Entry Requirements

Mini-Marathon 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 at the top of this 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. The Mini-Marathon has a time limit of 4 hours (18 minute per mile pace). Participants must be able to maintain the 18 minute per 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 (which will be about 30 minutes after the starting gun).  The Finish Line 500 Festival 5K will carry a 56-minute time limit for completion.

Mini Confirmation Number

Do you need to verify your Mini-Marathon confirmation number? You can have your confirmation number sent to the email address you registered under by clicking here. 

 Mini-Marathon Seeding Information – Proof Required

If you can run a half-marathon distance in 2:30:00 or faster, you can be seeded towards the front of the starting area. You may request seeding after registration with proper proof.  You must provide proof in the form of results from a road race that has occurred between May 2, 2009 and March 6, 2010 that is at least a 5K in distance.  All submissions of seeding proof must be post-marked by March 9, 2010, no exceptions, including transferring into the race after the deadline. To submit proof please either email a link to your results at seedingproof@500festival.com or mail in your results to:

All proof needs to include the name, date, and distance of the race and have your name and time clearly identified.

You may confirm your seeding request by visiting www.500festival.com/marathon and then click on confirmation. Please allow 4-6 weeks for confirmation. Please note: you must request seeding, your 2009 Mini-Marathon or Training Series times will NOT be automatically reviewed for seeding. If you do not submit proof then you will be placed in a corral based upon your estimated finish time.

Seeding Times Chart

Headphone Ban
The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon asks that participants do not wear headphones in the interest of safety.  In case of an emergency, 500 Festival officials will need to communicate with participants.  This includes iPods.

This does not mean you will be without music.  The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon is one of the largest four-hour music festivals in the nation.  Over 100 live bands, cheer groups, DJs, and dance troupes will be on hand to cheer the 35,000 runners and walkers to the finish line.