December 13, 2004www.500festival.com
OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon sold out at 30,000 entries
The 500 Festival announced today that the 29th running of the nation?s largest half-marathon, the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, has sold out with 30,000 registrations.*
?As a community organization, one of our goals is to invite and encourage citizens of Indianapolisand their friends and guests to participate in our events,? said Kirk Hendrix, President and CEO, 500 Festival.* ?We are flattered to have 30,000 people participating in the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.?
This marks the earliest sell out for the event. Registrations for the 2005 Mini-Marathon, scheduled for Saturday, May 7, have been rolling in at record pace since online registration opened on Saturday, May 8. The 2004 event sold out with 30,000 entries on Jan. 3.* The 2003 Mini-Marathon reached its capacity of 25,000 on Feb. 12, 2003and the 2002 race sold out 25,000 entries by March 25, 2002. The Mini-Marathon has grown from 800 participants in its first year in 1977 to its current registration of 30,000.
In addition to the US, 11 other countries are represented in registrations including Ecuador, Belgium, Bermuda, Great Britain, Japan, Spain, Austria, Norway, Canada, Puerto Ricoand Switzerland.* In all, Mini registrations are from 48 USstates and 78 percent are from Indiana. The top 10 cities represented in registrations are Indianapolis(8,426), Carmel(1,647), Fishers (1,315) Chicago, Ill., (924), Greenwood(837), Noblesville (752), Ft.Wayne(715), Bloomington(527), Zionsville (478) and Brownsburg (418).* Of the 30,000 registrants, 51 percent are female while 49 percent are male.
The full field calls for volunteer support. Individuals or groups (church groups, corporations, associations, etc.) are invited to volunteer to distribute race packets to athletes, decorate Victory Mile, answer questions, motivate participants at designated mile markers, award medals at the finish line and more. To volunteer, register online at 500festival.com or call the 500 Festival?s volunteer coordinator at (317) 614-6130.
?The popularity of this event is the result of a great team effort and contributions from many people, including our Mini-Marathon committee and 4,000 dedicated volunteers; our staff event team; the Indianapolis Motor Speedway; and loyal and generous sponsorship support from Mini Marathon title sponsor OneAmerica, associates sponsors Finish Line, Marsh, St. Francis Hospitals, Corporate Express, media partners in WISH-TV and Susquehanna Radio,? said Hendrix.
Registrations for the 500 Festival 5K are also on a record pace.* The field of 3,000 participants is nearly half full.* Participants for the 5K may register online at [url]www.500festival.com.**[/url] Both races, the Mini-Marathon and the 5K, are scheduled for May 7. The Mini-Marathon will begin 30 minutes earlier at 7:30 a.m.
The 500 Festival will continue its Training Series which is in its fifth year. The Series features the use of ChampionChip Timing and Scoring on certified courses and is designed to provide participants a low-pressure opportunity to gauge their progression in preparation for the 2005 Mini-Marathon. The series gradually increases in distance, coinciding with a typical training program?s schedule. Training Series dates for 2005 are: Feb. 5 (5K); March 5 (10K) and April 23 (15K). All Training Series events will begin and end at the IndianaState Museumin downtown Indianapolis? White RiverState Park. Participants may register online at 500festival.com.
The 500 Festival was created in 1957 to organize civic events celebrating the Indianapolis500.* *It is a not-for-profit organization supported by corporate sponsorships, memberships and ticket sales.* More than 7,000 volunteers help produce 500 Festival events.* With annual participation of more than 425,000 people from around Indianaand the world, it has grown to be one of the largest festivals in the nation.
SOLD OUT!
December 13, 2004www.500festival.com
OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon sold out at 30,000 entries
The 500 Festival announced today that the 29th running of the nation?s largest half-marathon, the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, has sold out with 30,000 registrations.*
?As a community organization, one of our goals is to invite and encourage citizens of Indianapolisand their friends and guests to participate in our events,? said Kirk Hendrix, President and CEO, 500 Festival.* ?We are flattered to have 30,000 people participating in the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.?
This marks the earliest sell out for the event. Registrations for the 2005 Mini-Marathon, scheduled for Saturday, May 7, have been rolling in at record pace since online registration opened on Saturday, May 8. The 2004 event sold out with 30,000 entries on Jan. 3.* The 2003 Mini-Marathon reached its capacity of 25,000 on Feb. 12, 2003and the 2002 race sold out 25,000 entries by March 25, 2002. The Mini-Marathon has grown from 800 participants in its first year in 1977 to its current registration of 30,000.
In addition to the US, 11 other countries are represented in registrations including Ecuador, Belgium, Bermuda, Great Britain, Japan, Spain, Austria, Norway, Canada, Puerto Ricoand Switzerland.* In all, Mini registrations are from 48 USstates and 78 percent are from Indiana. The top 10 cities represented in registrations are Indianapolis(8,426), Carmel(1,647), Fishers (1,315) Chicago, Ill., (924), Greenwood(837), Noblesville (752), Ft.Wayne(715), Bloomington(527), Zionsville (478) and Brownsburg (418).* Of the 30,000 registrants, 51 percent are female while 49 percent are male.
The full field calls for volunteer support. Individuals or groups (church groups, corporations, associations, etc.) are invited to volunteer to distribute race packets to athletes, decorate Victory Mile, answer questions, motivate participants at designated mile markers, award medals at the finish line and more. To volunteer, register online at 500festival.com or call the 500 Festival?s volunteer coordinator at (317) 614-6130.
?The popularity of this event is the result of a great team effort and contributions from many people, including our Mini-Marathon committee and 4,000 dedicated volunteers; our staff event team; the Indianapolis Motor Speedway; and loyal and generous sponsorship support from Mini Marathon title sponsor OneAmerica, associates sponsors Finish Line, Marsh, St. Francis Hospitals, Corporate Express, media partners in WISH-TV and Susquehanna Radio,? said Hendrix.
Registrations for the 500 Festival 5K are also on a record pace.* The field of 3,000 participants is nearly half full.* Participants for the 5K may register online at [url]www.500festival.com.**[/url] Both races, the Mini-Marathon and the 5K, are scheduled for May 7. The Mini-Marathon will begin 30 minutes earlier at 7:30 a.m.
The 500 Festival will continue its Training Series which is in its fifth year. The Series features the use of ChampionChip Timing and Scoring on certified courses and is designed to provide participants a low-pressure opportunity to gauge their progression in preparation for the 2005 Mini-Marathon. The series gradually increases in distance, coinciding with a typical training program?s schedule. Training Series dates for 2005 are: Feb. 5 (5K); March 5 (10K) and April 23 (15K). All Training Series events will begin and end at the IndianaState Museumin downtown Indianapolis? White RiverState Park. Participants may register online at 500festival.com.
The 500 Festival was created in 1957 to organize civic events celebrating the Indianapolis500.* *It is a not-for-profit organization supported by corporate sponsorships, memberships and ticket sales.* More than 7,000 volunteers help produce 500 Festival events.* With annual participation of more than 425,000 people from around Indianaand the world, it has grown to be one of the largest festivals in the nation.