Course Information

Startline Map

Mini-Marathon Course 13.1 Miles

Please find the locations of the “pit stations” along the course listed in the map linked. Water and portable restrooms are provided at all pit stations.

  • UnTapped Energy Gels on Course

UnTapped energy gels will be available along the Mini-Marathon course on race day, providing runners with convenient fuel to keep them going. Made with pure Vermont maple syrup🍁, these all-natural energy gels are easy to digest and deliver great-tasting, long-lasting energy when athletes need it most.

  • Gatorade Endurance on Course

G Endurance Formula is specifically designed to help athletes like you stay hydrated and fueled during prolonged training and racing periods when fluid and electrolyte losses can be high. We’ll have Lemon-Lime G Endurance Formula on-course at every IU Health 500 Festival Mini-Marathon aid station to keep you fueled & hydrated.

5K Course 3.1 Miles

Please find the location of the “pit station” along the course listed in the map linked. Water and portable restrooms are provided at all pit stations.

UPS Gear Check

UPS Gear check is provided for participants and is located on West Street, north of the start line and south of the Post Race Party, presented by PNC Bank. Please use the bag you received at the Expo and tear off the tag located on your bib. UPS Trucks are arranged by bib number. Please identify your bib number and corresponding truck to check your gear.

Rescue Ready Race™

This year’s Mini-Marathon is a Bolt for the Heart Rescue Ready Race, with more than 150 AEDs stationed along the 13.1-mile route. A Rescue Ready Race is the gold standard of sudden cardiac arrest preparedness and we are taking a proactive stand to protect our participants, volunteers, spectators and the community partners that are out on the course.

Entertainment Along the Course

Course Entertainment

Perform for a Crowd of 20,000! Step into the spotlight at the IU Health 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, an event celebrated as one of the nation’s most iconic half-marathons. Known as The Greatest Spectacle in Running®, the Indy Mini features 100 of the best entertainment groups and spirited squads that will line the half-marathon course, captivating an audience of 20,000 participants, volunteers, and spectators.

From musicians and magicians to rock bands to dance groups, fitness squads to cloggers, the stage is set for an unforgettable showcase of performances. The fanfare created by course entertainers is a key reason why Indy Mini participants keep coming back year after year.

The deadline to apply was April 1.

If you have questions about Course Entertainment for the Mini-Marathon, please email entertainment@500festival.com.

Meet Your 2026 Course Entertainers

Meet this year’s course entertainers! Click a group below to learn more or book them for your next event.

School Spirit Competition

Is your squad ready to perform for more than 20,000 people? There’s no better time or place than the IU Health 500 Festival Mini-Marathon School Spirit Competition! This one-day event is judged on how spirited, creative, and vocal your squad can be as you cheer 20,000 participants to the finish line. This is not a skill-based competition.

The competition is open to any high school cheerleading squad, and there is no registration fee to participate! Cash prizes will be awarded to the top five teams as voted by the judges of the School Spirit Competition. The competition will be limited to 15 squads and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

The application window has passed. Applications must be received by April 1 for the 2026 Indy Mini.

Please get in touch with Sara Adams at sadams@500festival.com for more information.

Course Regulations

As a USA Track & Field (USATF) sanctioned event, the IU Health 500 Festival Mini-Marathon and 5K are subject to the USATF Competition Rules. The Policies and Procedures incorporate the USATF Rules and additional provisions adopted by the 500 Festival to ensure a safe, fair race for all participants. The complete USATF Rules are available HERE. The USATF Rules are implemented by the 500 Festival.

 

Absolutely no participant is allowed on the course prior to 7:30 am ET. Any participant on the racecourse before 7:30 am will be disqualified and asked to leave the racecourse. The following are strictly prohibited at all times.

  • Roller Skates (including in-line skate)
  • Skateboards
  • Bicycles (including hand crank bicycles)
  • Motorized or gear-driven vehicles of any kind
  • Baby Strollers
  • Animals
  • Backpacks (see below for hydration pack regulations)

Start Line

The Mini-Marathon uses a corral system for a more efficient and organized race start. Please be honest with the assessment of your ability, as you will be placed in a corral based on your run/racewalk/walk status and your estimated finish time. You can use the pace calculator on the Seeding page to find your estimated finish time. As a reference, most walkers complete the Mini-Marathon between 3:15 and 4:00.

This corral method is designed to help alleviate passing and congestion throughout the course making your race experience more enjoyable.

Bibs

All participants are required to wear a bib number that has been assigned to them. Those participants without a visible bib number will be removed from the course. No participant will be allowed to enter the Indianapolis Motor Speedway without a visible bib number.

What are the Race Time Limits?

The Mini-Marathon has a time limit of 4 hours (18-minute mile pace).

Participants must be able to maintain the 18-minute mile pace, or they will be required to board the trail bus. This limit allows our volunteers to clean and clear the course prior to the streets being open to traffic. Our Back of the Pack crew will be out to mark the time limit and encourage all the participants to keep going! The 18-minute-per-mile time limit begins when the last participant crosses the start line.

The Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K will carry a 56-minute time limit for completion.

Hydration Packs

While on-course hydration stations are available, participants are welcome to bring their own hydration pack, provided it adheres to the following guidelines:

  • The pack should not exceed dimensions of 15” by 10” by 3”
  • The reservoir capacity must not exceed 2 liters and should not exceed a total pack capacity of 5 liters
Entry Requirements

Race registration will close once the maximum field is reached, regardless of the date.

  • There will be NO race day registration
  • There will be NO race day packet pick-up
  • Waiver MUST be signed in order to process the application
  • There will be NO entry fee refunds

More Information About Accessibility

Please reach out to us with your questions!

See the page linked below for information and general policies. The IU Health 500 Festival Mini-Marathon Athletes with Disabilities Program is open to duo teams and competitive push-rim participants.

Mini-Marathon Course Video

Race Weekend Navigation

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