The Indianapolis Mini Marathon has become the most popular race in Indiana. This year entries closed at just over 25,000. Its organizers have joined together with the Indy 500 festival to coordinate the largest half marathon in the nation. The flat, fast course starts and finishes in beautiful downtown Indianapolis and includes a loop of the Indy 500 raceway midway into the run.

The event has a lot to offer. The Expo is one of the finest in the country. In keeping with car racing tradition, red carpet plus black and white checkered flags bring you into the race expo area. At the entrance runners are treated to kiosks of the event's history. Each display has photo and newspaper stories, commemorative medals and it's annual award winning T-shirt. All the artist's T-shirt designs submitted for this year are previewed next to the speaker's stage.

Thanks to a warehouse fire several years ago many of Expo's banners had to be replaced. Now hanging above the booths are big bold mini-marathon themed banners that list the past year's winners.

Due to the enormity of the convention center the runner expo often shares its quarters with other conventions. Last year, 30,000 Star Wars groupies surrounded the building. Many waited in line in character costumes to get a look at props from the actual movie. This just added more excitement to the marathon festivities.

On race day, runners will pack the streets of one of America's most enthusiastic sports towns. You can't turn a corner without stumbling into some sports venue. The city is home to professional basketball, football, Triple A baseball, the NCAA Hall of Champions and the governing body of running, USA Track and Field. Many of the downtown hotels are wonderful as is the shopping and restaurants. There are some superb museums too.

As a race director, several things have caught my attention on race day. In the starting area, information stands tower above the runners to help runners and spectators. Each volunteer is supplied with a guide booklet as a resource. At the finish in Military Park, running club and sponsor tents are set up as gathering places or dispensers of food. A circle of posts, holding letters of the alphabet is arranged in the middle of the park to help families find their loved ones. It's an impressive site, especially since weather always seems to bless the event.

Over 40 bands and other specialty acts entertain participants on the course. Seventeen, pit areas along the way provide water and Gatorade. The medallions are beautiful and tethered by a checkered ribbon. After runners cross the finish line, tiny hand towels are handed to each runner to help you wipe away the sweat before they grab the buffet of food and head to party in the park.

If runners still have some energy left, especially those arriving from out of town and want to take in more of the city, the race has a big post race party at a local night club. It's an opportunity to watch the race coverage, dance and socialize with fellow runners.