INDIANAPOLIS
(September 14, 2015)
The 500 Festival, a nonprofit
organization providing life-enriching events and programs celebrating the
legacy of the Indianapolis 500, today announces that registration has opened
for the 2016 OneAmerica 500
Festival Mini-Marathon. Set for Saturday, May 7, the 2016 OneAmerica 500 Festival
Mini-Marathon will mark the race’s 40th running.
One
of the nation’s premiere half-marathons, the Indy Mini is the 500 Festival’s
largest fundraiser. Race registrations help support the 500 Festival’s free
youth programs and events. Now through October 15, the Mini-Marathon
registration fee is $65. Pricing after October 15 is as follows:
October
16, 2015 - February 15, 2016: $75
February
16, 2016 - May 3, 2016: $85
May
4 – 6, 2016: $95
“As
one of the nation’s largest half-marathons, the Mini-Marathon showcases
Indianapolis’ ability to host a world class sporting event while helping fuel
the 500 Festival’s free programs and events for Indiana youth,” said Bob
Bryant, president and CEO, 500 Festival. “We continue to focus on providing a
positive experience for every participant. We’ve made operational and course enhancements
to ensure the Indy Mini is one of the best running events in the country. We
hope Hoosiers will join us to celebrate the 40th running of the
OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.”
New
in 2016, Mini-Marathon participants have more options for participation
including:
Mega
Mini Challenge:
Participants will tackle both the Finish Line 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. Registration starts at $125.
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. Mini Maniac participants will receive a commemorative
shirt and medal in addition to the shirts and medals for the Miler Series and
Mini-Marathon. Registration for the Mini Maniac Challenge starts at $135.
VIP
Experience:
Indy Mini participants can upgrade their
registration with a VIP experience. Pricing for the VIP experience is $80 and a
limited number of upgrades are available, while supplies last. 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 half-zip jacket
Pacesetter
Challenge:
The Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders will serve as the official Pacesetters for
the 2016 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. Today, the team took to the
streets of Indianapolis to run the 13.1 mile Mini-Marathon course. The team
finished the course in 2:07, making that time the pace to beat. For each 2016
Mini-Marathon participant who finishes faster than the Colts Cheerleaders, the
500 Festival will donate $1 to a charity, voted on by the participants. In
addition, the Indianapolis Colts will also donate $1 per person who beats the
official pace to the National Stroke Association, up to $6,000. The community
can take the challenge on social media using #FasterThanColtsCheer.
In
addition, because the team finished faster than the average finish time of the
Mini-Marathon (2:33), the 500 Festival is making a $5,000 donation to the National
Stroke Association,
an organization that’s deeply personal to the Colts Cheerleaders. In December
2014, their former teammate, Tessa David, suffered a stroke at the age of 28.
An athlete who was in peak physical condition, Tessa’s stroke left her
teammates, family and friends in shock. Taking on the challenge of setting the
pace for the Mini-Marathon provides the team with an opportunity to show their
support for Tessa and to help raise awareness of the warning signs of a stroke.
The course for the Mini-Marathon is flat and fast and appeals
to runners and walkers alike. It begins near the intersection of Washington and
West Streets in downtown Indianapolis, heads west toward the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway and includes a lap around the famed 2.5 mile track before heading back
downtown to the finish line at Military Park.
2016
OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon Race Weekend Events
Thursday,
May 5
500 Festival
Mini-Marathon Expo
Indiana
Convention Center, Hall I
4
– 8 p.m.
Friday,
May 6
500 Festival
Mini-Marathon Expo
Indiana
Convention Center, Hall I
10
a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday,
May 7
Finish
Line 500 Festival 5K
Downtown
Indianapolis
7
a.m.
OneAmerica
500 Festival Mini-Marathon
Downtown
Indianapolis
7:30
a.m.
500
Festival Post Race Party
Military
Park
7
a.m. – 2 p.m.
The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon is sponsored by
OneAmerica, Finish Line, Franciscan St. Francis 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 www.indymini.com or search #IndyMini on
social media.
About
the 500 Festival
Founded
in 1957, the 500 Festival is a not-for-profit organization that produces more
than 50 life-enriching events and programs
while celebrating the spirit and legacy of the Indianapolis 500 and fostering
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 $350 million in economic value to
Indianapolis. To learn more about the 500 Festival, please visit www.500festival.com, follow us on Twitter
@500festival, or on Facebook.
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