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May 1, 2024

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 31 to 41]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 12 > ]

H. P. from Tennessee (10/28/2008) "Very disorganized with very few spectators!" (about: 2008) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 Yes, the course is very flat and scenic if you want to see the river and nice parks. You won't see much of the city though. Being from out of town, this was somewhat of a letdown. At the packet pick-up, I was told (by the race director himself) that there would be tent for a bag drop area at the start/finish. However, when we arrived by shuttle the morning of the race (since the course was changed at the last minute), I was then told by the race director that there was no bag drop. He said I could leave my bag by the table of food (that was the meager post-race party), and hopefully it would be there when I returned. Apparently I wasn't the only one fed this falsehood, since there were four other people standing there looking for this bag-drop tent. I am all for smaller, home-grown races, but there has to be some level of organization that is met. I will not be traveling to this race ever again.
T. F. from Louisville ,ky (10/26/2008) "Great flat course" (about: 2008) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 This was my first time running this, and it was really great. Very flat and fast. Good for beginners. I look forward to it next year.
Byron Doty from Dewitt, MI (10/25/2008) "Great, small marathon" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first Louisville Marathon and I loved it. The course was great, even though it was an out-and-back. The volunteers were great and the little bottles of water are perfect for having aid stations two miles apart. The weather couldn't have been any better. I don't know what the so-called new course is supposed to be like, but it must be something to be better than this. I would definitely recommend this one to friends. By the way, we stayed at the Galt House, which is right by the 6.5- and 22-mile mark, and only 4 miles from the finish. It's great for family viewing.
C. M. from Pensacola, FL (10/20/2008) "GREAT Run - Do It!" (about: 2008) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 After reading last year's comments (and a last-minute course change this year), I was hesitant to run this marathon. I ran the Derby Marathon a number of years ago... which was OK. This race just goes to prove that you CANNOT believe everything you hear or read. Maybe some runners expect too much... like spectators... but who needs 'em? (Go run a few trail events.) I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed the course and all of the volunteers were attentive and cheerful. As a slower runner, often when I come by, the volunteers are just wanting to go home. Not the case here. Lots of smiles all around. The only thing mentioned I can agree on, is the Heed... but if it is donated who can knock it. Would be great to have some gels, but there is no crime in bringing your own. I have completed over 150 marathons (10 this year plus 5 ultras - ran this one with a friend who ran the FULL marathon in Indianapolis and FULL in Louisville, by the way). So feel I have a "few" events for comparison. Great job, Louisville! Keep the same course! The Ramada Inn staff was also wonderful.
J. M. from Louisville KY (10/20/2008) "Great course for my first Lou 1/2 Marathon!" (about: 2008) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I'm glad it was changed back to the old route at the last minute. This was my first Louisville Half and I had been told how nice it was. And it was! If you want to change it to the new route next, that would be ok now.
N. P. from Defiance, Missouri (10/20/2008) "Well organized race, flat course" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This is my first run in Louisville, as I am working on my 50 states, so the director's last-minute change to the old course did not bother me one way or the other. I thought the course was great, with a variety of in-town running, and a paved trailed run along the river and through woods. The weather was absolutely perfect and that made my experience even better. The aid stations were well manned and everyone involved with the race was very friendly and helpful. I personally like smaller races over the huge ones, so I would definitely recommend this one to any first-timer looking for a flat course (as long as they do not need a lot of fan or other runner support) or any experienced runner.
J. D. from Cleveland Heights, OH (10/20/2008) "Smaller Race" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The course was given 4 stars. That is a stretch because it started out with what I thought may be too many sharp hairpin turns, but it regained itself and ended up being more of an out-and-back course. In addition, I chose to stay at the hotel that was closet to the start and finish, But they changed the start and finish and I still had to take a shuttle to the start and finish. The organization was good by the organizer, Jim Ball, and his crew, but the course was changed by a conflict with what I believe was the City of Louisville (city governments - yeah, enough said). The spectators were small in number, but what do you expect you are in the south running a smaller race on a Sunday, Overall I would recommend this race to the person who likes a medium-sized race without the large hustle and bustle of Chicago, Detroit, or Nashville Country Music Marathon.
D. H. from Clarksville, IN (10/19/2008) "Disappointed not using new course" (about: 2008) 1 previous marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I gave one star for spectators because they were minimal. The volunteers and traffic control at the intersections were 5-star worthy. I did the half after doing the Indy Half at Lawrence on Saturday. Yes, I know very stupid. I was looking forward to a new course because I so dislike the current course. Down the long stretch on River Road, it's so extremely boring and the concrete surface is hard on the legs. It is very walker-friendly. I didn't attend the packet pick-up, so I can`t comment on the organization. I`m sure the logistics of the new course was just impossible to pull off. Kudos, anyway, for even considering it. The weather was just ideal. Food at the end was very basic, but satisfying.
M. R. from Louisville, Kentucky (10/19/2008) "Nice course; poor organization" (about: 2008) 4-5 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 I'll start with the positive. The course was mostly flat and scenic. For the negatives: Too few water stops. Heed did not taste good. The race organizers planned a new course for this year; however, due to poor planning, they were unable to obtain support from local government. A notice was placed on the website on 10/13 informing everyone of the change. An email would have been nice. The change moved the start a few miles from the official race hotel. I feel sorry for the out-of-town runners who booked their room in advance. Also, no medical tent at the finish. This is the first time I have stayed in town for the local marathon. It has potential; however, until they improve the organization, I'll stick with the out-of-town races. Hopefully the organization will improve, as it was nice to stay in town and drive to the start.
R. S. from Knoxville, TN (12/12/2007) "Very hot for slow runners" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 This is the scenario that tends to be overlooked: a first-timer, who's a slow runner, has to deal with the race starting at 8 a.m. (ish), leaving only have 2 hours of decent temperature; at noon they're still running, and after mile 18, there is almost no shade, and no breeze (I don't know what others have felt). Heed and stomach refuse to cooperate, leading to dehydration and sickness; you try to switch to all water and risk an imbalance. There's no Gu, and too few water stops (including some that disappeared towards the end). By that time, water is really hot anyway (some ice wouldn't hurt, duh), and spectators are gone by the time you return (at some point you're running into people that have no idea that a marathon is still going on).... Yes, it happened to me, and I'll stop whining. It might not be as bad as it sounds since I still finished - about 30 minutes slower than what I expected, but I did finish. I am glad I did! :) Nevertheless, for slow first-timers out there, there are some good organizational things to consider so you avoid the spiral down. Start earlier for lower temperature later in the race, add more water stops with Gu, have cool water and something finishing in "ade" (just say no to Heed - it's awful!).... And more spectators would have helped me avoid some of the mistakes a rookie tends to make. I would gladly exchange running up some hills with the factors mentioned above. Good luck! No doubt it's all worth it!

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