The 500 Festival, a nonprofit organization providing life-enriching events and programs that celebrate the spirit and legacy of the Indianapolis 500®, announced that registration is open for the 2020 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, as well as the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K. Set for Saturday, May 2, the 2020 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon will mark the race’s 44th running.
Named one of “America’s Most Iconic Races” by Runners World, the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon is one of the nation’s largest half marathons (for the past 20 years) and annually attracts participants from all 50 states and 15+ countries around the world. Known as The Greatest Spectacle in Running, the race starts and finishes in downtown Indianapolis and includes a lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500. The flat, fast course is packed with thousands of the nicest volunteers you’ll ever meet, 16 course aid stations and nearly 500 course entertainers.
“The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon is a long-standing tradition for Indianapolis to kick off the month-long celebration of May, leading up to the Indianapolis 500,” said Bob Bryant, president and CEO of the 500 Festival. “Each year, thousands of participants representing every state and several countries come to the Circle City to test their endurance on the Indy Mini course. We welcome runners and walkers to sign-up, whether it’s their first or their 44th, to join us on May 2.”
New for 2020, participants will be able to experience two iconic sporting venues during their race weekend! The 500 Festival Mini-Marathon Expo will be located at field level inside Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts and Indy Eleven. All participants (Indy Mini & 5K) are required to pick up race materials (bib / timing device, participant shirt, gear check bag) at the Expo. In addition to packet pickup and essential race-day resources, the Mini-Marathon Expo is filled with vendors from the health and fitness community, with a mix of local and national brands. The Mini-Marathon Expo will take place Thursday, April 30 from 4:00 pm- 8:00 pm and Friday, May 1, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. It is free and open to the public.
To celebrate the official launch of 2020 registration, the 500 Festival is hosting a kickoff event on Thursday, September 12 from 11 am to 1 pm in downtown Indianapolis. The festivities will take place next door to the 500 Festival office at Allen Plaza, the old Scotty’s Brewhouse patio, on the corner of Virginia Ave and Pennsylvania Street and is free and open to the public. Onsite registration will be offered and the 500 Festival will have raffle prizes and giveaway items. Community partners will also have activation, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indiana Pacers, Indy Eleven, Franciscan Health, and Athletic Annex, as well as music from local talent DJ Kurt Streblow. Attendees don’t have to sacrifice their lunch break to attend either, as there will be local food trucks onsite! More details about the event can be found on the Facebook event page. There will also be an Indy Mini shirt contest on social media for more prizes! Anyone who wears an Indy Mini shirt on September 12 and shares a photo to social media using #IndyMini will be entered.
The 2020 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon weekend will feature a number of different race distances for participants of all ages and abilities. Participants can choose to run the half marathon, the 5K, or one of the three challenges that incorporate multiple distances.
The Greatest Spectacle Challenge (35.2 Miles): Participants of The Greatest Spectacle Challenge will tackle all of the 500 Festival’s 2020 running events, including the 500 Festival Miler Series, presented by OrthoIndy, the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K, and the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. Greatest Spectacle participants will receive a commemorative shirt and medal as well as shirts and medals for the Miler Series, 5K, and Mini-Marathon (a total of four medals and shirts).
Mini Maniac Challenge (32.1 Miles): Mini Maniac Challenge participants will take on all 32.1 miles of the 500 Festival Miler Series, presented by OrthoIndy in February, March, and April, and the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in May. Mini Maniac participants will receive a commemorative shirt and medal in addition to the shirts and medals for the Miler Series and Mini-Marathon.
Mega Mini Challenge (16.2 Miles): Mega Mini Challenge participants will conquer both the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K and OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon on race morning. Participants who register for the challenge will receive a commemorative shirt and medal as well as shirts and medals for the Mini-Marathon and 5K.
Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K: Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K participants will hit the streets of downtown Indianapolis prior to the start of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. Participants in the 5K will run or walk 3.1 miles and will have the same exciting start line and finish line experience as the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. The race was named one of the Top 15 5Ks in the country by BibRave in 2018. Registration for the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K starts at $35 at indymini.com/register.
VIP Experience: OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon participants can upgrade their registration with a VIP Experience. Pricing for the VIP experience is $100 and a limited number of upgrades are available. VIP participants will receive:
· Expedited VIP packet pick up at the Mini-Marathon Expo
· Race day VIP parking
· Private gear check on race morning
· Exclusive VIP Post Race Party celebration including food, beverages, massages
· Private VIP restrooms
· An Indy Mini VIP jacket
· VIP named on participant bib
500 Festival Miler Series, presented by OrthoIndy: The 500 Festival Miler Series, presented by OrthoIndy, consists of three different races, a 3-Miler (February), 6-Miler (March), and 10-Miler (April), that start and finish in downtown Indianapolis. The timing of the races coincides with a typical training program for a spring distance race, such as the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.
The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon is sponsored by OneAmerica, Delta Dental, Franciscan Health, and Meijer. The Mini-Marathon will be broadcast to the Indianapolis market on WTHR, Channel 13. To register for the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, or to learn more, visit http://www.indymini.com/register/register or search #IndyMini on social media.
About the 500 Festival: Founded in 1957, the 500 Festival is a not-for-profit organization that produces life-enriching events and programs that celebrate the spirit and legacy of the Indianapolis 500 and foster positive impact on the city of Indianapolis and state of Indiana. One of the largest festivals in the nation, each year more than half a million people attend an event or program produced by the 500 Festival. Since its founding, the 500 Festival has contributed more than $400 million in economic value to Indianapolis. To learn more about the 500 Festival, please visit www.500festival.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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