8-Hour Dream Endurance Race

Indianapolis, IN, USA
19 Jul, 2025 (Sat)

Running

5 km, 8 hrs

About the event

The 8-Hour Dream Endurance Race is a fixed duration event; you have eight hours to run, walk, or stroll as far as you can. It is the largest endurance running event in Central Indiana and has experienced records each year. The Dream has SOLD OUT three years in a row primarily because our returning runner percentage is so high. Spending a day on Butler's campus at what feels like a running tailgate, while testing your limits, is truly an unforgettable experience.

Throughout the day, participants choose between the long course (5K) or the short course (1.91miles) for strategy, shade or to achieve the accurate distance they are shooting for. Both courses take you up and over the now famous Bulldog's Revenge hill. There are three ways to participate: the SOLO category, TEAM category or the Cat Nap 5K. The Team category offers three divisions (female, male and coed) and two team sizes (3-4 or 5-6 members). The Cat Nap 5K starts at the same time as The Dream offering family and friends the opportunity to run the first loop with SOLO runners

There are two specialty TEAM divisions; the RC Cup for certified non profits and the FC Cup for "fitness clubs" or other training organizations.  Both specialty divisions will be a 6 person co-ed only containing 3 male and 3 female participants.  Fitness Clubs and organizations can enter as many teams in the FC Cup as they want (think OrangeTheory#1 and OrangeTheory #2) but the RC Cup only allows one entry from the running club.

For the 3-4 person COED division, the team must have one female if three people and two females if four people.  NEW for 2025, the 5-6 person COED division must have a minimum of two females if five people and 3 females if six people.

What makes The Dream unique is the start time (10 AM) the location (outside of the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse on Butler University's campus) and the closing ceremonies and post-race party. The post-race party features a beer garden, a live band, and complimentary food!

 

Races offered by this event

You have 33 weeks to prepare

8 Hrs Endurance

19 Jul, 2025 (Sat) - 10:00
Running
8 hrs
Solo
On site
Road

5k

19 Jul, 2025 (Sat) - 10:00
Running
5 km
Solo
On site
Road

8 Hrs Endurance Team

19 Jul, 2025 (Sat) - 10:00
Running
8 hrs
Team effort
On site
Road

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News: Running

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Press ReleaseResults

8-hour Dream Endurance Race Runners In Close Finish

27 Jul, 2017 (Thu)

INDIANAPOLIS…The 3rd Annual 8-Hour Dream Endurance Race held on Saturday, July 22, 2017, resulted in the closest finishes in the event’s history. As Indiana’s only Endurance Race, the shadows of Hinkle Fieldhouse provided some shade as the runners competed to see how many miles they could endure over the 8 hours. The event is produced by Carmel Road Racing Group. The 8-Hour Dream Endurance is the Road Runners Club of America Endurance Race State Championship, awarding winners state championship titles along with a cash purse. The top three males and females and their corresponding distances completed are: Top Males: 1. Travis Shields, 40, Indianapolis, IN – 51.49 miles (new event record) 2. Jon Petysowski, 26, Palatine, IL – 49.07 miles 3. Terry Kent, 39, Greenwood, IN – 47.18 miles Top Females: 1. Emily Bello, 31, Louisville, KY – 47.18 miles 2. Lauren Manual, 34, Indianapolis, IN – 44.23 miles 3. Lisa Pratt Ward, 42, Haiti – 44.08 miles The Overall Team Champion was awarded to “bluerub™ endurance team”, a four-person team. They completed 65.25 miles over eight hours. The second place team was the “Navajo Rangers”, a Chinese American team, at 64.64 miles. “Why Are We Doing This” finished third with 64.26 miles. Male winner Travis Shields was competing in the event for the first time. Jon Petysowski was the third place finisher in 2016 so that makes back-to-back podiums for him. Emily Bello placed third overall; beaten by only two men. Bello finished second in the women’s division in 2016. Lauren Manual finished 6th overall; beaten by four men and one woman. Lisa Pratt Ward was last year’s female winner and 7th overall this year.
1 min read
Press Release

8-Hour Dream Endurance Race Runners Overcome Challenging Conditions

27 Jul, 2016 (Wed)

INDIANAPOLIS…The 2nd Annual 8-Hour Dream Endurance Race held on Saturday, July 23, 2016, offered challenging conditions due to the extreme heat and humidity. As the Indianapolis’s area only Endurance Race, the new home of Butler University provided some shade as runners from 14 states took on the heat to see how many miles they could endure over the 8 hours. The event is produced by Carmel Road Racing Group. The 8-Hour Dream Endurance was awarded the Road Runners Club of America Endurance Race State Championship, awarding winners state championship titles along with a cash purse. The top three males and females were the following with the corresponding distance completed: Top Males: 1. Joe Smoker, 28 years old from Indianapolis, IN – 47.8 miles (New event Record) 2. David Blitzer, 27, Indianapolis, – 46.76 miles 3. Jonathan Petykowski, 25, Palatine, IL – 43.44 miles Top Females: 1. Lisa Pratt Ward, 42 from Fond-des-Blancs Haiti – 42.74 miles 2. Emily Bello, 30, Louisville, KY – 42.58 miles 3. Michelle Bischof, 27, Prospect, KY – 40.84 miles The Masters winners were: Masters Division Winners: (40+) Todd Bello, 43, Louisville, KY – 42.58 miles Cathy Downs, 48, Evansville, IN – 40.14 miles Grand Masters Division Winners (50+) Damon Clements, 59, Crawfordsville, IN – 34.54 miles Lisa Hiday, 51, Indianapolis, IN – 32.10 Senior Masters Division Winners (60+) John Sites, 65, Peru, IN – 30.18 miles Linda Chambers, 65, Noblesville, IN – 13.26 miles The Overall Team Champion was awarded to Team Bluerub consisting Scot Allen, Rodney Sarkovics, Madison Roeder and Justin Roeder. They completed 66.30 miles over the 8 hours, a 7:11/mile pace average.
1 min read

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