I have run the full marathon both years it has been available. I like the course a lot, with the exception of one section with vacant buildings. Mini marathon crowds were wonderful. Few spectators on the back half, but they were very friendly and encouraging. Law enforcement/traffic control was excellent. Most officers offered encouragement on the back half. The Cherokee Park neighborhood families have the potential to make this stretch a big event for the runners. There simply need to be more spectators on the back half. Also, food needs to be available at finish for slower runners.
It was much better organized that the first year, especially the shirt pick up the day before. Friendly people, great volunteers, and topnotch traffic control make this a winner! I will return.

This is an excellent marathon. The course was well laid out and the police did a great job of keeping it safe. I love the shirt (it's probably the best I've ever earned except for Boston). The mini-water bottles are something all other marathons should copy. I'd recommend the Derby Marathon to my running friends.

Great marathon! This was my 32nd and this gem is very well run. Excellent traffic control (hats off to the local law enforcement departments). Awesome parks! This is a tough course for northern Ohio flatlanders but what a gutcheck!! After you lose the minis at mile 12, it is all you and God because the spectators are gone. You have to really be focused to meet your goals at that point. My only suggestion would be to get gatorade on course sooner than 5 miles, and maybe some gel at mile 18 or so.
Still, the shirts are nice and the medals are unique. Great marathon folks.

Only my second full in 5 years. Bathrooms were sparse on the back half. The crowd dies down quickly the second half, but helps your focus. There are good pockets of support. Enjoyed the course including other derby related activity downtown. The second set of hills will wear out the novice marathoner (it did me). I will run it again.

I didn't do particularly well (more training would have been a good idea), but I would recommend this race to anyone. The course is really outstanding, going through two scenic parks as well as some quaint, tree-lined neighborhoods. A few hills, but the downhills more than compensate.

Ran the mini last year, and the full this year. The marathon won't be 5 star until the city and promoters treat the mini and full as equals. The expo and post-race procedure were better than last year--the plain t-shirt was replaced by a nice long sleeve warmup, and you didn't have to leave the finish area to turn in chips. The course itself is great, with two scenic Olmstead parks, Louisville landmarks (Louisville Slugger museum, Waterfront Park, Churchill Downs), and three very different and attractive residential areas. However, only 700 marathoners vs. 7500 mini runners made the 14 miles after the two courses split lonely and tougher, mentally. Some run-down areas in the second half were desolate, except for family members and a handful of sweet locals. More runners and spectators for the second half, and more attention to the marathoners (all the post-race food and volunteers are gone by the time the non-elite marathoners come in) would make the marathon equal to the mini--which is one of the best in the country.

This event was well thought out and it showed, particularly for a first running.
Joint course with the Mini made the first 12 miles go quickly. There are two main running areas in Louisville which are Iroquois Park and Seneca/Cherokee parks. It was very cool to connect the two on foot. Use of the Parkways to do so was scenic and appropriate as that is how they were designed. The shirt was top drawer. I plan to train on this course and do it again.

For a first year marathon this was great! Running it in conjunction with the 30th half-marathon added to this race. The first half had everything you would want - beautiful course, spectators, 6 water stops and a party atmosphere. When the marathoners split from the half-marathoners somewhere in the 13th mile, I was concerned about the lack of runners that would be making the turn (1100 marathoners/ 7000 half-marathoners). The loss of spectator support was obvious on the latter half, but there were pockets of support and traffic police were also supportive. There were 7 water stations on the back half with very enthusiatic volunteers. Basically, the feeling I got when the runners/spectators thinned out was 'okay the party is over, now it's time to get down to business'. I would have not expected it, but I liked breaking the race up into 2 seperate components like that. The 2nd half of the course was even more scenic than the first half (with the exception of the miles 23 thru 24 1/2).
The finish area was pretty lousy once you crossed the finish area, but this is such a quality event that I am sure the issues will be addressed by next year. The course was beautiful - don't change at least the first 23 miles. I recommend this race to everybody. Louisville has been doing the half-marathon for 30 years and I am sure they will resolve issues that surfaced in their first marathon. Louisville is such a beautiful place with friendly people. THANKS LOUISVILLE.

Everything about this marathon was better than I expected. The crowd participation was great, the hills came just at the right time, and I thoroughly enjoyed the city of Louisville. I also had a P.R., which did not hurt! There was about a 2 block walk after the finish, but I didn't mind it at all because it gave me a chance to stretch my legs. I would recommend this marathon to anyone, and already have. The gospel choir at mile 17 was truly inspiring.

Liked the course. The expo was almost as bad as the lakeshore marathon expo in Chicago last Sunday. The setup was stupid and the idea of having to walk all over the place to get a mediocre shirt and turn in our chip was bad. I have to agree with most of the other runners' comments. I did like the music along the way and the choir after mile 17 was awesome. The town of Louisville is a handsome town and I enjoyed running the streets and parks of the city. This was my 25th marathon and hopefully the setup will improve and others like me will return.