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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 341 to 351]
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J. B. from Washington, DC
(4/29/2003)
 "With more runners, this would be first-rate " (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 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. | |
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A Runner from Louisville, Kentucky
(5/21/2002)
 "Organizers did their homework. Great event." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 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. | |
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A Runner from Florida
(5/9/2002)
"What a beautiful course" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 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. | |
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A Runner from Strawberry Plains, Tennessee
(5/5/2002)
"I Loved This Marathon!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 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. | |
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A Runner from Belvidere, Illinois
(4/30/2002)
 "Nice course, dumb procedures" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 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. | |
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MJ ( ) from Atlanta GA
(4/30/2002)
"Could be a keeper with a few improvements" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 You've got to warm up to a race where the port-a-potties are named Rumpke. This inaugural marathon had the advantage of decades of half-marathon expertise, but a marathon really is a different animal. This one was not bad for a first attempt. The course was largely scenic, varied,and well-marked and the crowd support was enthusiastic when available. The port-a-potties thinned out drastically during the second half, though -- not a good idea. I liked getting water in bottles -- it was more portable. There should have been at least one Power Bar & gel station for each half, though. Munchies provided by helpful residents saved us on that score, thankfully. Two inexcusable gaffes at the finish marred an otherwise enjoyable race, in spite of the rain, which was not a problem for us: 1) No food or mylar blankets 2) no volunteers to remove chips and distribute medals. Improve upon these last 2 flaws, and the KDF will have a keeper marathon! | |
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A Runner from Southern Indiana
(4/30/2002)
 "Needs some work" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 My wife and I had a poor beginning so that sort of set the tone for my comments. The buses ran to the start line from 5:30am until 7am. We had to park quite a way from the bus line and by the time we reached the line for the buses it was 15 minutes til 7 and the line was huge. When we got on the bus the line was still huge, although now behind us and the race was to begin in 25 minutes. Our bus reached a point where the road was blocked because of the race. Another bus in front of us was letting out all it's runners who took off running for the start line which was nowhere in sight. We were actually still a couple miles from the starting line so our driver and the bus behind us tried another route to get there. Long story short, our two buses missed a turn and wasted probably 5 minutes because of it, so we got to the start late. Even with running to the start line and not stopping to stretch, we crossed the starting line nearly 11 minutes after the race began. I think with several buses in route they should have delayed the start. I don't know what happened to all those people in line behind us or those poor people who we were dropped off so far from the start. Workers at the starting line were shouting to us to hurry and cross the starting line because they were about to pull up the mats that registered chip timings, thus we did not stretch. The mini marathon portion was great. At 12 miles it was incredibly lonely when the two races split because the majority of the crowd was there for the mini. The crowd and workers were very good although the late rain chased off people calling out the split timings. For $60 I think they should have given out PowerGel. I know the weather is out of anyone's control but having to walk the additional blocks in the rain to return the chip after the race was not fun. | |
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A Runner from Annapolis, MD
(4/30/2002)
"Thank You Louisville spectators!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I ran in the half-marathon and greatly enjoyed the suppport of the spectators along the way. At times when my energy was about to sag someone would be on the sidewalk with a bowl of oranges or a boombox playing upbeat music. That was great and most appreciated. The hills in the park were a definite challenge, but made me feel like I really earned this half-marathon. The buses to the starting line were quick and convenient and the crowd of runners quickly spread out after the start so that traffic - getting around runners - was never a problem. The Expo was absolutely horrible and the support staff/volunteers were ill-informed. Going back to the Convention Center after the run to turn in the chip was ridiculous especially when the up escalator wasn't running and we had to climb up the stairs. Port-a-potties were no where to be found after mile 7. A special thumbs down to the police officer who stopped runners for three minutes at Mile 11 to let a funeral procession pass by and shouted at the runners, 'It's just a race, get over it!' We understood and respected having to wait for the procession to pass, but didn't need to be insulted as our muscles tightened up as we stood there! | |
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A Runner from Indiana
(4/30/2002)
 "A very bad race" (General Comments)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 To start, the buses that took us to the starting line let the runners off two miles away from the starting line. 26.2 miles is hard enough but adding the extra two really was frustrating. There was not enough water stops and fan support on the second half of the race. When I finished there was no food left and the walk to turn in the chip was ridiculous. This was my 2nd marathon and my 2nd time running the triple crown, once I finished the race I decided I will never run another race in Louisville. | |
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A Runner from louisville, ky
(4/29/2002)
 "POOR ORGANIZATION" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 I have run the connected half marathon six times before and it is a well organized event. The marathon however was not. You split from the half marathon and the crowd and support were gone. The lack of crowd support was especially helpful since the second half was very hilly. They also need more frequent aid stations in the second half of the course. Then when you are finished, the half marathoners had taken all of the food and drinks. I have run five other marathons, big and small, and I have never seen this poorly organized of a marathon before. This race will never succeed as long as it remains second fiddle to the half in the eyes of the organizers and spectators. |
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