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☰
Louisville Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Louisville Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.9 
Organization 3.6 
Spectators 2.3
Number of comments: 112 [displaying comments 91 to 101]
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K. B. from Knoxville, TN
(10/20/2003)
 "I must be spoiled by Chicago!!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I did not enjoy this race at all. The support staff was excellent and very kind, but the spectator support was nonexistent. If you are accustomed to having crowds encourage you at mile 20... this is not the race for you. Race organizers could encourage the local media and area high school bands to come out and support the runners. The scenery was pretty but monotonous. I did enjoy the 15 - 16 miles through the wonderfully manicured community. Nice change of scenery. I would have truly enjoyed seeing those homeowners out cheering on those running down their sidewalks!! Unfortunately... I will not run this race again. | |
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b. c. from Louisville
(10/10/2003)
 "2003 course - 18 miles of concrete?" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I am registered for the 2003 race but am concerned. The new course appears 3/4ths concrete road and concrete 'River Walk'. Whats up with that? | |
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A Runner from Wheaton, Illinois
(11/5/2002)
 "Fast course, perfection is a few tweaks away" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I was a little hesitant to run this race given the reviews from the prior years. The marathon this year proved that this race director really listened to past comments and responded favorably. The course was very flat with scenery galore(especially on the river walk)! Aid was plentiful and the little bottles of water served by cheerful Boy Scouts were a nice, sanitary touch. The police were omni-present and I saw several drivers pulled over by the police in an effort to keep the runners safe. My suggestion would be for the first six and1/2 miles to be closed to traffic or have more volunteers slowing the cars down. Maybe an earlier start would solve this? Also, I am still awaiting the results for the Clydesdale division. In any event, this was a first-rate marathon and I will be back next year to run it. | |
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A Runner from Louisville
(10/23/2002)
"Response to other comments" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I would like to comment on points made by this years participants. (1) The police car went too far east and did make the turnaround mile long. He was supposed to position his car at the marked turnaround spot. (2) I agree that running the first 6+ miles (out 3+ and back) is dangerous with cars. I don't understand why this cannot be changed, but the police have refused to close the course for such a small race. (3) As far as the runner that was hit this year by a car. He was on a 4-lane one-way street running in rightmost lane, when he was hit by a drunken driver, who had 3 other lanes to drive. There was no excuse for him to be driving in the 2nd lane. The police were called and the driver was found and arrested. (4) The course is basically the same it has been for years. It is run in an area which has little impact on residents. Unfortunately when the road was widened from 2 lanes to 4 lanes, approximately a one-mile stretch was concreted. This mile is roughly the 8th and the 24th mile of the marathon. However, I believe the beauty of the park and riverpath back to downtown is worth the ordeal of running this stretch of concrete. (5) As far as the number of spectators, this is a small 300runner marathon, with a 7 miler and 1/2 marathon included which raises the number to approx 1000 runners. It is a running club's marathon, with little backing from the city of Louisville - I thought the police did an outstanding job especially for the late runners/walkers who were finishing in the 6th hour. (6) The course is very flat and scenic along the river. (7) The KY DERBY MARATHON is held in April and is run thru the city with the roads closed. It is run in conjunction with 1/2 marathon which has been in existence for 30 years and has plenty of spectator support. Unfortunately the last 13 miles was run with little spectator support as this was only the first year for the marathon. The KYDERBY MARATHON Course is also very scenic running thru 2 parks, but is not flat. There were 7000+ 1/2 marathoners and 1100+ marathoners this year. | |
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A Runner from Louisville, KY
(10/22/2002)
"This race has great potential...with some fixes." (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This was my first Louisville Marathon and while I really enjoyed some aspects of the race, I really had a problem with other aspects. First, the course was a very flat, fast course with lots of great scenery, especially along the river and through the park. Also, volunteers at the water stations did a great job and were very enthusiastic. My only complaints are that the first turnaround had no one their to direct you or a cone at least to mark it, so I missed it by 30 seconds out and 30 seconds back to it. The other complaint is the same as someone mentioned earlier--they have to do something about the cars along River Road, at least one lane if nothing else. As we all know, many drivers feel the need to honk and dodge at you because they feel you don't have a right to be on the road, so you need to separate the cars from the runners. This race has great potential, I think with a little work it could be a highlight for many in the future. Finally, you need to get the word out a little better, I saw very few spectators (those I did see were phenomenal, thanks!). | |
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Janie Kirkland from Fayette, Alabama
(10/21/2002)
"This is a beautiful, flat, fast course." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 After reading the past years comments I dreaded this marathon, however being a 50 stater I had no other choice. The organization was good, roads were all safe to cross with police or race officals at the intersections. There was plenty of water and Ultima sports drink along the course.The only negative about the course was alot of cement in the later miles, very hard on the legs. This was a nice marathon experience with a few exceptions, peoples still smoke in public places, such as motel lobies and resturants. Also the host hotel was booked so they refered us to the Best Western, sister property, do not stay there, it is a night club with rooms not a hotel. There was a wedding party until 1:am, the band literally shook our windows, after four calls to the front desk we finally gave up. I would do this marathon again if I did not have to spend the night in Kentucky. | |
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A Runner from Midwest
(10/21/2002)
"Have a few Issues with the Louisville Marathon" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I just finished running the 2002 Louisville marathon, and I wouldn't run it again. They have a 7 mile, 1/2 marathon in conjunction with the marathon. It seemed that several mile markers were off, some probably were closer to 1.2 especially between mile 3-4. I over heard several runners comment this was exactly as last year, so I'm assuming who ever measures the course is using their car or something to measure the miles. I never felt like I was sure of what pace I was running in the early stages. After mile 13 it seemed to be more accurate. The water stops were good, and I would comment they did a wonderful job with the water bottles, which were a nice touch. Course was flat, with a few minor rises. Around mile 13, I was tailing about 20-30 yards from a runner, who just about got hit by a car. I heard the tires squeal, as they locked up the brakes. I saw about 20 ft of skid marks...Later I caught up to the runner and he said that he was actually on the hood of the car!! Very close call.. I read another marathon review from another runner who did Louisville marathon said they observed another close call with car traffic during the 2001 marathon. They need to block off the at least one lane of traffic for the marathon runners. I'd rather run loops around a course with no traffic issues, than through the streets of Louisville with traffic. Spectators were supportive, although they were few and far between. There was alot of bicycle traffic on the trail sections of the course from mile 16-22. | |
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A Runner from Atlanta, GA
(1/31/2002)
 "Choose another race for Kentucky" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 Arrived at hotel the day before race and picked up race #. Had to look on wall to get #. Why not alphabetize with age, and state? There was no course map in race packet nor was there one posted at registration. Was told to look on internet. Yeah right, I'm from out of town. Host hotel was great, within walking distance to race. Hotel even allowed late check out. Weather was great. A little on warm side. Starting line was not marked. Why not have a banner that says start, or use balloons. All 3 races started at same time. A friend ran the 10K which actually was more than a 10K. They were so frustrated at which way to go, they stopped and asked. They knew time wise, it was further than a 10K. At the 3 or 4 mile, runners had to turnaround and go back the way they just came. Runners were literally running into each other.This was a nightmare and very dangerous since you weren't expecting it. No times were announced on course. Shortage of volunteers. No traffic control. Had cars coming up behind us and blowing their horn. One car was so mad, they just kept blowing the horn and hollering at the runners. I came to one traffic light and had to stop. No patrolman nor volunteer to stop traffic. This is very frustrating if you are trying to qualify for Boston. Course was not marked very well. One section that was 6 lanes wide (cement as well), had runners running on right side of road, thinking they were about to turn right. I look ahead and everyone has shifted to the left. A few yards later, they shift back to the right. I was so mad, this adds extra mileage, criss crossing a 6 lane road. One section was a trail pathway, very deserted. Marathon only had 230 runners, so runners were spread out. Had Ultima for drink. I personally don't like. At finish they had cut up bananas and oranges. I guess they didn't have enough to go around so they cut them. No cold drink at finish. I do not recommend this race for a 1st time marathoner. I would not run it again. | |
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A Runner from Tallahssee,FL
(10/22/2001)
"Flat, interesting course" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Course well marked. Great support from the water stations. Almost no spectators. Race could use more publicity locally. I would run it again | |
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A Runner from Tennessee
(10/22/2001)
"Good course, no traffic control" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Thought the course was very good - flat and fast. Staying on course was a challenge at times though as there were several turns where they had a single arrow painted on the road that you had to find and follow. Great race support at water stations. Volunteers did a great job and the little water bottles instead of cups were super. The race had one major problem - lack of traffic control on the course. A person in front of me was almost hit at a large intersection where there was no one to stop traffic. And where there were people stationed, they frequently stopped the runners instead of the traffic. The race has a lot of potential because it is a great course and everything except for traffic control was very well organized. But, they desperately need some support from local police for traffic control. |
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