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Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.1 
Spectators 3.7
Number of comments: 362 [displaying comments 181 to 191]
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R. D. from Cincinnati, Ohio
(4/28/2008)
"Great course; spectators were awesome!" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I really liked this course! The beginning in Iraquois Park, with its hills, was just enough to get my heart rate up. The run through Churchill Downs was awesome. They had the audio of a horse race playing over a loud speaker and you could see the horses working out for the day ahead. The neighborhoods were fun to run through and I received great support all along the way. Cherokee Park was beautiful! The final stretch over the bridge into Indiana was tough, but it was very scenic running over the Ohio River. The finish line and the expo were the only places that could have been a bit better. Not great food or water at the finish. It was easier to get a beer than an additional water and the expo was pretty small. Not much merchandise to purchase - just the choice of a couple of shirts. Derby pie at the pasta dinner is worth the admission alone. People of Louisville were/are great! I'd recommend this race highly! | |
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Chubby Runner Chick from Louisville, Ky
(4/28/2008)
"LOVED my hometown race!!" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I have completed the 1/2 marathon that goes with the marathon on 4 other occasions. I did not want to do this marathon as my "first" because of the hills. Instead, I did Chicago 2007. A total disappointment for me. This was a do-over to prove I could do a marathon in under 4 hours. I am familiar with the terrain so the course was not a surprise, and it was not as difficult as I had imagined. The start is crowded, but since I am familiar with this as well, I know to line up about a minute ahead of your actual pace to make sure you aren't blocked in by slower people. (Maybe people like me are the problem!) I love running through Churchill Downs and watching the horses workout as well as hearing the races they play as you enter and exit. I loved splitting off from the crowd and beginning the marathon journey. The second half was almost as beautiful as the first. The bridge was challenging, but it was better to view the river and river boats rather than the projects of the west end! My favorite part were my fan club that came out to support me. Not everyone has that, but I really appreciated it and gave the spectators a 5 for that reason. I was proud of my hometown and our marathon. I would definitely do it again! | |
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Dotty Maddock from Phoenix, AZ
(4/28/2008)
"Unique, Enjoyable Marathon" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my 36th marathon, and I enjoyed it! However, like any event this size, there were some pros and cons. Pros: 1. The bus organization was excellent! They were all lined up and waiting at 5:15, which is good since it was raining! It went like clockwork. 2. They opened up the gym in the middle school by the start, which was especially appreciated because of the rain! 3. There were pacers and pace-per-mile signs at the beginning, so there was the opportunity to line yourself up by pace. 4. I had to laugh at the one comment from 2007 about WAY too many porta-potties around mile 6. That person obviously didn't realize that the course looped around and you went by the START again, so all those porta-potties at about mile 6 were the ones used at the start of the race. 5. The course through Churchill Downs made the race especially memorable and something to talk about! 6. I thought the marathon / half marathon split was very well marked, with huge signs, painting on the road, people directing etc. However, I saw one person with a blue bib (halfer) at about mile 13 in the marathon wondering where the finish line was! 7. The finish line was well organized, the beer was cold, and proximity to the race hotel was great. Cons: 1. The expo was poorly laid out (as most of them are), to force you to try to squeeze through a maze of vendors to get your bib, t-shirt, chip etc. Then you needed to squeeze back out the way you came in. And the merchandise for sale was, well, nothing remarkable. 2. I guess I'm spoiled, but the t-shirts were white cotton and, again, nothing to brag about. 3. The host hotel (Galt House) had an 11:00am checkout, and charged an extra $20 for late checkout. I think race directors should include late checkout as a "given" when they're negotiating with the host hotel. 4. I guess some people like the small water bottles at the aid stations, but I thought they were kind of wasteful: I would take 3 or 4 swallows, and then pitch the rest, and almost everyone was doing that. However, it was fresh bottled water, and I suppose those walking could carry the bottle with them. 5. Lining up at the start at the correct pace has been mentioned. I found this to be a chronic problem. There was one woman walking at the start, who had placed herself right up front. Then when runners swerved to get around her, she looked irratated that they were being so "rude." I see this repeatedly these days, as well as those who walk 3 and 4, virtually blocking the road. Corrals with proven times work, but they take additional organization that smaller races don't have. However, this wasn't the worst one I've seen with this kind of abuse(that would be Myrtle Beach). 6. My only other complaint was that they ran out of mylar blankets at the finish, and I finished in the top 35% of all the marathoners. I think they ran out because the volunteers gave these blankets out to the half marathoners, when the race information clearly said that the mylar blankets would be given to those in the "full marathon only." The volunteers were actually going to the trash bins trying to find "used" blankets to give to the marathoners who were finishing. Overall, I would recommend this race! The hills where challenging, but fair. The bussing and logistics went well. The medal is nice and has the shape of a horseshoe for the derby and to make it unique. If they just fix a few things, this could be world class! | |
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L. R. from Los Angeles, CA
(4/28/2008)
"Wonderful, scenic marathon" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This marathon has lots to recommend it: a lovely, varied course through city parks with rolling hills, stately scenic neighborhoods with huge trees in bloom, historical sites (Edison's house, Louisville slugger field), a bridge over the Ohio to Indiana for variety and, of course, Churchill Downs with top racehorses working out. The weather was close to perfect, with a little drizzle at the start and clouds to keep things cool for the first 3 hours. Fans were great until the half-marathoners split off, but still OK after that. Hotels were nice and relatively inexpensive, compared to most city marathons. Large elegant finisher's medal. My only suggestions: please improve the t-shirt (from a cotton shirt with ads on the back), have at least a couple of gel stops (instead of jelly beans, which are harder to absorb rapidly), and have a separate start time from the half-marathon to reduce the starting line madness. | |
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M. D. from Virginia
(4/28/2008)
"Recommend this race" (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Good race - I would definitely recommend it. Lots of hotels by the finish line were convenient, and shuttle buses to the start line were efficient. Course was a bit hilly, but nothing too severe (except for the out-and-back across the bridge into Indiana at 22 miles - painful and challenging!). Oh, and running directly past the front door of my hotel at 24.5M was pure torture! Excellent organization at the finish line, nice medals, nice, long-sleeve T-shirts in the goody bag, and real good crowds for the first 13 miles. After the marathon/mini-marathon split, the crowds were sporadic, but that was to be expected. The fans who were out after 13M were very enthusiastic, though, and much appreciated. Volunteers and police were topnotch. Only complaint was the bottled Louisville tap water at the water stops - not only did it not taste very good, but the discarded plastic bottles created quite a hazard at the water stops. I'm sure at least one runner's race day must have ended by tripping over one of these bottles during the race. I know I almost did a couple of times. Overall, nice city, good scenic course, great spectators/volunteers - would definitely recommend. | |
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Rob Klein from Aurora, Colorado
(4/28/2008)
"A Rainy Day Turns Sunny & Warm" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 At 5:00 am there was a light but steady rain falling, as when the bus dropped us off near the start line. There was a canopy for us to stand under, but it was still cold. Then the Iroquois School gyms were opened, where runners could hang out and stay warm and dry. Thirty minutes before race time, the rain had stopped, but it was still overcast, wet, and cold. The race organizers arranged for runners to drop off warm-up clothes, and transported the clothes to the finish line (always good for races during the cooler months). The race started out with a bang (literally) - I think they fired a 150-year-old cannon. Iroquois Park (miles 3 to 5) had the first hills. The course later went through Churchill Downs (mile 9) where horses and riders were doing practice runs! Then the course headed for downtown, where the routes split (mile 12), and the marathon course turned East and headed for Cherokee Park - and more hills (mile 16 to 18). After this, we indirectly headed for US 31 and over the bridge into Indiana and back, before finishing up near the Convention Center downtown. Late in the morning, the clouds burned off, and it was sunny and warm after that, but not excessively hot. The race seemed well organized, so it gets a 5, though the word was that of the 12,000 runners, only about 1 of 9 were marathoners! That was very surprising to me. The PowerAde/water stations were appropriately spaced, and the PowerAde was full-strength: a good thing. This race used sport beans (jelly beans) instead of GU-type products, and I did not think they worked nearly as well. Orange slices were available during the race, but were typically cut into eighths instead of the more typical quarters. However, I did end up getting two whole bananas along the way, though I am not quite sure how that happened. At the finish line they had bagels, chips, more bananas, water and some really good Quaker oatmeal bars with cinnamon and brown sugar called "Oatmeal To Go" - the best oatmeal I have ever had! This race had an abundance of fan support, and it was outstanding! Not like Chicago and NY, I am told, but 3 weeks ago in Jackson, TN there simply were no fans or spectators, except water station volunteers. Still, this race gets a 5 for Fans/spectators. I gave the course a 4 only because of the hills through the parks. Maybe that is not fair, because it was as advertised as such. Also, this race had a 6-hour time limit, which was initially a concern for me, being a slower runner and knowing there were hills to contend with. But I did see times posted in excess of 6 hours, so officials must have let those close to 6 hours continue to run (a very good thing). The course was well laid out and marked until the 12 mile mark, where the courses split and you were always near a lot of other runners. A couple of personal notes: Perhaps midway through the second half, a motorist attempted to turn left on to the closed course (right in front of a cop) and nearly took me out, with another runner on my heels. The cop gave a quick blast on the siren and got the driver's attention before contact was made. Speaking of law enforcement, as always, the police did a superb job; many thanks for their dedication and effort. Then on the way back to Holiday Inn Downtown, walking along Second St. there were cases of bottled water and PowerAde left over at a now closed water station. I thought I paid my dues for this race , so I took a bottle of PowerAde (32 ounces, I think) and drank it on the way to the airport, further re-hydrating myself. I recommend this race. It is a great race, and if you are not trying to break a personal record, it is very worthwhile. Still, the downhill portions are sufficient to make your quads sore then next day. And spending an extra day in Louisville might not be a bad idea if you have the time for it, something that I did not allow for when I bought my plane ticket. | |
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J. H. from Chicagoland
(4/27/2008)
"good destination marathon" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Pros: Generally scenic marathon course through neighborhoods, two lush parks, downtown and a bridge stretch over the Ohio River. There are some manageable hills. Expo and bus transportation to the start was well organized. For the 50-state club, this is a good destination marathon. Downtown Louisville was very clean and new. Lots of entertainment and nightlife on 4th Street. Locals were very friendly. Plenty of hotel rooms within walking distance of expo and buses. Cons: Bottled water is provided at the 14 fluid stops and this can take some getting used to. I personally had a tendency to over-hydrate. Recommend more electrolyte fluids at the stops. This is half-marathon focused event (10,500 half marathoners vs. 1,500 marathoners), but again, a good 50-state choice. PR's will be awarded to the well-trained but the out-and-back bridge stretch between mile 22 and mile 24 will mentally and physically punish most. | |
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D. S. from Michigan
(4/27/2008)
"Louisville at its finest!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Firstly, off the rebound of a poor marathon experience last fall, I REALLY needed to choose a good run for this spring; a marathon that not only was well organized and interesting but would rejuvenate my confidence and accommodate for bringing the family. The KDM is a focal piece of Louisville's Kentucky Derby Festival amongst hot air balloon races, a waterfront carnival and other events. I hadn't seen so many helicopters, and as much local media coverage during a race since NYC! The whole city is into it; live bands, tons of support, Elvis runners and the most spectators handing out orange slices than I've ever seen! As if the organized support wasn't enough (I have to mention the number of time clocks along the course and that they handed out small bottles of water as well as cups). The course through the infield of Churchill Downs as the thoroughbreds warmed up for the opening day of racing season was unique. The winding route through the woods in Iroquois and Cherokee Parks, although the only hills on the course were pleasant breaks from all the city attention. The bridge trip over the Ohio River into Indiana and back is actually the most difficult just because it is so late in the race (miles 22-24). We stayed in the Courtyard Marriott (marathon and senior rates). Rooms 11+ on each floor are ringside seats to course (the turn onto the bridge at 22 and at 25). The hotel is a block or two from the expo, they have bus pickup, the finish is nice, and there are plenty of restaurants (Old Spaghetti Factory around the corner).... They had early-morning snacks for the runners and even handed out garbage bags to us because it rained early on. So if you don't mind the clip-clop of horse carriages into the evening, not a bad place to stay at all! Overall, a fine event that I rate as one of my best marathon experiences! My only negative was with the organization of the mini-marathon walkers. Despite the start layout and sign postings for the 12,000 participants, entirely too many walkers were near the front, and most severe was sharing the same finish with walkers. As they walked abreast toward the chute, runners had to burst through or pull back. I was lucky I chose right, but a runner I was streaming to the finish with went left and crashed into a sauntering mob. Need separate finishes to get full marks in my book! | |
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A. W. from Illinois
(4/27/2008)
"Nice course, friendly runners, great pasta dinner" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is my sixth out of state marathon and ties for first place in favorites. There was easy transportation from the airport to downtown Holiday Inn, and there was a well organized expo with many new vendors that I have not seen before. Plenty of shuttles to the start, the start area not overly crowded, the course goes through some pretty parks and Derby grounds, easy hills, and they had lots of oranges, bananas, pretzels, Twizzlers, Jelly Bellies. The giant bottles of PowerAde were a huge waste in the beginning but I did notice they were being poured into cups later on. The small plastic water bottles also made me wonder if that was as eco-friendly as paper cups would have been. Loved the garage band and cute girl singing Hotel California around mile 15. Big medal and $5 engraving while you wait at the finish; nice t-shirt. The pasta dinner was cheap and very good - unlike St. Louis 3 weeks before. Friendly runners would run again if not on a 50-state quest. The city may be old and in some places a little worn, but the people and their warmth make up for it. | |
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R. B. from Harrodsburg, KY
(4/27/2008)
"Great course - disappointing support." (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 The course was awesome - getting the hills of Iroquois Park out of the way early was great. Churchill Downs was awesome - the whole course was really good. Finishing with the bridge run was a great way to wrap things up... however, the jelly beans (instead of GU or PowerGels) were AWFUL, and the bottles of water were bad (cups are better). Need more port-a-potties during the 2nd half of the marathon while running through downtown. |
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