Month: March 2022

The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon has a long history of bringing runners, walkers, volunteers, and families together from all over the world. It is a time when people focus less on issues that may be at the forefront of their minds and connect with thousands of people to run 13.1 miles and celebrate the Month of May in Indianapolis. It’s when countless hours of training, preparation, and excitement all lead up to that moment when one finally crosses that coveted finish line. When Grant County native, Emily McIntire, decided she would start hiking a few national parks with friends, she never knew how it would start a life-long passion for fitness, running, and eventually help save someone’s life. 

Being Hoosier-born, Emily McIntire has recently found a new love 500 Festival and all the festivities that encompass May, but it was in 2020 when she registered for the Mini for the first time. McIntire shared, “I helped in 2019 by watching gear for some friends who were running. Even though that year was miserably cold and rainy, it looked like so much fun and there was such great energy everywhere.”  

Soon after, she began running and quickly became a fan. “I used to see runners and think ‘that could never be me,’” she said. “In 2018 I started working with a personal trainer so I could go out to Utah. I hiked all five National Parks and pushed myself farther than I ever had before. I started thinking that it was time to get serious about being healthy.” Emily also said that she loves a challenge- in April 2019 she signed-up for the “Couch to 5K” app has been hooked since.  

Besides spending her free time running, walking, and training with friends and family, Emily is a full-time registered nurse here in Indiana. Early in life, she was set on going into journalism, but after a few anatomy classes in high school, her future changed forever. Emily says, “Nursing for me is a perfect blend of logic/science with the art of making a connection with your patients.” In addition to choosing a heroic and much needed profession, Emily recently became a hero in another way: she recently became a kidney donor.  

“I don’t have kids or siblings, so I didn’t worry that anyone else might need it. For me, the workup included lots of blood work (14 vials at a time!), EKG, CT scan, chest X-ray, and 24-hour urine collection. My surgery was laparoscopic-assisted, so I had three tiny incisions for ports and one bigger horizontal one, low on my abdomen.” For Emily, the decision was easy, but she now wants to help encourage others to consider being donors through a process called paired donations. “This is one of the things I want people to know about the most,” she mentioned, “If you want to donate to someone but your blood type is incompatible (or for any other reason), but you are approved as a donor, you can still help your person!” 

She even told us, “If you want to donate but aren’t a match, there is a whole pool of people in the same boat. When you step up to donate, your team can look at this group and find someone for you to give to, and someone to give to your recipient.”  

Emily is looking forward to this May and many others to follow. When asked if she has any advice for those looking to get into running and fitness she said, “Honestly if I can do it, anyone can. I was never athletic in school. I never thought I could do it. I had to learn that races are about competing with yourself, not everyone else. I still struggle with that sometimes! But, if you run even a little bit, you’re a runner in my book!”  

As most of us are counting down the few weeks left until the days of warmer weather, racing, and getting back to missed Indianapolis traditions, it’s stories like Emily McIntire’s that remind us that these 500 Festival events touch everyone’s lives in different ways.  

If you would like more information on how to become a donor, go to https://www.kidney.org/transplantation/livingdonors/incompatiblebloodtype for more ideas on how you can help.  

To join Emily for the 2022 Indy Mini, register at indymini.com/register! 

How do you get ready for a … Mini-Marathon?

I remember someone asking me once how far the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon was and when I told him it was 13.1 miles – a half marathon – he replied, “That doesn’t sound ‘mini!'”

He had a point. For most of us, it isn’t a “mini” distance, but that shouldn’t keep us from going for it. Having done the Indy Mini maybe 35 times – probably more – I was able to develop a routine for preparation for the event, that helped me to not only get ready for the race, but to be pleased with my results. 

First and foremost, keep in mind this: except for maybe 30 people who are going to toe the starting line on May 7, you aren’t going to win. But you can accomplish. 

I had three goals every time I ran (and in recent years, walked) this race, listed in order of importance for me:

A. Don’t hurt yourself. The kind of running we find ourselves doing to get ready – i.e. long slow miles – is repetitive over such a long period of time that you open yourself up to overuse injuries. Establish a routine of training that alternates between long, slow miles, and some sprints when you can push yourself. As I got older, I came to realize there were days when my training was just as well served by working out on an elliptical trainer or stationary bike.  You don’t have to run 13.1 miles today. You don’t have to run it next week or even  a week before the race. The farthest I ever ran in preparing for a Mini was 11 miles, and that was usually 7-10 days before the Mini. After that I tapered. It was about getting ready.

B. Finish. Early on in my Mini-Marathon pilgrimage, I ran every step. As the years began to pile up, and the pounding those knees, hips, and ankles were taking began to take their toll, I reached a place where I accepted it was not a matter of running every step, although many of us can and will. It’s about getting from the starting line to the finish line. Sometimes when I would train, especially on a longer run, I would envision where I was on the Mini-Marathon course in connection with the miles I had run. During the race, don’t drive yourself crazy doing the math in your head about how much further you have to go – at least until Mile 8 or 9. By then the greatest part of the course is behind you. Also, enjoy the experience! There is a lot of great entertainment along the way from garage bands to high school bands to singers to flag corps. When you run by the little kids holding out their hands for high fives, smile and give them one. Make sure you take on water and Gatorade whenever possible. You don’t have to drink all the water, just a little, and pour the rest of it over your head or down your back. It’s amazing what a lift that can give you. Also, maybe bring a snack. A lot of times I will have a protein bar that I’ll start out carrying and take a bite or two out of it as the race goes on. 

C. Finally, your time. If you take care of your training, if you hydrate, and if you nibble a little bit along the way, your time will take care of itself. I say that for older runners and walkers like myself. If you are young and want to go for a fast time, or if you are older and want to go for a fast time, do it, but listen to your body.

Training for the Mini and running/walking it is about preparation and perspective. You are doing something that most of the people you meet in life would never try. Work hard, listen to your body, mix up your workout routines, and enjoy both the process and the day.

Andrea Vellinga says running saved her life. It has been over 10 years since Andrea’s life was forever changed. On August 13, 2011, Andrea’s life was forever changed when she was critically injured when the stage collapsed in high wind prior to the Sugarland concert at the Indiana State Fair. As a result of the accident, part of her skull had to be removed and she remained in a coma for weeks.  

But she hasn’t let her injury keep her from her love of running.  

Andrea has been running since she was eight years old. She participated in the Indy Mini at least eight times and has even conquered the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K since the accident. Prior to the accident, Andrea had been training for an all-women’s half marathon. Running is truly a passion of hers.  

“I may be crazy, but I actually like it!” Andrea said.  

Though she faces many challenges, Andrea still perseveres to pursue this passion.  

“My challenges since accident are my weakness on the left side so, my run now is basically a fast walk, but it’s something. Plus, I don’t have the energy I used to, but I can overcome that, thank God. My brain injury and recovery seem to be very rare because a brain injury can happen at any point, for any reason, and I’ve said if I can get people just to exercise at all, I’m happy” 

Her daughter Lydia has been by her side through it all. Andrea says she wants to set an example for Lydia and keeps running to ensure she is around for Lydia as long as possible. Her father’s support has also been trivial in Andrea’s journey. She says the main reason she runs is because of his influence, and he is even running the Indy Mini with her this May. 

“I’m extra excited for this year’s Indy Mini because I’ve realized how running basically saved my life. Because doctors told my parents that night (of the accident), I may heal because of what good shape I was in.”  

“I just feel I accomplished something when I finish any distance so 5k is no different to me than half marathon and at this point I’m grateful to even be here to try!” 

Her advice to other runners, “Think of how important it is to be healthy and to be around to see what your future could be because no one has any clue.”