IU Mini Marathon and 5K gets a makeover

While this year’s IU Mini Marathon and 5K will still feature dedicated runners, philanthropists and spectators, the event is receiving a makeover. \nChanges to the IU Circle of Life-sponsered races on April 5 include a modified Greek Challenge and involvement from IU football coach Bill Lynch and his team.\n“Coach Lynch will hand out awards in the end zone right before the scrimmage,” said Nathan Rollings, Circle of Life executive vice president and chief financial officer. “It will definitely help the atmosphere after the football team had such a great year. Getting them involved appeals to a different demographic.”\nThe purpose of the race is to raise money for a scholarship fund for cancer survivors called the Bill Z. Littlefield Scholarship for Survivors. The fund will release the scholarships to prospective students who have survived cancer, according to an IU press release.\nIn an effort to raise more money, the Greek Challenge was changed, Rollings said. This year, the Greek Challenge will involve fraternities and sororities competing for $5,000 and a trophy. \n“We want to raise as much money as humanly possible,” Rollings said. \nA third significant change to the race is its date. IU Circle of Life President Sean MacCauley said they moved the date to the spring to get more students involved and to take advantage of the excitement surrounding the Little 500. MacCauley said the new date has received a good response on campus, even though the time between fall and spring created a challenge.\n“We had the race in the fall, so we only had a total of three months to prepare,” he said. “We really pushed the 5K this year, and we are trying to market to students.”\nAlthough having the race in the spring gets more people involved, graduate student Sarah Paradis, who ran in the IU Mini Marathon in 2006 and 2007, said the new date hindered her training schedule.\n“I think it’s a great idea to get more participation, but it’s hard to train in the semester,” Paradis said. “I usually take the time in the summer to train. Spring is so busy with classes. I’m running the 5K this year.”\nYet, despite the lack of time, Paradis said she still wants to participate because of the sense of school spirit that comes with the races.\n“It’s cool to run on campus,” Paradis said. “There’s a feeling of pride running with other students.”\nIU Circle of Life Operations Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Shildes McCaslin also said the races are about more than just the competition. He said he chose to get involved because of the good cause.\n“It’s really about students because we’re raising money for cancer survivors to go to college,” McCaslin said. “Too often, kids take advantage of opportunities to seek an education.”\nThe mini marathon will start at 8 a.m. April 5 near Assembly Hall and the Memorial Stadium, and the 5K will begin at 8:10 a.m. To register for the races or to find more information, visit www.iumini.com.