User: arollins Time: 04-21-2014 17:41 Product: INIQtr
PubDate: 04-27-2014
Zone: Special
Edition: 9
Page: I500FEST-R Color: C K Y M
1977 to
2014
Some train for months in hopes of attaining a PR. Some walk with family and friends in memory of a loved one. Some are trying it out for the first time and thrive from the energy of the spirited volunteers. Some make it a tradition to help kick off the month of May in Indianapolis every year. All cross the finish line. The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon has become one of the 500 Festival’s largest events since its initial running in 1977. The event grew rapidly in the 1980s and even more throughout the 1990s. Today, a field of 35,000 runners and walkers take to Indianapolis streets the first Saturday in May, with another 4,000 participating in the Finish Line 500 Festival 5K.
Important Milestones:
Above left: Pat Nolan, veteran starter for the 500-mile race, gives runner Frank Shorter the traditional checkered flag as he crosses the 'Yard of Bricks' to win the inaugural Mini-Marathon in 1977. PHOTO: FRANK FISSE Above right: The beginning of the 1980 500 Festival MiniMarathon. PHOTO: WILLIAM OATES
1977: Olympian runner Frank Shorter wins the first Mini-Marathon
Not-so-Mini Facts:
1979: Mini becomes official 500 Festival event
■ The
1981: Inaugural Badge Match completion among local public safety agencies takes place 1982: Computers calculated race results for the first time 1984: 500 Club was established, honoring fastest 500 runners 1987: Mini first earned the title “nation’s largest half marathon” based on 5,193 finishers 1989: For the first time, the fastest runners were seeded at the starting line 1990: Mini was broadcast live on WISH-TV for the first time 1993: The Mini increases prize money attracting elite runners from around the world 1997: All finishers received a participant medal 2000: A 5K was added to the race schedule 2001: For the first time, Mini and 5K participants could register for the race online 2002: Gabriel Muchiri sets the course record at 1:01:54 2004: The first Remote Mini-Marathon took place, allowing soldiers deployed in Bosnia to be part of the tradition 2006: Mini registration was expanded to 35,000 participants 2011: Mini offers free runner tracking for spectators to track participants on the course 2014: 500 Festival KidsFit was created, inviting 5th and 6th graders to complete their final mile of the 13-week program on the Mini course 2015: The 2.2 mile mark of the 2015 Mini-Marathon will be the 500th mile in the race's history
Mini requires 168,000 safety pins, 40,000 bananas, 4,000 volunteers, 501 portolets and countless hours of training and determination.
■ In
2008, the Mini ended in a tie – Kenyans Lamech Mokono and Valentine Orare were so close videotape and still photographs could not determine a clearcut winner. The pair ran the course in 1:02:53.
■ Nearly
4,000 volunteers help make the Mini-Marathon and 5K possible – from distributing packets at the Expo, to passing out water on the course – these spirited souls make this event one-of-akind!
■ Revenue
from the Mini-Marathon and 5K helps fund the many free-to-the – community events organized by the 500 Festival including Kids’ Day, the Parade, Memorial Service and Education Program.
■ Eleven
brave souls have participated in the Mini-Marathon every year since its inception in 1977 – that’s a lot of miles!
Feel the Rhythm of May
§
2014
§
19