Rain Or Shine, 41st OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon Kicks Off Saturday

Rain or shine—thousands of people will hit the pavement in downtown Indy for the 41st OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon and 5-K on Saturday, May 6. 

“We are expecting about 30 to 35,000 participants to come out and participate and they will be joined by another 4,000 volunteers to help make the mini-marathon happen," says Vice President of Marketing for the 500 Festival, Sabrina List. "In addition to that, we are expecting probably another 40,000 spectators as well. It’s going to be a full house. The streets of downtown Indy are going to be lined and it’s going to be a fun afternoon” 

There will be at least 100 entertainment groups and spirit squads lining the 13.1-mile course, and there will be new fun for participants as the arrive at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“Participants will get to go through what we are calling Meb’s Motivational Mile, and we’ll have Meb Keflezighi –one of the greatest runners of our generation. He’ll be out at the track-along the backstretch which is notorious as being the most difficult part of the course and he’ll be cheering on participants – rooting for them – giving them high five’s-jogging with them- just things to liven up that part of the experience,” List says.

The first wave of runners leave just after 7:30 a.m. The course begins near the intersection of Washington and West streets, heads west toward the Indianapolis Motor Speedway along Michigan Street and does a complete lap around the 2.5 mile track before heading back down New York Street to the finish line.