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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 321 to 331]
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S. N. from Louisville, KY
(4/27/2004)
"Do the Mini" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Don't waste your time on the marathon. The Mini-Marathon has been around for awhile and that is where all the effort goes. It was a nice day and a beautiful (but tough) course, until you leave Cherokee Park - then you run on concrete, there's no shade and for a period you run under the interstate and are choked by car exhaust. At the split with the mini at mile 12 you enter no man's land. There were sparse groups of spectators that more often than not simply watched the runners without uttering a word of encouragement. At the finish there were a couple crates of bananas and bottled water scattered about - that was it. I was in the top 1/4 of marathon finishers. I don't know if they had food and ran out or just didn't have any to start with. Not a big deal, but the expo was a big let down too. | |
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Ray Tetrault from Kokomo, Indiana
(4/27/2004)
"Excellent Marathon" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I was impressed with the organization of this marathon from the moment we arrived. The bus ride to the starting line, the aid stations, the crowd support, and the finish line amenities were top-drawer. My daughter, wife and I loved the course. It was well laid out, had a mix of hills and flat terrain. My only suggestions would be to actually keep the course open for the advertised length of time. The course was being taken down just after 5 hours. Several runners ended up lost in Louisville with no support at all. Another option would be to advertise the marathon as a 5-hour course limit rather than 6 hours. The Louisville Metro Police were fantastic at every intersection. The crowds are the best. We chose this marathon over Nashville and are glad we did. | |
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J. H. from Louisville, KY
(4/26/2004)
"Marathon results" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I am disappointed it is taking so long to post race results on the official marathon website. The new and old Triple Crown of running always seems to have results posted late the same day. I understand the increase in runners because of dual events, but surely the KDF's resources could improve on this. | |
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M. L. from Atlanta, GA
(4/26/2004)
"A Word to the Wise for Marathoners at the KDM" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 My buddy Russ and I traveled to Louisville, KY and our weather was great (a lot better than the weather in Nashville). It was 48 and cloudy at the start with no rain, and 61 at the finish. So we couldn't have asked for better weather. The course was relatively flat, save for 2 hills, one early and one at mile 16. I learned one lesson yesterday though. I won't go to another marathon where the ratio of half-marathoners to marathoners is so uneven. In Louisville, there were 7,000 half-marathoners and approximately 700 marathoners. From the start to mile 12, the crowd/race support was great. Once the half marathoners turned off at mile 12, you were left alone and with very little support from there on out. From mile 12 to the finish, there were no spectators whatsoever, and the water stops were spaced 2 miles apart. One nice thing they did was that they had bottled water in addition to the traditional cups of water at the stops, so I could grab a bottle of water with the cap on and continue to run until I was at my next walk break. Then I could drink it without spilling it all over myself. As I crossed the finish line, except for the folks giving you the medal and the chip people, there was no one there. Everyone else had cleared out, as had virtually all the food and drinks (thanks to 7,000 half-marathoners). We managed to get a banana apiece as we walked back to our hotel. So unless you're on the 50-state plus DC quest, I would not recommend the Kentucky Derby Marathon. If you do it, be forewarned that the support and backing from the race committee is for the half marathoners, not the marathoners. One other thing that bugged me (I know it must seem like I'm bitching a lot) is that the t-shirt for the marathoners was a long-sleeve athletic gray shirt which I won't be able to wear until next fall. The 1/2 got a pretty red short-sleeved shirt that they can wear all spring and summer. I was told that since the marathoners paid more, we got a 'better' shirt. All I know is that I can't wear mine till fall/winter. Just to show that it wasn't all bad, the medal was pretty nice, very heavy. In summary, a great half marathon but very little support (past mile 12) for the full marathoners. | |
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B. T. from St. Louis, MO
(4/26/2004)
"I'd run this again..." (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 A runner could not have asked for a better day to participate in this race. The course was very nice and those at the aid stations were very friendly and supportive. It got a little less fan friendly after splitting off from the mini-marathon group, but that factor was minor. Being an out-of-towner, I really enjoyed the run through Cherokee Park. Beautiful. Thank you to all the organizers, volunteers and especially the Louisville and surrounding police departments for all their help with traffic control. | |
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B. W. from Indiana
(4/26/2004)
"Sparse crowd the second half" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Overall the course was beautiful. The course winds its way down by the river and through some of the older parts of Louisville. The first half of the race the support you get from the fans is outstanding. During the second half of the marathon the spectators are sparse. The course is mostly flat there are a few hills but nothing to overwhelming. I enjoyed this race and recommend it to those who live in the surrounding states. | |
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K. A. from Indianapolis, IN
(4/25/2004)
"A well organized, good race" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I did the half marathon as a race walker so I don't know about the full; the full and half split off just before mile 12. The course through Iroquois Park was scenic with a few hills, rest of the course was well supported with lots of spectators, local radio stations, and bottles of water and orange slices. No line for packet pick-up, expo was very small, and the whole thing had kind of a small-town feel to it. Very friendly people for a race with this many participants. My only complaint is that the buses dropped us off so early, we had over an hour and a half to spend in the damp, cold before the race. However, I realize logistically it's hard to get this many people to the starting line. Post-race food was a banana and water, but I believe there was tent with more for the participants doing the full. I would recommend this half and would enjoy doing it again myself. | |
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Danny Swindle from Newport, MI
(4/24/2004)
"Well organized southern hospitality" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Pros: All good things to say about this race. Beautiful weather. Buses were well organized. 8 oz. bottled water was nice since it could be easily carried between water stops. Spectators on second half were sparse but enthusiastic. Well organized and lots of food at the end. Cons: Typical rudeness of people seeding themselves ahead of where they are supposed to be forcing people to pass them (not a con, just a statement). | |
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T. W. from Lexington, Ky
(12/8/2003)
"Will Only Get Better" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my second marathon and I loved the course. This race will only get better as the participation increases. I must admit it was a shock when the full marathon split from the half - it was rather desolate, but after the shock wore off it turned out to be a wonderful course. The volunteers were outstanding and the spectators (although sparse in the second half) were great also. Louisville knows how to put on a race and I think they will continue to make this race better. It was nice to hear my name called out as I was finishing the race - that was a nice touch. I intend to run this race every year and I am confident that Louisville will continue to make this race better year after year. Louisville has made the half marathon one of the best in the country and no doubt they will on the full marathon as well. | |
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Terry Hayes from Louisville,KY
(12/1/2003)
"Not walker friendly" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my fifth marathon as a walker. This was the worst I've ever done. We were told to go to the sidewalks at mile 19 even though we kept a 13.5 minute mile pace. Downtown Louisville doesn't have sidewalks on every street. When we were put on the sidewalks the support left. There was no water, no police and no signs giving directions. Downtown Louisville is not a place to be lost. The overall course is good and the support in the first 13 miles is very nice but this is not a marathon for walkers. That might be why the Leukemia Society did not endorse this marathon. |
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