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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 161 to 171]
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J. L. from Indianapolis, IN
(5/5/2008)
 "Fun for runners, but not for walkers" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 We walked the mini and had great time. My two biggest complaints were that they shut down the entrance to Churchill Downs (and we were not allowed to walk the track), and secondly, the PowerAde and oranges were not available to the walkers. We were walking at a decent pace of 15-16 minutes a mile, so I see no reason why part of the course was shut down to us. VERY DISAPPOINTING! However, everything else went well and we had a great time! | |
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Steve Geller from IL
(5/3/2008)
"Scenic course, but tough" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I ran the full and liked everything about this course. The hills were challenging (although I can understand why some people hate them), and the aid stations were fully stocked. Except for about miles 12-14, the course was scenic, and the music and Scream Teams were well placed. I will disagree with some posters, however, on congestion at the start. The people who go up front and then run slower than everyone else are not overestimating their speed. They know they can't run the posted speed, but just don't care about anyone but themselves. I was at the front of the 7:00 group (i.e. everyone in front of me should've been running a 5:00 - 6:00 pace). One look at some of the people in front of me told me they weren't anywhere NEARLY fit enough to run a 6:00 mile. The times are posted clearly, it's just that these people don't care. Obviously, there are exceptions, but most of the time the people clogging the start are not where they're supposed to be. The problem will only be solved via the race director. | |
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P. A. from LOUISVILLE, KY
(5/2/2008)
 "GETS BETTER EVERY YEAR!!!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This year was my 2nd Derby Marathon. It just keeps getting better and better. This event is aimed at the half or mini, so be prepared for the big departure of runners at the 12-mile mark. But this year, there was a steady stream of runners going off to the marathon course, and pockets of supporters all along the route on the back side. Of course, the first half is the most "fun," with all the people you are running with (I passed the Elvis' around mile 8), and running through Churchill Downs one week before the Derby is a blast, The fans on the course were truly wonderful, and the volunteers, really great. The course has a few hills in the beginning and then around mile 16 and then the bridge at the end. It gets me every year!! The medal was great, and the shirt was better than last year, but could still be improved. My only complaint: there was very little food when I finished (4:26) - BAGELS, CHIPS and WATER. No Gatorade, no bananas, no oranges, and no muffins. I guess the mini people cleaned them out. Is there anyway you could set up a tent just for marathoners to save some food? I don't care if it's the same food - I would just like some when I finish. All in all, great race and I'll be back next year!! | |
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A. T. from Chicago
(5/2/2008)
"Well-organized, friendly race" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Big medal (but cotton shirt). Good expo. Great pasta dinner. Lots of nice spectators giving out oranges. Nice run through the parks and Churchill Downs. Lots of hills, but they were manageable. Lots of friendly volunteers and water/PowerAde. Good shuttle to the start line. Nice finish area. Plenty of food left for marathoners. | |
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J. W. from Jeffersonville, IN
(4/30/2008)
"No Complaints Warranted" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my second marathon. I've done the Mini the past two years. Traveling from Southern Indiana and arriving downtown around 5:45 a.m., I had no problems getting to the starting line in plenty of time. Support was good, and the atmosphere was great. Having run the Mini multiple times, I knew what to expect. The Mini has a long history and is a huge local event. If you're looking for an event where the marathoners garner all the attention, go elsewhere. Even the local paper's headline proclaims the Mini winner, with the marathon winner buried in the body of the story. If you're looking for a good time, and a challenging course, I don't think you can go wrong. | |
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D. H. from Southfield, Michigan
(4/30/2008)
 "Geared Towards Half-Marathoners" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Overall, a good experience and better-than-average half/full marathon event. This race is definitely geared towards the half. I was a little disappointed that the full marathon medal wasn't much larger than the half marathon or relay medals. Crossing the bridge to Indiana and back is a challenge at such a late stage in the race. Next year, I'll probably just do the half marathon to work on speed and focus on full marathons elsewhere that have more full marathon entrants. | |
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J. V. from Flowery Branch, Georgia
(4/30/2008)
 "Best Urban Marathon in the USA" (about: 2008)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was an incredibly well-organized marathon. Great scenery in the parks, enough hills to keep it interesting, digital clocks at each mile, outstanding finisher's medal, great support on the course (bottled water versus cups) and everything went without a hitch. I am extremely impressed with this marathon and the folks behind it. Highly recommended! | |
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D. S. from Cincinnati
(4/30/2008)
"A lot to like here..." (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 -Good course (CHALLENGING, scenic, interesting). -Easy for my family to get around to hook up/see each other throughout the course. -Organized, especially the aid stations (spaced well and enough of them). -I liked the water bottles. (Not sure what to do about those who throw the caps and bottles on the ground for others to trip on. Duh.) A little disappointing: -Pretty crowded for the first 5 miles. Hard to keep a steady pace with the congestion and so many trying to make their way around sharp turns. -Caters to the 1/2 marathoners... but how do you not when 90% of the runners are half marathoners? -Too many walkers think they have a 7-minute-per-mile pace. Drives me nuts! Happens in so many races though. Would love to see the full start at 7:15 a.m. and the half start at 7:30. Bet this minor change would have a huge impact on the full and probably a very small impact on the half. (Clocks would be confusing though... but full marathoners probably go by their watch anyway.) All in all, a good one... and I'll be back in 2009! | |
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R. K. from TX
(4/29/2008)
"Well Done" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I thought the race organization was excellent. Traffic control was as good as I have ever experienced. As others have said, the water bottles are a mistake. If the half and full are going to start at the same time, the run through the park should be later in the course. Also, something should be done at the finish to prevent marathoners from having to weave through the half walkers. All things considered, I'd recommemd this event. | |
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Lauren Roach from Chicago
(4/29/2008)
"Beautiful Race" (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 A really nice, yet (with hills) somewhat challenging race through Louisville and its beautiful neighborhoods. |
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