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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 61 to 71]

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E. O. from Memphis area (10/23/2006) "Run Louisville Marathon" (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 A cold front had just moved through. Temperature at the start was about 53 and slid into the upper 40's. Perfect! Only drawback was the 10-15 mph winds. Gatorade, water and some gels were at every aid station as promised. Restrooms were plentiful. It was a little crowded at the start. If time is very important, try to get at the front of the pack at the starting line. This course is flat. Some of the other runners have talked about a few hills. I would not call them hills. There is a concrete switchback that rises from the river. It slows you down just a little. I read from previous comments about the concrete. Yes, there is some concrete, but it is not too bad. The run along the river and into the wooded parks was scenic. The view of downtown Louisville gave you an idea of where you were on the course. I missed my target time by seconds, but I can not complain. I made both my PR and BQ on this course. This is a good alternative to the too-big race in the Windy City. Keep it small and inexpensive. The host Ramada Inn was just across the street from the start/finish line. They gave marathoners a late check-out time. I would recommend them.
let down from Kentucky (10/22/2006) "somewhat depressing" (about: 2006) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 i know the day for the race didn't help, considering there were horrible, chilly winds to contend with for the better part of the race, but aside from that, there was just nothing to bring me back to this race aside from the flat course and the peanut butter bagels. the portion of the course where all of the runners are trying to squeeze through a 3 foot across path was ridiculous, there were not nearly enough water/gatorade stops, no spectators, no music, entertainment, fanfare of any sort. i just grabbed my trophy off the table and left at the end. i have never even been to a little local 5K that had so little excitement surrounding it. makes me a bit embarrassed considering this is my home town.
M. Messmore from Louisville, KY (3/22/2006) "Terrific for a first marathon!" (about: 2005) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The day was perfectly picturesque! It was sunny and slightly brisk at the start. By the time I crossed the finish line it was in the low 60's. The day could not have been better if they planned it. The course is a beautiful scenic route that follows the Ohio River. The course is flat and fast with just enough of a change in grade to keep it interesting. If my family knew the area better they would have been able to get to various spots in the course. But, just by staying in one spot they saw me start, run by at mile 3 and finish. There are few spectators on the course, but most of the time I run alone anyway... so that didn't bother me. The running shirt was terrific in a pragmatic sense, however aesthetically I thought it left some to be desired (however the appeal of a running shirt is next to last on my level of importance). Volunteers were terrific and energetic, even if there were few of them. Gels, water and Gatorade were plentiful at all existing stops. Here is my one complaint. There is a four-mile stretch that has no fluid stop. Since this is an out-and-back style course, that means this four-mile stretch was covered twice. Therefore from mile 9-13 out and mile 16-20 back there were no fluid stops. I realize that is the most scenic portion of the course, and it would not be simple to set up a station there. However, just one in the middle would do wonders for replenishment.
C. R. from Michigan (11/20/2005) "no-frills, fast and scenic" (about: 2005) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I agree with the comments for this year - flat, fast, scenic course, perfect weather, great technical t-shirt, great value for the money. Great staff, and they were upbeat. Very few spectators, but I didn't expect much for a smaller race. My only complaints: The volunteers on the course were helpful except for the one woman at 21 miles near the river boat (she failed to direct the runner in front of me until she went the wrong way!). I agree a finish photo would have been a nice option for us out-of-towners. My biggest problem was the host hotel - it has a perfect location to the race, the staff was helpful and polite, the free breakfasts ample and fine, BUT the rooms were filthy, smelly, and rundown. The housekeeping could do little to improve the conditions - the rooms were just too rundown and the air-conditioning units did little to clean the air. ALL of my party got upper-respiratory sick after leaving.
R. L. from Columbus, Ohio (10/28/2005) "A great small marathon" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 There are things about this race I could criticize but the truth is, I won it, so I'm feeling pretty charitable. This is a small marathon and it doesn't pretend to be anything else. If you are the kind of person who needs crowds, expos, stuffed packets and lots of bells and whistles, run Chicago, New York, etc. That's not what I was looking for and it's not what this race is about. I absolutely loved the course. It goes along the Ohio River, through several parks and a neighborhood. Others have mentioned that it feels like a training run and it really does. Most people would consider it flat. Those of us from Ohio, Illinois, Michigan might quibble about that a little bit. The first 7 miles and the last 5 miles are pancake flat. The middle 14 has a few rolling hills here and there. Only two of them struck me as noteworthy. The weather was perfect. The trophies were impressive. Another water station here or there wouldn't have hurt but they gave out nice big bottles of water, which helped to make up for it. I would have liked a finish line photo - that's my only major criticism.
P. P. from Urbana, IL (10/19/2005) "Great first marathon" (about: 2005) First Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I had a lot of fun at this race. The course was very scenic and shaded, which was good because by the finish time it was very sunny. The weather was ideal for me, about 40 degrees at start. The half marathoners hit their turn-around at mile 8, so after that point you are running pretty much by yourself. The crowd was very sparse, but very enthusiastic. When they cheer, you know they are cheering for you, as there are probably not many other runners around. My only complaints are that there was a missing aid station, and the aid stations dispensed Gatorade in very tiny cups (not enough for me). There wasn't any food or drink that I could see at the end of the race; maybe the 1/2 marathoners got it all? I finished in the top 1/2 of the marathoners, so I expected there to be something left. Also, don't expect many port-a-potties along the race. The race literature spelled out facilies as specific places, and then said 'and along the race course.' I think they meant in the (very pretty) wooded areas along the course. I know I was not the only one who had to go off the trail for relief. But as a small race with limited resources, they did a very good job.
R. J. from North Georgia (10/18/2005) "nice small, no-frills race" (about: 2005) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 A nice, small race. No chips, expo, photos, or spectator turnout, etc., but a nice, flat course, great volunteers, plenty of water stations and prominent mile markers. And inexpensive. Nice technical shirt, too (not a long-sleeved T like it said on the website, but that's an upgrade, as far as I'm concerned). The medal is small but classy. The weather was absoloutely perfect in 2005, pretty cold at the start for runners in shorts and singlets, but just right after you got going. Since the course starts with a 2-mile loop, you can wear a T-shirt to start and toss it when you pass the starting point, it will still be there after the race. The course is a bit crowded at the start, along a narrow walkway through a park, but thins out after a mile or so when it turns onto a road. After the half-marathon turn-around (mile 8) you will be all by yourself. This course consists of three sections. Miles 0-9 are on streets and sidewalks along the Ohio river in downtown Louisville. Miles 9-19 are along a beautiful, quiet, shady path through city parks. The rest of the race retraces the start. Overall, a nice, flat, fast race with no unneccesary frills (and expenses).
Mark Priddy from Tallahassee, FL (10/17/2005) "Flat and Shaded Course" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Louisville Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Course is as advertised: Fast and flat. Just check out the finishing times! Lots of shade, but since the temperature was in the low 40's at the start, kind of cool. Packet pick up was flawless. Very nice tech shirt. Finisher's medal was kind of plain, needed a date, but I guess most of the entry fee was invested in the nice shirt. People were very friendly and water stops were well supplied. No frills here, just the basics. I would run it again.
Curt Stephens from Indianapolis, IN USA (10/17/2005) "Nice race, flat course, good weather." (about: 2005) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Louisville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was my first marathon after running a number of half marathons. The weather was perfect with a start in the mid-forties. Volunteers on the course gave excellent instructions so there was no confusion about the route. Love the little water bottles. There was a water stop missing out in the middle of the course, so I was glad I brought a 20 oz bottle with me. Overall, it was a very positive experience. The course was quite scenic, especially the long asphalt trail through the woods along the river. I would definitely condsider running this race again.
p. a. from louisville (10/17/2005) "Beautiful day.... Finish was pretty disorganized" (about: 2005) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Louisville Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I just finished running the 1/2 marathon for 2005. They did a great job out on the course with water, directions. But, I was the 100th finisher out of 900 and they had little Dixie cups of water at the end.... Come on guys, you've been running this race long enough to have water/Gatorade at the end of the race.

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