INDIANAPOLIS (November 15,  2013) – The early bird registration deadline is approaching for the 2014 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon and Finish Line 500 Festival 5K. Early registration entries will be accepted through November 30, 2013. The races are scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 3, 2014. Registration is available through www.indymini.com.

OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon

The $60 early registration for the Mini-Marathon, the nation’s largest half marathon, is set to expire on November 30. Starting Dec. 1, 2013 through the event selling out, registration will revert back to the regular price of $75. Registration will close when the maximum field of 35,000 participants is reached. The race has sold out the past 12 years.

The 500 Festival is instituting a number of new aspects into the 2014 race including:

• Moving to a wave start, creating a more efficient and enjoyable running and walking experience for participants. A wave start breaks up the start line for participants into five separate groups, with five corresponding starts. The corral system will continue to be utilized as in previous years, which will assign participants based on their estimated finish times. Find more details by clicking here.
• As a result of participant feedback, the 500 Festival will offer gender-specific technical race shirts. 
• Encourage friends and family to join you for the Mini-Marathon now through December 31 and receive $5 for each one that does. Click here for full details of the program and rules and regulations.

Finish Line 500 Festival 5K

The early registration fee for the 2014 Finish Line 500 Festival 5K is $35 through November 30, 2013 or $40 starting on Dec. 1, 2013 through the event selling out. Registration will close on the date the maximum field of 4,000 is reached. Participants of the 5K receive many of the same benefits as those who run the Mini-Marathon including a participant t-shirt and medal, water stations and entertainment along the course and entrance to the Post Race Party.

2014 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 a Bib Timing Device. The official Training Series, combined of three events, is designed to allow participants the opportunity to gauge their progress in preparation for the Mini-Marathon. The three events gradually increase in distance to coincide with a typical training program’s schedule. Training Series dates for 2014 are: February 1 (5K); March 1 (10K) and April 5 (15K). All Training Series events start and finish at the NCAA Hall of Champions in downtown Indianapolis. You do not have to be registered for the Mini-Marathon to participate in the Training Series; the races are open to the public. Participants may register online at www.500festival.com.

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 57 years, the 500 Festival has grown to become one of the largest festivals in the nation. The mission of the 500 Festival is to produce 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.

The mission of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon is to conduct a world-class running event and leverage its success for furthering the mission of the 500 Festival and promoting health and fitness.

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