virtual race- you can sleep in and complete it when you’re ready!). To be able to still complete my race safely and adhere to social distancing practices, I moved through IUPUI’s campus and past Eskenazi and Riley Hospitals. While traveling through downtown, it was encouraging to notice others completing their virtual races from afar. It definitely motivated to push through, especially running the last 45 minutes alone!
My “finish line” was the parking lot of my apartment building but I was still ecstatic to get there. In-person races provide such an encouraging and motivational atmosphere that I really had to dig deep to keep going. When I ran past Riley, I gave a wave to the building because my sister works there. Each bib, 500 Festival apparel, or checkered flag I saw made me so excited and pushed me further. It’s very mental running alone but am so proud of all of our participants for rising up to the challenge.
As a staff member, you get to witness all of the excitement and motivation of race participants. It was definitely weird not spending the days leading up to the first weekend in May at the Expo or starting bright and early in Military Park race morning. Being able to complete the virtual Indy Mini was still special, and it was important to join our community in this challenge. Seeing everyone completing their race and encourage others on social media has been just as great as seeing those faces cross the finish line. Knowing how hard our team worked to make the virtual experience feel as much like a race for our participants then seeing them use those resources was very rewarding.
To recreate the Indy Mini experience, I participated in all of the Expo “virtual’ yoga sessions with YogaSix and the Hot Room, which I highly recommend everyone do before a long run! I customized and printed my own Indy Mini bib as well. My niece and nephews created signs to cheer me on, which my sister texted to me. My niece has JDM so they weren’t able to support in-person but the message from my sister was just as motivating! I used the Indy Mini finish line PNG Alexa, our graphic designer, created, so I had an “official” finish line photo after I got some water and changed shoes. Later, I recreated runners’ services equipped with a 500 Festival Volunteer, my dog Ellie, where I picked up my banana, Clif bar, and chocolate milk.
Post-race, I couldn’t put my work phone down, I was just so inspired by all of the participants sharing their race with us on social media! Afterward, I made Pad Thai as my celebratory meal. Highly recommend.
To other virtual Indy Mini participants, don’t give up. I know it’s cliché and easy advice, but it really is mental. You might not have a crowd cheering you on or a band playing to push you through mile 12 but you just need to shut your brain off and get it done. Also, have fun with it! A virtual race doesn’t have to be about getting a PR. Take in your route and get creative recreating Indy Mini elements for your race.
Bob, CEO:
I ran my virtual Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K in my neighborhood in Carmel on May 2, my wife Brandee had been training for her first OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon and ran her virtual Indy Mini through our neighborhood on May 9 (in 2 hr. 10 min.!)
I loved running in the USS Indiana 5k shirt, a race we helped organize around the commissioning ceremony for the submarine in 2018. Brandee enjoyed my biking around to set up pit stations and our boys enjoyed setting up the runner services area and chalk brickyard finish line.
I wanted to run on the original Mini day. It was symbolic and bitter sweet to be able to run on a day we have always been hard at work. I really missed not having that in a normal cadence and got excited about getting back on the calendar for next year.
For me, my virtual 5K was just some time on my own after lots of calls and in-home time. Lots of reflection. For Brandee, she had been training for months and had some anxiety about running on her own but really nailed it. We had pit stations set up for her, neighborhood friends came out to cheer her on and the boys decorated signs, balloons and finish line. It was a big ‘event’ for the whole family.
To celebrate my virtual 5K, I sat on the deck and took some time to continue the decompression and reflection with water and a banana. For Brandee taking on the Indy Mini, she did some stretching, an Epsom salt batch and some well-earned couch time for the rest of the weekend.
For all virtual Indy Mini participants, make it an event, involve friends and family. You’d be surprised how much fun others will have with the experience as they support you.
Sabrina, VP Marketing and Communications:
We took advantage of the beautiful weather and completed our virtual race on Saturday, May 2 at Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park. We had a great time! It was so much fun seeing other virtual participants wearing their custom bibs and custom shirts at Fort Ben!
It was a little strange and bittersweet participating on what would have been Indy Mini Saturday, but we made the best of it. The last time my husband and I completed the #IndyMini was 6 years ago (I’ve been on the 500 Festival staff every May since). It was fun to participate with my husband once again but I definitely missed working at my normal #IndyMini race day spot at the finish line greeting all of our awesome participants! It made me even more excited for the 2021 race!
The biggest enhancement was having my 3-year-old son participate with us! Since we participated virtually, we were able to put him in his tricycle and he rode along with us (and we could push him when he got tired). We even celebrated with another virtual 5K the next day! We had such a great time on Saturday, May 2 we decided to do another 5K on the Monon the next day for round 2!
To virtual Indy Mini participants, use this year’s virtual race to customize your experience. This is your chance to include others that might not typically be able to participate with you. For us, that meant getting to include our 3-year-old into our race since he could ride along in his stroller or trike (these items aren’t allowed at the in-person Indy Mini event for the safety of others).
Helen, Marketing Coordinator:
I was originally planning to complete my Indy Mini on the third weekend in May. When May 2 came around the corner, I was so encouraged and motivated from seeing all the participants complete their race that day that I ended up taking on my race on May 2! My route was a huge lap around Geist Reservoir in Fishers, Indiana, which wove through various neighborhoods and nature trails.
I loved the virtual race experience! My friends and family surprised me by cheering me along my route. It gave me so much motivation to keep going and stay with my pace. I started struggling more towards the end of my race, so crossing the finish line was so rewarding!
There is so much preparation and a lot of late night / early morning set-ups that go into the production of the Indy Mini. Being able to watch thousands of participants cross the finish line and celebrate their hard work with their loved ones and supporters is so rewarding as a staff member. On the other hand, I have found that there is so much hard work and dedication that participants put into their training schedules! It makes completing the Indy Mini a whole new rewarding experience being a participant.
My family knew I was heading out to run my virtual race and halfway through my run, I received a photo of a decorated finish line where the end of my race would be. Some family and friends also had a water station for me about halfway through the race, and it was a life saver. It was such a fun surprise to have friends and family join in and help cheer me on! The Virtual Indy Mini Facebook group served as a wonderful support system as well.
I celebrated my race by drinking a lot of water and taking a nice long nap! My advice for other virtual Indy Mini participants is to have your friends and family get involved either by participating alongside or providing a water stop along the way. It will help you feel motivated and supported on your race.
Ryan, Event & Program Intern:
I ran my race through my hometown of Zionsville, IN. I was able to create a nice route that went all through the downtown area. My first Indy Mini was a lot of fun. Obviously was a bit different of a “Indy Mini experience” than I had expected. It was still a lot of fun to be able to complete my first Mini-Marathon. To try and recreate the in-person race experience, I listened to some music during my race. That way I could at least try to recreate the course entertainment!
It is well worth all of the training to reach the finish line! Stay positive and keep reaching for your goals.
Claire, Program & Event Coordinator:
I will be completing my 13.1 miles in Columbus, IN on Sunday, May 24. I am looking forward to accomplishing my goal of completing a half-marathon! I set this goal last summer (smile) My friends and I bought matching outfits for the race and our family and friends are going to set up a few water stations along the course for us! Of course, I am buying 6 pack of Michelob ULTRA’s to celebrate at the finish line! Our parents are going to throw us a little post-race party at the end!
Cole, Registration, Ticketing, & Customer Service Coordinator:
I plan on completing the Mini June 6th in Fenton, MO. I am super excited to cross the finish line knowing that I conquered my first 13.1. I plan on setting up pit stations in locations I will be running and drawing the finish line! I will have my own runner services with bananas, cookies, and milk just like the iconic OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.
Pat, VP Strategic Partnerships:
I walked my Indy Mini on May 22 in downtown Indy. It was a 500 Festival events tribute with a route downtown that included the OneAmerica Mini-Marathon course and start/finish lines, Salesforce & JPMorgan Chase 500 Festival Kids’ day, IPL 500 Festival Parade, 500 Festival Memorial Service, presented by Rolls-Royce, 500 Festival Miler series, presented by OrthoIndy, 500 Festival Off The Grid, presented by KeyBank, and the 500 Festival office! I was excited to do my first Indy Mini and see downtown…. I missed it! We recreated the Mini-Marathon experience with the pieces of walking the actual start/finish and we had mini USA and checkered flags that we carried with us. We celebrated with American Dairy Chocolate Milk and then a Michelob ULTRA after.
Jen Lowe, Senior Vice President of Administration
Since we couldn’t be at the IPL 500 Festival parade on the beautiful morning of May 23, we decided to complete our virtual Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K Bibs customized and put on and a quick picture in front of the checkered flags and we were ready to go! It wasn’t a fitness walk as we couldn’t go without Charlie, so we had a nice, long one hour and nine minute 5K.
