This year is the 35th running of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon. It will take place on Saturday May 7, 2011. For the past 9 years the Mini has sold out!!! With a total of 35,000 participants and an additional 4,000 participants in the Finish Line 500 Festival 5K, the mini marathon is the largest half -marathon in the U.S. In 2010 it sold out on December 14th!! Anyway, the 500 Festival Mini Marathon Expo takes place on Thursday and Friday before the half-marathon at he Indiana Convention Center. There participants can pick up their race packets and visit the booths of more than 80 companies and vendors. The Expo is open to the public. Finally, following the mini marathon and 5K races, the participants, and their family and friends can gather in the 500 Festival Post Race Party at Military Park in downtown Indianapolis. This reaches around 90,000 people in total and goes on until 2 p.m. There is live muisc, tasty food and a tasty beer garden. Plus the possibility to shop for race merchandise and other goodies. Remember, the post race party is free and open to the public. The only thing that you will need to pay attention to is that the parking meters will not be free on the day of the mini marathon and new parking rates will be in effect.

Sure, anyone can participate in the 500 festival mini marathon. As you might have read in the other responses, it's important to sign up early to reserve space for participating in the marathon. Take note, because last year it sold out on the 14th of December. The total amount of allowed participants are 35,000 people. All in all the mini marathon is a whole weekend event, starting with the Expo on Thursday and Friday to pick up race packets and goodie bags. There will be guest speakers, interactive activities including a race stimulator and a great selection of exhibitors looking for a large crowd of healthy lifestyle individuals. Racers will receive their bib race number, disposable timing device, participant shirt and other important information. Remember, you must go in person to pick up your packet, it will not be mailed to you. To pick up a packet for a friend, make sure you have their bib number and a copy of their identification and confirmation postcard.