The best way to describe this race - a Big Ol' Party! It is an Indiana spring tradition- a large, festive race through Indianapolis with a big expo, a ton … MORE
The best way to describe this race – a Big Ol’ Party! It is an Indiana spring tradition- a large, festive race through Indianapolis with a big expo, a ton of fun and energetic bands along the course with a variety of types of music, and a crowd of people and dogs along the way cheering the runners on! The best part is clearly the lap around the Indianapolis speedway – it is exciting to run in the same place as the Indy 500. Many people stop, kneel and kiss the bricks as a tradition but I did not due to concern about Covid. This year they had a number of people standing on the speedway silently holding pictures of young people who had bravely served in the military- it was surprising, and very moving. At the end they had a “PR” bell which I was delighted to get to ring. This race is just plain fun and I would highly recommend it. For me it was the start of my quest to run a half marathon in every state after age 60 (two per year to keep costs reasonable) and it was a great way to start!
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Run where the Fast Cars Go
The best way to describe this race - a Big Ol' Party! It is an Indiana spring tradition- a large, festive race through Indianapolis with a big expo, a ton … MORE
The best way to describe this race – a Big Ol’ Party! It is an Indiana spring tradition- a large, festive race through Indianapolis with a big expo, a ton of fun and energetic bands along the course with a variety of types of music, and a crowd of people and dogs along the way cheering the runners on! The best part is clearly the lap around the Indianapolis speedway – it is exciting to run in the same place as the Indy 500. Many people stop, kneel and kiss the bricks as a tradition but I did not due to concern about Covid. This year they had a number of people standing on the speedway silently holding pictures of young people who had bravely served in the military- it was surprising, and very moving. At the end they had a “PR” bell which I was delighted to get to ring. This race is just plain fun and I would highly recommend it. For me it was the start of my quest to run a half marathon in every state after age 60 (two per year to keep costs reasonable) and it was a great way to start!
Theme can't be beat
Was a fantastic half to do for Indiana! They stick to the theme so well and I had a great time. It's a larger race so lots of other runners … MORE
Was a fantastic half to do for Indiana! They stick to the theme so well and I had a great time. It’s a larger race so lots of other runners and great crowd support. The expo was very large and great – biggest bummer on that was that parking was rather pricey and just finding a parking spot wasn’t all that easy.
Enjoyed the course!
Loved “kiss the brick”! Great experience to run on the speedway track!!! Enjoyed meeting up with other runners in the Half Marathoner running community! MORE
Loved “kiss the brick”! Great experience to run on the speedway track!!! Enjoyed meeting up with other runners in the Half Marathoner running community!
Kissing the bricks!
This was a fun race! The best part is running around the Indianapolis Speedway. Not much to see on your way there but it’s a nice buildup to the track … MORE
This was a fun race! The best part is running around the Indianapolis Speedway. Not much to see on your way there but it’s a nice buildup to the track and then a nice run back to the finish. Just have to make time to stop and kiss the bricks!
It’s a fairly flat course and generally an easy run. I ran this 3 weeks post Covid and found it to be fairly doable, if that says anything for the difficulty?
The swag is great and the attendance is definitely great. We got lucky and got a hotel right at the starting line. It’s a later start, so being able to walk right out the door and not run until 7:50am? Least stressful race start ever!
Flat and Fast!
If you're looking for a PR, this is the course for you! I loved this race and would definitely do it again. The expo was medium sized and packet pickup … MORE
If you’re looking for a PR, this is the course for you! I loved this race and would definitely do it again.
The expo was medium sized and packet pickup went smooth. Race location is very convenient to downtown hotels. The start was literally right in front of the Courtyard Mariott. They had start waves which went very well. The scenery was nothing special, but there were lots of bands along the course which was great! It was awesome being able to run on the speedway too. This was the flattest course I have run on. Highly recommended!
Ran a lap on the Indy 500 track!
Great race in downtown Indianapolis. Start downtown, run to and around the Indy 500, and then back to downtown. Make sure you stop and kiss the bricks at the Indy … MORE
Great race in downtown Indianapolis. Start downtown, run to and around the Indy 500, and then back to downtown. Make sure you stop and kiss the bricks at the Indy 500 finish line. Lots of great support. Great race to complete Indiana for those doing different states.
Still my favorite
I've ran this 7 time now and still one of my favorites. if you're an Indy 500 fan you get to run a lap at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. … MORE
I’ve ran this 7 time now and still one of my favorites. if you’re an Indy 500 fan you get to run a lap at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Expo was a little smaller this year (probably because of covid) but was still a decent size. Swag and after party is always great as well. must do if you need Indiana
A Bucket List Race for Sure
This is an all time favorite race of mine with having run it 15 years in a row. Talk about value for your money, enter now and you just pay … MORE
This is an all time favorite race of mine with having run it 15 years in a row. Talk about value for your money, enter now and you just pay $68 for the race. How many times in your life do you get to run on the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. If there is the next Half Marathon you are looking to run, go to Indy on the 1st weekend of May and run the Indy Mini!
Great First Half Marathon!
I'm an Indy native, but this was my first mini ever! We saw an ELEPHANT looking at us when we went past the zoo. So cool! It was awesome running … MORE
I’m an Indy native, but this was my first mini ever! We saw an ELEPHANT looking at us when we went past the zoo. So cool! It was awesome running on the actual 500 Speedway. Packet pickup was no line at all but we went right when it opened. Not hilly at all. Good ol’ flat Indiana for ya! I’ll never forget the whole experience!
Start your engines!
The OneAmerica 500 Festival Indianapolis Mini Marathon did not disappoint! I actually signed up for this race in 2020 and then deferred from 2020 to 2021 and then 2022. The … MORE
The OneAmerica 500 Festival Indianapolis Mini Marathon did not disappoint! I actually signed up for this race in 2020 and then deferred from 2020 to 2021 and then 2022. The primary reason I signed up for the race was to “check Indiana off my list,” And, I really enjoyed my experience!
Unfortunately, my flight to Indianapolis was canceled on the Thursday before the race, so I didn’t arrive until mid-afternoon on Friday (and the race was on Saturday). It was very easy to get from the airport to my hotel in downtown Indianapolis via Uber (about a 30-minute drive), and then the Expo and Packet Pick-Up was within several blocks’ walking distance of my hotel as well. I walked there after I arrived in plenty of time to get my packet and check out many of the vendors at the Expo. I do wish I had arrived at the Expo a little earlier simply because a lot of the merchandise I wanted to purchase was already sold out in my size by the time I got there…they had great vendors and great selections! I hadn’t anticipated wanting to purchase anything!
The hotel I selected (Home2Suites) was not part of the block advertised through the race website, but it was still within a couple of blocks of the starting line and other shops and restaurants. I was disappointed that they would not allow me to have a late check-out and insisted on the check-out time of 11:00 am on the morning of the race. (I was flying out Saturday evening.) I’m a slow runner and knew that I would not be able to get back to the hotel in time to get cleaned up before check-out, so I ended up extending my stay by one night just so I could take a shower after I returned from finishing the race. I also have to admit that I did not always feel especially safe walking around downtown Indianapolis by myself, so I made sure I did not wander around after dark. Just something to be aware of for folks who may be traveling alone.
On Saturday morning, I was able to easily walk to the starting line from my hotel in plenty of time. I appreciated that the race organizers set up the start so that runners began in waves, depending upon one’s estimated completion time. They also provided the exact time that those waves would start. So, while the race technically started at 7:30 am, I knew my wave wasn’t slated to start until 8:10 am, which was helpful for planning purposes.
The course overall was great! I can’t say that it was especially scenic, other than the lap (approximately two miles) around the Indianapolis Speedway, but there were plenty of aid stations and tons of community support and entertainment. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. The Speedway is cool, and its timing in the race (miles 6-8) was nice and made the rest of the race (which can often be the most brutal for me) go pretty quickly. The weather was absolutely perfect…a bit chilly but sunny, which I think is one of the reasons I felt so good throughout the race. It was also relatively flat, which can also be helpful! 🙂
Although I’m not one who usually hangs out at the Post-Race Party, I did take advantage of the opportunity to get my medal engraved, which was kind of cool (although it cost $20). They also had good food following the race. Better signage about how to get out of the Post-Race Party would have been helpful!
Although I flew out of Indianapolis later that evening, I had plenty of time to get back to the hotel to get cleaned up (after having to purchase an additional night in order to be able to shower and finish packing after the race), eat some lunch, and even do a little shopping around Indy. I took an Uber back to the airport and made it back home late that evening without incident.
I would definitely recommend this race. I’m sure there is more to do in Indianapolis than what I took advantage of as well, but I did not have a lot of sight-seeing time (and also have visited Indianapolis a number of times previously). I’m also not a big NASCAR fan but found the Indianapolis Speedway really fun and a unique race experience. Overall, I had a great time and am glad I did this race!
Iconic local race
I would say this is a local must-do race if you live near Indianapolis or are a racing enthusiast. The highlight is obviously the 2.5 mile lap on the track … MORE
I would say this is a local must-do race if you live near Indianapolis or are a racing enthusiast. The highlight is obviously the 2.5 mile lap on the track at Indy Motor Speedway, both for the legendary status of the venue and the pristine running surface. The spectator energy is really great too. (Plus you might luck out like this year with perfect spring weather.) The downsides are the roads and the surroundings. Indy is notorious for potholes, so while most of them on the course have been repaired, I still felt like I was dodging rough patches quite a bit. Also, the route from downtown to Speedway is a more run-down part of the city. Overall it’s a very good race and a prime spot to PR.
Very unique setting and nice raceway
Course is fairly flat, even the bank on the raceway is slight, I took way too many pictures along the way. Stop and kiss the bricks to carry on the … MORE
Course is fairly flat, even the bank on the raceway is slight, I took way too many pictures along the way. Stop and kiss the bricks to carry on the tradition. Fairly good number of aid stations, and lots of spectators along the way, wish there was more fan support (ie snacks, alcohol) along the way. Would rpeat again at least once more.
Big race, big scenery… big show!
The production for the Indymini is amazing! If you want a certain wave to start from, you must send in a recent qualifying time. I immensely appreciate this because I’ve … MORE
The production for the Indymini is amazing! If you want a certain wave to start from, you must send in a recent qualifying time. I immensely appreciate this because I’ve participated in many other 20,000+ runner races and (Rock n Roll) does not and it sucks to spend so much time weaving in and out of the crowds… However, because they validate runners, I truly felt like I was running in a smaller race… they evenly spread the starts out so you’re not crammed in by the masses!
The scenery was great and running on the Indianapolis Speedway was an experience of a lifetime crossing the brick finish line… many stop to kiss the bricks. The swag and pre/post race events were wonderfully organized. They give you a bag at the beginning of drink/food hand out after you cross the finish line… which I very much appreciate instead of trying to carry a drink and other items and then having to lay them down to stretch out.
Lastly, there were some outstanding bands along the course… more so than you’ll ever get at an RnR event (just sayin’)
This is definitely a must for a check in the box for 50 Staters or running your first half marathon in a big crowd!
Fantastic Half - Indy 500 Full Lap!!
Overall great race with 100 music venues to cheer you along the way. Race production was smooth as silk. Course was flat and easy but there are definitely crowded areas … MORE
Overall great race with 100 music venues to cheer you along the way. Race production was smooth as silk. Course was flat and easy but there are definitely crowded areas as course closes in to narrow point. Best part of the race was running the complete Indy 500. It’s an amazing 2.5mile run. Just recovering from knee surgery so I felt great with my time. You could easily PR as my husband did!
Love it!
Amazing crowds! The best mini experience. I absolutely enjoyed it. Ran through indy 500 car racecourse for 2 miles and you are around 8 or 9 miles into the mini MORE
Amazing crowds! The best mini experience. I absolutely enjoyed it. Ran through indy 500 car racecourse for 2 miles and you are around 8 or 9 miles into the mini leaving indy 500 field.
Race track
Nice swag every year and the race is well organized. Lots of people. Running on the track is great. It rained this year which was a bummer but still was … MORE
Nice swag every year and the race is well organized. Lots of people. Running on the track is great. It rained this year which was a bummer but still was fun.
Biggest Half
The Indy Mini is the Biggest Half. However if you send in your time and get a good Corral you hardly notice. The Expo is AMAZING!! Vip is worth it!! … MORE
The Indy Mini is the Biggest Half. However if you send in your time and get a good Corral you hardly notice. The Expo is AMAZING!! Vip is worth it!! The course is flat and fast. Plenty of entertainment on the course. The medal was really cool. My only complaint is I feel the race organizers are a little sexist towards women so will not be back. Never heard back with my complaint. Plenty if Bathrooms or Access.
race track is tough in the rain
Get ready for plenty of water stops. they take care of that. Couple of sketchy hoods. plenty of local support even in the rain. medals and shirts were nice. rain … MORE
Get ready for plenty of water stops. they take care of that. Couple of sketchy hoods. plenty of local support even in the rain. medals and shirts were nice. rain rain and more rain for the 5K and the half. all and all it was worth the drive.
Great experience!
This race has so many participants (about 20,000) that they have multiple corrals, each with several waves. This worked out very well. The race is very flat, and unfortunately, the … MORE
This race has so many participants (about 20,000) that they have multiple corrals, each with several waves. This worked out very well. The race is very flat, and unfortunately, the scenery is not very interesting except for the one lap (2.5 miles) around the Indianopolis Motor Speedway.
There were lots of volunteers (standing in the rain) cheering us on, and handing out water and electrolytes and the many aid stations.
The swag included a medal (which had a map of the course on the back), a long sleeve tech shirt and a tech hat. Very nice!
If I lived within driving distance, I would definitely run this every year; even though I live in California, I plan on running it again someday (and hopefully it won’t rain!)
My favorite half marathon
Absolutely huge half marathon race. Very well organized production from start to finish. Excellent course, great support, lots of crowds to cheer you on. Throw in a lap around the … MORE
Absolutely huge half marathon race. Very well organized production from start to finish. Excellent course, great support, lots of crowds to cheer you on. Throw in a lap around the Indianapolis Speedway to kiss the bricks and you have a great race!