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May 1, 2024

Louisville Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 3.9

Organization 3.6

Spectators 2.3

Number of comments: 112 [displaying comments 21 to 31]

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D. S. from Louisville, Ky (10/21/2009) "Good if you like a small marathon." (about: 2009) 3 previous marathons \| 3 Louisville Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 If you like the large marathon/large expo experience, then this is NOT for you. However, if you don't mind a smaller race with no expo (one local vendor with nutrition bars/gels), this is a very good race. The course is mainly an out-and-back along the Ohio River and by Slugger Field and the waterfront. There are a couple of small loops around three different parks. It is relatively flat. The biggest hill was just after mile 19, but it was not a killer by any means. Race time temp was 35 degrees, so I started heavily clothed with gloves and hat - the whole deal. It is very nice that the course passes the start line around Mile 3, and I threw a lot of the warmer stuff off then. If you want to do a marathon in Louisville for the size, do the Derby Festival in April. If you want an easier course and don't mind it being a little smaller, do this one.
k. f. from Kentucky (10/20/2009) "Great First Marathon" (about: 2009) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon and I loved it. The course seemed a little narrow in places through the park and a few more hills than I expected, but it was good for me. I was able to finish my first one and hope to do it again next year.
C. J. from Radcliff, Ky (10/19/2009) "well organized, pretty course" (about: 2009) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon. It was well executed, with water, sports drinks and gels about every two miles. It was missing a decent map of the course, and the trail was sometimes narrow for an out-and-back.
j. l. from tennessee (10/19/2009) "no-frills marathon" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I chose to run this race as it has a high percentage of Boston qualifiers. The course is indeed flat, but very boring. I typically run even splits, but had huge swings in this race, which leads me to question the mile markers. I felt that the race organization was good, and did like the fact that the start was easily accessible. The race director was very personable. The water bottles were great along the way, but I can't understand why they would choose to serve HEED along the course... have they not read last year's comments? It tastes exactly like baby aspirin. could have used aid stations closer the last 5-6 miles. The t-shirt graphics are obviously low-budget, and the medals are laughable (they're no bigger than the face of my watch... no joke). Had I not qualified for Boston, I probably would not recommend it, but all in all, it's a decent race. It should cost more like $50.
J. S. from Tn (4/9/2009) "Great race to start out!!" (about: 2002) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran this race a couple years ago and I really enjoyed myself. I will be returning this year. Great job on the organization. The fans are not as plentiful when compared to the larger marathons, but they do well for the number of them. See you there!!
M. W. from Milton, GA (12/3/2008) "Becoming a favorite of mine" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Louisville Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I don't know why they were going to change the course. This is my second time at this race and I love the course. The start area is very convenient and I love the stretch along the river and through the parks. Yes, River Road is a bit boring and industrial, but it's only about 5 miles. This time, knowing the course and getting perfect weather, I qualified for Boston, so I would recommend it as a good qualifier. But, if you want big crowds, then this may not be your race.
L. C. from Louisville, KY (11/5/2008) "Great for first-timers!" (about: 2008) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon. Overall it was a great experience for me. Packet pickup the day before was a breeze and I got to try on my jacket to make sure it fit before I left (as opposed to just being handed a size and having to move on). The weather was a little cold (30's) and my feet were numb by the time the race started. I did not like starting the race and then going straight into Cox Park on a narrow trail. I was forced off the asphalt trail and into the grass at times and could not pass people. Lost some time in the parks for about a mile or so. Also, be prepared for a little COLD wind off the river. The trail winds down into Shawnee Park and the scenery... what scenery? It's a trail through a wooded park. I was expecting a flat run and this had a few hills, especially on the run back. The long, long hill up to the flood wall before mile 21 almost did me in. Be prepared, there are switchbacks and a few steep hills along this course, but for the most part it is flat. The water stations and volunteers were great! They had multiple things ready for you to choose from. I did carry my own gels, though. The volunteers deserve a huge thank you because I saw more than a few get slung with water, Heed, banana peels and who knows what else. There weren't many spectators on the marathon course and the volunteers clapped and yelled encouraging words. The porta-pots really thinned out on the course after the half marathoners turned around. There were either lines or none around, so I had to go way off the trail for relief. My biggest complaint was that coming out of the last loop in Shawnee Park, the trail split. There were no volunteers at the split and if there was a marker, it was gone or had fallen. Several of us went the wrong way and had to turn around. Lost time there!! (This was a small marathon, so at times I was running by myself - i.e., there was no one to follow). There are no clocks except at the start, finish, and halfway point. It didn't bother me because I was running to finish, not for a time. The mile markers were big, bright and visible though so that helped. iPods are allowed. I had a slow marathon time, and when I finished there was still ample food and drink. Someone took off my chip, so I didn't have to hassle with that. A volunteer even put peanut butter on a bagel for me! Great first marathon experience and I would run this again. There was a last-minute course change for 2008 (back to the old course???), so it may have a new course for 2009.
M. J. from NC (11/5/2008) "I Love this Marathon!" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Louisville Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I absolutely love the Louisville Marathon, and I was thrilled to find out they had not changed the course. The course is very flat, and there are several areas where you can run on dirt/grass instead of concrete and pavement. The pullovers and medals were awesome this year. Some of the best stuff I've gotten from a marathon this year. I would run this marathon every year if I lived closer to Louisville.
B. S. from Nashville, TN (11/1/2008) "A disappointing race" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 The biggest disappointment was the last-minute course change that I didn't know anything about until the day of the expo. As an out-of-towner, I always try to book my hotel near the start/finish areas for ease in arriving and exiting the race. That would have been the case if the course had remained where it was said to be, and I find it hard that the details with the city had not been worked out long before the week of the race. Thus, for those of us who had long since booked our lodging for the downtown area, we had to catch a shuttle bus and stand out in the cold for nearly an hour prior to the start of the race, which was several minutes late beginning. As for the course, that was another disappointment. The out-and-back creates too many runners on the same course going in opposite directions and the path was way too narrow for this. You practically had to run single-file, which severely cripples your time. Once at the finish, it took way too long to hold the awards ceremony, especially since most of the early runners had long since crossed the finish line. They could have handed out the awards 45 minutes sooner than they did (for the half marathoners). And to top it all off, the return shuttles must have been invisible because I waited for nearly 45 minutes and one never showed up. Finally, I flagged down a car leaving the parking lot and asked if he was heading downtown and he graciously agreed to drop me off, even though it was out of his way. (Otha - if you see this, THANK YOU again!) Overall, this race was a disappointment and I cannot recommend it to anyone. Obviously, some liked it better than others, but if you are a 50-stater like myself, I recommend waiting for the Derby race in late April. While it is much larger than this one, I think the organization is much better and the medal is as well (this medal is plain and could use some color). With all that said, the organizers are nice and I'm sure tried their best, but it was an overall disappointment to me.
Gunnar Bruun from Jasper, IN (10/30/2008) "PR course, well put together." (about: 2008) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 My first time running this race was a pleasant one. Course was flat, and even though I am not a fan of out and back courses it was rather nice. Organization was good, spectators non-existent and weather perfect. Agree with one of the other runners posting here: what was up with that horrible sports drink. Heed, was it? That stuff was nasty, and I will never touch it again. I stayed at Ramada Inn, right next to the start/finish, but sadly can't recommend it to anyone. Horrible, is all I can say. Find another hotel.

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