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Indiana > The 500 Festival Mini-Marathon & 5K
Indianapolis,
IN
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Date
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Event
Details
More than 35,000 runners make their way to the streets of Indiana's
capital city each year for what has become known as the nation's
largest half-marathon road race event, the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon
& 5K, which is run a month in advance of the legendary Indy 500
race. Mostly fast and flat, the race course gives runners a
chance to take a lap on foot around the famed Indianapolis Motor
Speedway at the half-way point in the race before re-joining the course
for the stretch toward the finish line.
Named by Runner's World magazine as one of its "Hot
Halfs," this race has been a sellout for each of the past six years,
and it's easy to see why with the tremendous interest generated by the
race the next day. As for the course itself, it takes participants
through some of Indianapolis's most scenic streets, starting on the
eastern side of the White River and running westward along first
Washington Street and then Michigan Street, before turning north at
Olin Park on its way toward the motor speedway.
Runners take a lap around the oval at the speedway (which has got to be
one of the most original features of any road race anywhere) and then
head back along Holt Road and West 10th Street toward the White River.
Once they reach the White River Parkway/Bloomington Street, runners
turn south and then east across the New York Street bridge, and through
the campus of Indiana University, before winding up at the finish line
at Military Park.
Like pretty much everything else for the weekend, everything
about the race is big -- nearly 90,000 runners, spectators and
volunteers enjoy the festivities at the finish line celebration each
year, taking in the food, music and the Miller Lite Beer Garden.
Race
Weather & Climate
The springtime brings warmer and typically wetter weather to the
Indianapolis area, but not overly hot conditions. Temperatures during
May average between 74°F and 52°F, while rainfall
amounts
average around 4.36 inches for the month -- making it the city's
second-wettest month of the year on average.
Fees
$30 for the Finish Line Festival 5K
Registration
Online registration for the 2008 running of the 500 Festival
Mini-Marathon is now closed, as the race is full. There are still spots
open for the 5K, however, which you can sign up for by registering
online here.
Website
www.500festival.com
Course Map
View Larger
Map
Share
Your Race Story
Ever run the course at the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in Indianapolis?
Share
your impressions and read fellow runners' stories and tips for the
event.
Discuss it in the HalfMarathons.Net
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