RESOURCES FOR RACE DIRECTORS

Early Bird Registration Deadline Approaching for 2010 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon

Deadline for early registration is November 30, 2009  

INDIANAPOLIS (November 20, 2009) – The early bird registration deadline is approaching for the 2010 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. Early registration entries will be accepted for $50 until November 30, 2009.    

The Mini-Marathon, the nation’s largest half-marathon, and the Finish Line 500 Festival 5K are scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 8, 2010.   Participants can expect the same great race and the same great price!  Online registration for the Mini-Marathon and 5K is now available.  Registration can be made directly at www.500festival.com or by going to the website and downloading and mailing in the registration form.   

The early registration fee of $50 is set to expire on November 30.  From December 1, 2009 through January 31, 2010, registration reverts back to the regular $70. Registration will close on January 31, 2010 or the date the maximum field of 35,000 participants is reached. The race has sold out the last eight years.    

The early registration fee for the 2010 Finish Line 500 Festival 5K is $25 through November 30, 2009 or $30 from December 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010. Registration will close on the date the maximum field of 4,000 is reached. Each participant of the 5K will also receive a short sleeve performance technical shirt, included in the registration fee.  

The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon is sponsored by OneAmerica, Finish Line, St. Francis, Marsh and Subway.  

2010 500 Festival Training Series, presented by OrthoIndy

The 500 Festival Training Series, presented by OrthoIndy is the only official training program for the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, allowing participants to run on part of the actual Mini-Marathon course and to use “D-Tag” timing and scoring device that was used at the Mini-Marathon for the first time in 2009. The official Training Series, combined of three events, is designed to allow participants the opportunity to gauge their progress in preparation for the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. The three Training Series events gradually increase in distance to coincide with a typical training program’s schedule. Training Series dates for 2010 are: February 13 (5K); March 6 (10K) and April 10 (15K). All Training Series events start and finish at the Indiana State Museum in downtown Indianapolis ’ White River State Park . Participants may register online at www.500festival.com.  

The mission of the 500 Festival is to advocate and celebrate the spirit, heritage and legacy of the Indianapolis 500®. Through social, cultural and educational events and programs, the 500 Festival enhances the quality of life for all citizens of our communities.       

The 500 Festival, a not-for-profit volunteer organization, was created in 1957 to organize civic events celebrating the greatest race in the world. Over the past 53 years, the 500 Festival has grown to become one of the largest festivals in the nation.

Last year, over 500,000 Hoosiers and visitors participated in nearly 50 events and programs throughout the month of May. Whether they were athletes running the Mini, fourth grade students participating in the Education Program, families enjoying the state’s largest festival for kids or spectators being dazzled by one of the nation’s premier parades, they were there, celebrating the legacy.