BY THE NUMBERS
By The Numbers, a look at what’s in the news . . . by the numbers. These are just numbers, not suggestions that they mean more or less than what they are. We do not suggest that one number is connected to another. These are simply facts with no extraneous details, bias or slanted reporting. To borrow (and perhaps mangle a bit) a quote from legendary fictional detective Joe Friday, it’s just the numbers, ma’am!
Are you a runner? Then you know all about the Mini. No, not the car. The Indianapolis Mini Marathon. And even if you are not a runner, you knew to avoid Indianapolis Saturday because there was an extra 30,000 or so people running around (no pun intended).
So without further ado, here is a look back at the Indianapolis Mini Marathon . . . by the numbers.
50
Believe it or not, this was the 50th running of the Mini. If you remember the first one, that makes you officially . . . good at remembering. (What? You didn’t think we were going to call you old, did you!)
$65
The 2026 Mini is officially open and at a bargain rate. At least until May 13 then the price goes up. Next year’s event is scheduled for May 2.
13.1 and 2.5
Runners know that mini or half marathons are 13.1 miles. For the rest of us, that seems like an insane number to walk or run. Of course one of the big draws of the Indy Mini is we couldn’t leave mention of the 500 without the number 33 – the traditional number of cars in the field each year. Do you know the last time the race didn’t have 33 cars? It’s been a minute – 1947.
50 and 15+
Some of the more than 30,000 runners, joggers, walkers and wheelchair participants hail from all 50 states and more than 15 countries!
No. 1
The Indianapolis Mini-Marathon has been judged the best half marathon by publications like USA Today, Race Raves and Bib Rave.
1:01:44 & 1:10:59
The men’s and women’s record times. Panuel Mkungo set the men’s mark of 1:01.44 in 2023. Janet Cherobon set the women’s record in 2010. Heck, we can’t imagine riding a bicycle 13.1 miles in a little over an hour, let alone running it! If our math is correct, that’s running a mile every 5 to 6 minutes . . . 13 times in a row!
5
One person has won the Mini five times. Gary Romesser won in 1983-84-85-88-91.
5 . . . again.
Five people have participated in every Mini since the first one in 1977. They are Jerry Bates from North Carolina, John Hostetter from Kentucky, Eugene Lausch, Alva Such and Michael Vollmer – all from Indianapolis.
5-4-25
Believe it or not, there was a “recovery run” yesterday. It took place at the Athletic Annex in Carmel. At last check, more than 130 people had responded on Facebook. Yes, if we participated in the Mini we would need a “recovery” on Sunday, but it would not involve more running! Much respect to them!