The Mini is a very large race, which is why I chose to stay at a hotel near the start line and walk over. I heard from others that parking was a little hectic so I was happy with my choice.
The start was quite the spectacle with an Indy car leading the way. Overall I thought the course was fairly flat, and basically winds out of downtown and towards the Speedway. Honestly, there wasn’t a lot of scenery running out of town. Running through the Indianapolis Motor Speedway seems cool in theory, but it is very hot on there, and the cement is pretty hard, so the 2.5 miles you're on the track just seem to take forever. It’s great that I can say I’ve run on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but it’s probably one of my least favorite parts of any course I've run. Hopping off the speedway at mile 8 is fantastic, and there is a bit of shade through some streets covered in trees. Once you hit mile 10, you hit several neighborhoods and then downtown again as you run towards the finish line. The crowds are enthusiastic throughout the entire course, and it’s nice to have all the bands out playing.
The aid stations are all excellent. There is plenty of water and Gatorade. There were medics along the course as well. No complaints here.
Race communications are excellent. This is a well-run race, and they have everything down to a science. They send out emails throughout the year, which keeps excitement up.
The shirts were pretty nice in comparison to other races that I’ve run.
The Mini is a race everyone should experience just once. It's definitely worth it to sign up for a chance to experience the crowds and the speedway. Just be prepared for the heat once you hit the speedway.