Mini Marathon hopes to ‘pump up’campus with race, walk Saturday

IU Mini Marathon is trying to get the campus pumped up this weekend – and not for Little 500.\nOn Saturday, the IU Circle of Life is kicking off its third annual Mini Marathon and 5K run and walk, sponsored by Old National Bank. \n“We are trying to get people on campus pumped up because this is the one race affiliated with IU,” said Rachel Wang, vice president of race logistics. \nDonations from the Mini Marathon and 5K will go toward the Bill Z. Littlefield Scholarship for Survivors.\nThe Mini Marathon is classified as “mini” because it is only 13.1 miles long in comparison to a typical marathon, which is 26.2 miles. The 5K is the equivalent of about 3.1 miles. Participants are allowed a three-hour time frame to finish the races.\nThe Circle of Life usually hosts the Mini Marathon and 5K in the fall, but having it in the spring is just one of the twists to the event this year. Instead of having the race be an individual event with men’s and women’s divisions, the marathon’s organizers are encouraging people to form teams. \n“Teams can be fraternities, sororities, men, women or co-ed,” Wang said. “Teams of five or more people will get 20 percent off the registration fee.”\nWang said they are projecting 1,400 to 1,500 participants this Saturday. Right now, the numbers are lower. However, based on previous years, runners usually sign up at the last minute, she said. \nThe Mini Marathon and 5K races are free for all to watch. \n“People can line up and down the streets if they want,” said Shildes McCaslin, operations vice president and chief operating officer for Circle of Life. \nHe encouraged IU students to attend.\nWang emphasized student involvement and the need for volunteers.\n“We are short volunteers,” she said. “We are at 75 percent compared to last year.” \nThose interested in volunteering can go to iumini.com. There is no deadline, and all volunteers get a free T-shirt and a complimentary breakfast and lunch.\nThe start and finish of both races will take place at the east end of the Memorial Stadium. The Mini Marathon starts at 8 a.m. and the 5K follows at around 8:15 a.m.\nThe award ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. inside Memorial Stadium. IU Football Head Coach Bill Lynch will present the awards to the top runners for the Mini Marathon and the 5K. \nCircle of Life is a nonprofit, student-run organization founded by former IU business student Kevin MacCauley. His brother, Sean Keegan MacCauley, is currently the group’s president and chief executive officer. Sean Keegan MacCauley said Kevin thought of the marathon because he developed a cyst on his head. Although it was not cancerous, he thought “what if?” \nHe then decided he wanted to help cancer survivors with financial burdens by developing the Bill Z. Littlefield Scholarship for Survivors.\nLittlefield was a senior lecturer in the Kelley School of Business who died of cancer in the summer of 2005. \nSean Keegan MacCauly said the group raised about $80,000 in the past two years. However, it is too hard to say how much money will be raised this year, he said. Donations are continuously accepted. \n“We accept and appreciate any donations,” Wang said. \nAll donations can be mailed to the Student Activities Office 371 in the Indiana Memorial Union or submitted online at iumini.com.