Indianapolis Life 500 Festival Mini Marathon

November 22, 2001

By Matt Morris

An Olympic gold medallist, race drivers, NBA stars, CEOs, politicians and a Hollywood star have all toed the line for what has grown to be the nation's largest half marathon. The 26th annual Indianapolis Life 500 Festival Mini-Marathon will no doubt have as colorful, diverse and deep a field as ever when more than 25,000 runners and walkers take off toward the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 4, 2002.

The "Mini," as locals call it, has grown over the past 25 years from an "adjunct" part of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race festivities to the nation's premiere half marathon. It features an international field and kicks off a month of activities leading up to the running of the storied Indianapolis 500.

Bill Rodgers recalls the Mini Marathon being more of a small, adjunct part of "500" activities when he won the race in 1978. "It was very peripheral then," he said. "But people have really taken to it and now the road race stands on its own two feet. It has really evolved."

The race "has a wonderful history and ambiance," said Frank Shorter, two-time Olympic Marathon medallist who won the inaugural Mini-Marathon in 1977 and was color commentator for the broadcast of last year's silver anniversary race. Other running celebrities in the race have included actor Robby Benson, the late New York City Marathon Director Fred Lebow, U.S. Senator Evan Bayh, Indy Race League veteran Stephan Gregoire, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Tony George.

What Shorter likes about the Mini-Marathon is that "it is absolutely runner friendly, and you get the feeling that the organizers are constantly fine tuning the event to cater more and more to the average 'citizen runner.'"

The goal of Race Director Don Carr, heading up the event for the sixth year, is for participants to want to come back each year for more. "I think we have a very good product that runners and walkers will enjoy and remember," said Carr.

For those who have never participated, "they will get a unique experience. First of all, they can run the largest half marathon in the nation," said Carr. "Second of all, they can run part of the course along the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway," where race cars tour the track at speeds in excess of 220 miles per hour and drivers with the names of Foyt, Andretti, Gordon and Schumacher have seen victory.

The Speedway has hosted the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race since 1911 and more recently added the NASCAR Brickyard 400 and United States Grand Prix. "The gem in this course is the Speedway. It makes the race unique," Shorter said.

The course begins just off Monument Circle in the heart of Indianapolis, which 20 years ago was a virtual cultural wasteland. The Mini-Marathon was one of very few events people came downtown for 20 years ago. That has changed with relocation of the Indianapolis Zoo, which the runners and walkers pass, as well as explosive growth of the nation's largest urban university, Indiana University-Purdue University, through which the course also passes.

"I like the fact that the race was started years ago as part of a rejuvenation of downtown and now the success of that project is evident when I go to the start area," explained Shorter."

The course, race organization and offerings for participants and spectators have elevated the event to be one of the nation's best. Carr said he and the 500 Festival folks want the Mini-Marathon spoken in the same sentence with the Chicago Marathon on solidify the race's stature among the nation's top events.

The Mini may be getting close, said Hal Higdon, senior writer for Runner's World. "It's my feeling that very few races equal (the LaSalle Bank) Chicago (Marathon) in organization, but all the race directors now exchange information, so I'm sure the Mini comes close."

Rodgers did not hesitate to say Indianapolis has the country's best half marathon. "In terms of halves, there's nothing like yours," he said. "The organization is excellent, the pasta party is really well done and now there's a great expo - we runners love that."

In recent years, the race has added a dual start, Champion Chip timing and scoring, the special seeded start areas, an increased amount of "pit" areas (aid stations), and a growing number of groups proving nearly continuous entertainment along the course. The most notable change occurred in 1993 when organizers decided to start and finish the race downtown WHERE????? instead of concluding at the Speedway, the ending point for the first 17 years.

"I like it much better now," said Rodgers. "Road racing has to be right where the people are and that's the beauty of having it start and finish downtown."

Car and the 500 Festival are not resting on any laurels. "We have made lots of improvements in the past few years," explained Carr, "but this year we hope to take it to another level that will give the participants an even better race experience."

It's an experience that Bill Rodgers wants more of. "I've had a lot of fun at the race. I'd like to do it again."

Mini Trivia: Frank Shorter won the first Mini-Marathon in 1977 with a time of 1:03:56. Back then the race started at 11 a.m. and the temperature had climbed into the '90s. Shorter called the course "hot and hard."

Mini Fact: On-line registration is available at www.500festival.com/mini_marathon/index.cfm or by calling 1-800-638-4296. Early registration through February 28 is $30. Following that, the entry fee is $40 until April 1, when the cost is $55.

Mini Training Tip: If you are not near an organized running/walking group or prefer to train by yourself, Hal Higdon offers a 12-week training program for both the novice and advanced runner. Check out Hal's web site and his training program at http://www.halhigdon.com/Half%20Marathon/index.htm

Matt Morris is a freelance writer from Bloomington, IN. He is past president of Indy (Indianapolis) Runners. Once a compulsive runner, he now channels his energy into being a father and husband.

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