Month: March 2021

The year 2020 was many things: unprecedented, unpredictable, unusual — just to name a few. Many can agree that it was a hard year, including Zach Anderson. For Zach, running became his outlet to get through the year (2020).  

His new passion for running and desire to challenge himself led him to register for his first #IndyMini! Although it is his rookie #IndyMini run, he is no stranger to the Month of May festivities. 

“I have grown up with the Indy 500 on my calendar every year and taking a lap around the world’s greatest racecourse is a once in a lifetime experience. Experiencing that race day excitement motivates me to experience my own personal race day excitement on Indy Mini Race Day.”  

Running the #IndyMini for the first time can be intimidating. Here is some advice from Zach to get started:  

“Have a plan. I ran aimlessly without a plan for about 6 months. I built a good base, but having a dedicated plan is a must to stay motivated. Also, shoes! Regular tennis shoes won’t cut it… NOTHING NEW ON RACE DAY!”  

Another training tip from Zach is to use a coach through the Garmin Watch. Having a guide makes training less daunting and more attainable. And you don’t have to train alone! Zach said, “Sometimes, my dog gets to take part.”  He also enjoys listening to podcasts and Christian Metal depending on what he is in the mood for. 
 

For more training tips and tricks, 2019 Ambassador, Kirstin Maguire, has great advice just for first-timers!

Ready to join Zach and run your first #IndyMini? Registration is open on our website!  Reimagine The Greatest Spectacle in Running with us, achieve your fitness goals, and make the commitment to be part of the 2021 OneAmerica 500 Festival Virtual Mini-Marathon or Delta Dental 500 Festival Virtual 5K. We can’t wait to cheer and encourage participants as they conquer their miles!  

Option 1: Outside of Indy Mini or 5K registration

If you are not registered for the Virtual Indy Mini or 5K, and don’t plan to register, OR if you have registered and chosen to defer your 2021 Indy Mini or 5K registration, please follow these steps.

1. Follow this link <<LINK>>
2. Select the Rookie Runner’s shirt size and quantity. If you have more than one Rookie Runner in your house, simply click “add another.”
3. Fill out your shipping information
4. Checkout! Your Virtual Rookie Run items will be shipped in a few months! You can find fun digital resources, including virtual bibs and finisher certificates, for the Salesforce and JPMorgan Chase 500 Festival Virtual Rookie Run online here.

Option 2: During your Indy Mini or 5K registration

If you are currently registering for the Virtual Indy Mini or 5K, or plan to register, please follow these steps.

1. Complete your registration
2. On the merchandise and extras page, select the Rookie Runner’s shirt size and quantity. If you have more than one Rookie Runner in your house, simply click “add another.”
3. Complete the registration and checkout!
4. Your Virtual Rookie Run items will be shipped with your Indy Mini or 5K items. You can find fun digital resources, including virtual bibs and finisher certificates, for the Salesforce and JPMorgan Chase 500 Festival Virtual Rookie Run online here.

Option 3: After you have completed your Indy Mini or 5K registration

If you have already registered for the VIRTUAL Indy Mini or 5K, please follow these steps. If you have chosen to defer your 2021 Indy Mini or 5K registration, please follow the steps provided in “Option 1.”

1. Login to your RunSignup account
2. Find your Indy Mini registration under your profile, and select “Manage Registration.”
3. Select “Add-Ons” from the menu bar
4. Input the number of Rookie Runner shirt sizes and quantities.
5. Click “continue” at the bottom of the page.
6. Confirm your shipping address
7. Checkout! Your Virtual Rookie Run items will be shipped with your Indy Mini or 5K items. You can find fun digital resources, including virtual bibs and finisher certificates, for the Salesforce and JPMorgan Chase 500 Festival Virtual Rookie Run online here.

The deadline to purchase a Rookie Run registration is May 8, 2021.

Why do you Mini?  

For some, it is a personal goal to conquer 13.1 miles. For some, it is to see Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For PJ, the Indy Mini is a team effort.  

PJ is a runner with Ainsley’s Angels of America, an organization whose mission is to “build awareness about America’s special needs community through inclusion in all aspects of life.” Runners are paired with a teammate, so that “everyone can experience endurance events.”  

Alyssa, PJ’s teammate, is the reason he is running the 2021 OneAmerica 500 Festival Virtual Mini-Marathon. “Alyssa loves to do races and the bigger the better. I regularly get messages from her and she tells me she cannot wait to race,” said PJ.  

Outside of running with Ainsley’s Angels, PJ is a run coach through his local running store. Right now, training looks slightly different, as he normally trains with a large group. However,  he now gets together with smaller groups throughout the week and braves the Michigan winter to prepare for the spring race! 

To someone who is considering running this race for the first time, PJ says, “Do it. Once you’re signed up, you are more likely to train. I’ve done at least a dozen half marathons and this one is special with the lap on the track.”  

Looking forward to race weekend, PJ is excited to “see our fellow Ainsley’s Angels teams from around the country and be able to tackle that course again.” He is hoping to get close to the two-hour mark this time around. 

Whether it is to get in healthier shape, set a personal record, or raise awareness for an important cause, the Indy Mini is an experience like no other!  

Ready to take the leap and sign up for the #IndyMini? Registration is open on our website! Reimagine The Greatest Spectacle in Running with us, achieve your fitness goals, and make the commitment to be part of the 2021 OneAmerica 500 Festival Virtual Mini-Marathon or Delta Dental 500 Festival Virtual 5K. We can’t wait to cheer and encourage participants as they conquer their miles! 

Create your own virtual KidsFit Program finish line photos! Download the PNG overlay HERE to get started and follow the steps below to add it to your photo:

ON YOUR COMPUTER:

1) Go to the KidsFit Online Portal to download the png overlay.

2) Open up the finisher photo you’d like to use.

3) Drag and drop the Virtual Finish Line.png on top of your image.

4) Scale to preferred size.

5) Save image.

6) Share on social media by tagging #500KidsFit!

ON YOUR PHONE:

1) Go to the KidsFit Online Portal to download the png overlay image and save it to your photo gallery

2) Open the finisher photo you’d like to use.

3) Click on the edit/add sticker button and click “sticker from gallery”

4) Choose the Virtual Finisher PNG you downloaded and stretch it to fit your image.

5) Share on social media by tagging #500KidsFit!

We can’t wait to see your pics!

The 500 Festival would like to thank each of the 2021 500 Festival mini-mini participants for supporting the 500 Festival and our mission to enrich lives and foster a positive impact on our community. We cannot thank you enough for your participation and enthusiasm for this event. Right now, the most important thing all of us can do is to support our local and state health officials and hospitals, as well as focus our efforts on positive community outcomes. Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time.

Currently registered virtual participants do NOT need to take any action.  

Currently registered in-person participants can choose from one of the following options: 

Through the Announcement email 

Make sure that you are signed into RunSignup, you can login here. If you forgot your password, click “forgot password” to reset it.  

1. Participants will receive an email from the registration site. The email address it will come from is info+auto@runsignup.com. If you don’t see the email in your inbox, it could potentially be in your junk or spam folder.

2. In the email, you will see information on the cancellation of the in-person event and the options participants can choose from.

3. Click the option you prefer.

4. On the next page, select the name(s) of the participants who prefer this option, and click “Save Your Decision.” 

• You will see the names of all participants who registered under your email. You can make different selections for each but will need to “Save your Decision” for those that prefer one option, then go through the process again for the others.  

5. Done! It’s that simple. The deadline to make your decision is 9/7/21.  If you have not made your decision by then, you will default into the lend a hand category.  Currently registered virtual participants do NOT need to take any action.  

Through the Registration Site 

If you don’t get the cancellation email, you can also make a selection directly through the website. Make sure that you are signed into RunSignup, you can login here. If you forgot your password, click “forgot password” to reset it.

1. Head to the mini-mini registration website. 

2. You will see a pop-up with information and the options participants can choose from.

3. Don’t worry If you exit out of that popup on accident! You can scroll to the bottom of the page, and it will be there too.  

4. Click the option you prefer. 

5. On the next page, select the name(s) of the participants, and click “Save Your Decision.” 

• You will see the names of all participants who registered under your email. You can make different selections for each but will need to “Save your Decision” for those that prefer one option, then go through the process again for the others.  

6. Done! It’s that simple. The deadline to make your decision is 9/7/21. If you have not made your decision by then, you will default into the lend a hand category.  Currently registered virtual participants do NOT need to take any action.