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Jul 5, 2024

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 241 to 251]

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J. A. from Noblesville, In (4/30/2007) "Some Improvements" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I was asked to suggest the following. When it comes to the marathon, it would be nice if you would allow the slower ones to start an hour early. This would be so helpful. Also having water bottles is dangerous, especially when they are not moved to the side or swept. The same with the oranges. If you are going to have bottles, please make sure someone is there to move them. Paper cups are better but also need to be moved to the side. Also there was not enough energy drink. I had it only at 1 stand. This would have been nice to have it in paper cups as well. I thought the pasta dinner was very good & the bus transportation as well. I think that more importance needs to be given to the marathon to encourage more to do the whole thing. I normally do a whole marathon, but couldn't complete this one. Most was my own doing, but when I looked down the street that the marathon headed & the mini-marathon was headed, no one was going down the side of the marathon & I went the other way.
J. V. from The Great State of Texas (4/30/2007) "Great Route!" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was a good marathon due to the ease of getting around the city, the great course, and excellent organization. There were clocks are every mile. The bus to the start just worked. The school at the start to rest in out of the weather (okay you did not need it this year, but you may other years) The tons of port-a-potties. The Sport Beans on the route. I actually liked the little water bottles. The course went through all the city...beautiful parks, all the neighborhoods...querky 'towns'...THROUGH CHURCHILL DOWNS!, even the bridge was fine. It was basically a closed course! Did I mention that there were clocks at every mile? Music. I mean more music than the RNR marathons that I have run. And good music. Good post race party. So-so medal, but it was different...but why wasn't it enamelled and pretty??? A solar long sleeved shirt was unique...I did not really care for it, but it was a great idea...the race design was bit weak and washed out...but still a light weight solar shirt showed effort to be unique. Slapping hands with the kids. Crowds when you got back to the finish...yet still had miles to go. Very easy city to get around in, well organized event. Larger and hillier race than I expected from the profile, but very enjoyable event. Tons of police support...and did I mention all the bands? OH! The Elvi group was the biggest and best that I have ever seen! The weather was warm and humid, but the Elvi were in out in force if you were back with the 9 minute group. I am sure that I am slighting other parts of the race, but it is well worth doing this race. Going to opening day of Churchill Downs was great...people dressed up, the horses running. Great fun. Lots to do in the city, spend an extra day or two in town and enjoy it...and lots of excellent restaurants. Really a very approachable event with a great course.
T. E. from Louisville, KY (4/30/2007) "Nice course but 2nd half is tough." (about: 2007) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Great job of putting this race on. I wish there were more marathon participants and fans. Course is overall a great course but I ran out of talent about mile 22. I would definitely recommend for others to run this marathon.
J. W. from Richmond, Kentucky (4/30/2007) "Excellent Spring Marathon" (about: 2007) First Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon has something for everyone wanting to run a marathon: running through beautiful city parks and neighborhoods, running a lap around the infield of Churchill Downs, and running across a bridge over the Ohio River and returning to a downtown Louisville finish. The fan support is excellent for the portion that coincides with the mini-marathon. There are fewer fans on the second half of the marathon. However, the tranquility is nice as you begin to focus on the remainder of the race. This is a must-do marathon. I hope to run it again.
R. F. from Michigan (4/30/2007) "What about the Marathon" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 I want to start out by saying that the Louisville, KY area is AMAZING. Loved the Downtown area and the Galt Hotel was Amazing! May come back just to visit!!! Points needed to IMPROVE on: 1) There is a marathon in the Kentucky Derby Festival of races right? Well lets not make it all out to be just about the HALF then! At the start it was all about the half marathoners and not a word was mentioned about the full. In fact I do not even remember much being mentioned at all about the Full! 2) The Shirt! Well, I now have an official WORST shirt of all time! Did not think that was possible (Does it even say Kentucky Derby Marathon on it)! 3) 13.1 to the Finish - Water / Aid stations seemed to be further spread out and not nearly as well manned as the Start - 13.1. This could be attributed to this race focusing on the HALF (See point #1 above). 4) The start shoud be done differently. No one gated properly according to pace and it was mass confusuion in a small street. Maybe start the nearly 900 marathoners early and the 6,000(+) halfers later. Just a thought! 5) The Bands. I guess it is a nice touch, but when I only hear them for a minute or less, whats the use! I am not going to stop and pull out a lighter and party hard with them! (Just a random rant) 6) I ran ok, slower than I wanted but ok. I know I was not the last runner to finish, but outside of the chip return people, there was not much going on in the finish chute. Yeah, where was the water and after race food???? Gawds Sakes people I just ran 26.2 miles and I am a bit hungry and Thirsty!!!!!!!!!! Very Very Very dissapointing finish line set up! I guess the halfers cleaned you out!!! 7) Spectators in the Second Half 2 Stars. Again, it was all about the half marathon! Things that stood out as Exceptional: 1) Police - EXCELLENT JOB! Thanks to the men and women who were out there! 2) Crowd Support in the First half was amazing! 3) Pasta Dinner at the expo was very good. One of the better ones I have been to! KUDOS!!! 4) Very Beautiful Course (slightly more hills than expected from the elevation profile). A couple boring stretches, but all in all I liked the course! 5) The host hotel the Galt. AMAZING! Beautiful Rooms, Very Relaxing, Quiet. Fantastic View of the city (from the 19th floor). Well worth the price! 6) Spectators in First Half should be given 4 1/2 stars. Would I run this again? NO - but I am only running one marathon in every state so I say that to every one I have done. Would I recommend this to others? Yes for those running a half and No to those looking for a full! I did enjoy myself there, for the most part it was well worth it! This could be an exceptional race if certain small details are addressed.
R. K. from Kentucky (4/30/2007) "Growing nicely into its shoes" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Thanks to organizers who think and listen, the marathon continues to grow and improve. Building on the great tradition of the still much larger half, they have transportation, facilities, traffic control, and on-course support all superior to many 'name' events. The much improved finish beside but not mixed with the half was greatly appreciated. The shirt is truly for running rather than a big sponsor ad, the medal is very nice, and the whole atmosphere makes for a truly enjoyable event. The bicycle patrols were definitely helpful on the second half. More vertical signage before turns on the second half would help greatly, given the gaps between packs in places. The lonely stretch between 20 and 22 miles could still use some support, whether more music, Burma Shave style signs, a JROTC support team, or a dog disc event.... The bridge is cool, but a bit of Hoosier spirit on the other end could really help, too. If history serves as a guide, the KDF Marathon will prove worthy of its ancestry. Thanks!
K. H. from Old Town, ME (4/29/2007) "Course shows off the best of Louisville" (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is an outstanding marathon. The weather this year was perfect. Started in the 50's, got up to the 70's, sunny with just a light northwesterly breeze. The course had some minor rolling hills in the first five miles, miles 13-19 and the bridge on miles 23 & 24, but was otherwise flat. The section in Iriquois Park was a nice scenic way to start things. The segway through Churchill Downs was early enough in the race that I was able to appreciate it. For having done a second course where the half split off from the marathon, I was rather pleased with the support for the marathon runners - a definite drop from the half course, but still very good and better than the other course I did that had the half-marathon split off. There were several bands and lots of kids to slap high-fives with in the later miles. The water stops were about every other mile, sometimes every mile. They were well staffed and long enough that I was able to get both water and Gatorade at several. I also liked how they gave the water in miniature bottles. This made it much easier to drink. The medical staff and volunteers at the finish were superb. I liked how the post-race party was right outside the finish. (The free beer ticket on the race bib was also a major plus.) I liked how the hotel, finish and post-race party were all within a block of each other. This was extremely convenient. I have one negative comment: there could have been more signs directing runners from the Galt House (the official race hotel) to the convention center room where the packet pick-up was. It took me a while and I helped at least one other person having similar trouble. I would highly recommend this race. Louisville is also a great city to hang around in before and after the race. Thanks to all who put this on.
E. G. from NJ (4/29/2007) "Nice course, well organized" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 A great race. The first twelve miles run with the mini were very energetic. Lots of support. Miles 13-22 were kind of lonely in comparison. Either way, I had a great time. Course is challenging but fair. Would suggest serving water in cups as opposed to capped bottles. They were tough to get open in the final stages. Also it would have been nice to inform runners what type of PowerAde was going to be available. Every station it was a surprise to get a new flavor. Loved the bands and choir on the course. Loved running in Churchill Downs and the call to the start. Loved the corral for seeded runners.
P. A. from Louisville,Ky (4/29/2007) "First Derby Marathon" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I have run the mini several times, but this was my first Full Derby Marathon. The Good: The course, especially the first half was great. The music everywhere was wonderful. Loved the choir right before Churchill Downs. Loved running inside Churchill Downs. The medal was fantastic!! Loved the design. The Bad: The 2nd half was lonely, but I knew it was going to be and was prepared for that. Somehow getting a little support on the long, lonely stretch down Breckinridge would be great. The race shirt was the ugliest shirt I've gotten in any of my 9 marathons that I've run in. You can't even read what it says. I just ran a marathon, guys, and I want to show that off; put that somewhere in big, bold print that I just ran 26.2 miles! The Ugly: Not your fault, but the weather was just way hot this year; everyone I saw around me after about mile 16 was really struggling, including myself! Is there anyway you could move up the start from 7:30 to say 6:30 or 7:00, since you never know if the day is going to get hot like this? It would be nice to have an extra hour before the sun gets to be blazing. All in all, a great race. Keep on working on improving it - you are doing a great job.
L. J. from TN (4/29/2007) "Great organization and spectators" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a very well organized race. We stayed at the Galt - reasonable rates and super convenient to the bus to the start and to the finish. Late checkout too. There were a LOT of half marathoners so the first half of the course was busy. But by the second half you had the road pretty well to yourself. The parks were great, as was the bottled water. So was Churchill Downs! I was a little bothered by the bottled water at first (all of that plastic) but it was truly a blessing. I kept grabbing bottles with lids and ran with one. The purple PowerAde was not my favorite - but I drank it happily and finished with a blue/purple tongue. I would have preferred another loop around a park rather than the final back-and-forth to Indiana. That said, the course was great, as were the support and the spectators - more than I expected at all the right times on a warm and sunny day. Very nice job!

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