Louisville Marathon - Race Reviews

Very fast course. I could easily see going for a PR on this course. Very accurate distance and very flat. I was by myself the entire race and I found the course pretty easy to follow. The roads and intersections were handled very well for a race this size. Plenty of water stops and volunteers. Some spectators along the way, but not many. On the negative side, the parking at the start was kind of far away for a race this size, but for a city race, it wasn't that bad. The medals were small, but unique and there were a lot of awards going 3 deep in 5 year age groups. The awards were great. Trophies for the overall and masters and glasses for the age groups. The volunteers were extremely friendly and nice. There was free live music and Barbecue hamburgers and hot dogs after the race, free messages. As far as traveling, we were able to stay 10 min away on the other side on the bridge at a reasonable rate and had a big plate of Spaghetti and meat balls for $11 at a place called Rocky's that was right on the river. Also, the shirt was excellent. One of my favorites. Overall I liked this race and would do it again and would recommend it for a BQ or PR.

This event is an OK local training run, but a poor travel 'marathon experience'. Limited website; high cost; no pre-race comm.s; disorganized bib pickup; wet grass parking area; boring, tough- to-follow course (saw 2 other runners in the last 7 miles); zero spectators; 'medal' was a cheap, small piece of tin necklace...thought they were joking. Positives were: friendly volunteers; occasional small bottles of water; blocked intersections; mostly decent mile markers; couple of blocks of downtown views; cool weather. Other Kentucky options are likely more rewarding for '50 Staters'.

I would strongly recommend this race for experienced runners. It's small, so you may be alone at times, but it is very well run. Good: well marked course, nice views of the river, pretty flat, nice/consistent aid stations, nice necklace in lieu of medal Bad: walking across a cold/dewy field to get to the start, volunteers seemed uninformed (according to my spectators)

The course itself was good especially running in the woods. However, running from 20 miles on you cannot see anyone in front of you and no one behind you. The course is poorly marked. No one to direct runners and a just few infrequent blue arrows directing the course. You cannot be sure you are on the course. I ran off the course towards the police but was told the marathon course was back in the other direction. I paid for the marathon but they did not show me as registered. Thank goodness I brought a receipt. Not enough fluids for the course. The aid station volunteers were great and very pleasant. Run a different marathon in Kentucky. The race appears to have catered to the half-marathoners. I am not very interested in medals but they give you a 'necklace' which is some generic medal that is cheap as it comes. Just don't give a medal.

I started training for the marathon this week, 12 weeks out. Should be a good one! I've run this race a few times and it was the first course I broke 3 hours on. It is a flat course, and hopefully there will be a few more runners out this year. I want to see some of these smaller Kentucky marathons really grow. I think it's a great one for the locals and for travelers, and for more experienced runners and for first timers. I'll be shooting for the 2:50s this year. Can't wait!

My actual finish time was an hour more than the posted time, have reported this to the RD. Nick Karem (M68) 5:08:19 91 59 / 1 M65-69 5:08:19 Louisville, KY, USA 3:51:40

Great race. Only one small problem. I didn't know where to go around 20 to 21. I started yelling and finally someone told me. But I did love the course.

This marathon is a gem of a race. It is flat and fast but has enough gently rolling hills so it doesn't get boring. Much of the race is along a shaded path along the Ohio River - pretty cool! The weather was also great although a bit warm at the end. Great Boston qualifier. I will be back next year.

I had a great time at this raceThere were plenty of aid stations and the volunteers were good. Parts of the route wind through local parts, which are really pretty this time of year. It's a good race for a PR.

The course was relatively flat and nice. There was a nice view running along the OH River. Very safe with police and lots of volunteers. There were about 1000 people in the half and full marathon combined. Not a lot of "hoopla." This race is for people who run because they like to run, and not for those who want tons of cheering people, loud music, etc. What do I think? JUST RUN! I will do this race again. And I do recommend it to beginners and seasoned runners alike.

It is a scenic, flat and fast marathon that is more than adequately supported and which typically has good weather. What else do you need? Shirts are fine, medals are small and there are not many crowds, but what does any of that matter? Come on, people.

At one point I passed friends of mine and actually said, "I'm so bored!" That has NEVER happened. The medals were tiny, there was a flaky staff of volunteers (who didn't know anything about the course, gel or water - and half of them THOUGHT there was a bag check but weren't sure). The course is just plain boring!!!! And it was run on ALL cement... holy OUCH!

The race website was terrible. Three weeks after the 2009 race, the website still has information for the 2008 race listed. The site was never updated! The race price was even increased without notice. Emails were never returned. No photographer for the race and the results were never posted on the website. The course itself is pretty nice. Very flat but disappointing that more of it didn't go through the city. The trail through the woods is very nice. The volunteers were great! Bottled waters were handed out, as was HEED sports drink. The spectators were few and far between - not good if you like that sort of thing. Nice tech shirts. Medals were tiny - about the size of a silver dollar. Same medals for both the half and full marathons. After-race food was very limited. I wouldn't suggest this race for a first-timer, as you might be very disappointed on what the whole marathon "event" is all about. However, if you want a flat, fast course, this is a good race to run.

I should have known what to expect when I reviewed the race website: old photos, old results, dead links, and a very poor course map. The course was a nice, fairly flat out-and-back, and the volunteers were great. Organization was poor. The marathon course measured 26.34 by my Garmin (not even close). They never posted results on-site or online after the race. No certificates, small medals and one table of food after. I would not suggest this one to anyone - if they even have it again!

This is definitely a no-frills race. The course is not bad; it's relatively flat. But you do not see a ton of Louisville on the course - mostly the riverfront. Very few spectators on the course. The few that were there were very nice. The volunteers were great. The website for the race is not good. The race shirt is very nice, but the medal is small and the marathoners and the half marathoners received the same medal. There are also no clocks throughout the course. The race director is very nice. It is not a bad race, but I do not recommend this for a first marathon. I think with some changes this could be a great race. The HEED drink needs to go. Bad taste.

I ran this race as a "tune up" for a Boston qualifier in December 2009. The race is flat and fast except for a couple little inclines. Overall a good course and lovely volunteers. The race director could certainly use some skill adjustments in communication, as I've emailed this person twice since returning from the race and will probably never hear from him/her. I find that completely insane. Anyway, there is a lack of timing mats - except at the start and finish - which leaves you to wonder how many folks might take a little break out in the woods and then take a turn back to the finish for a BQ time. Something the race director should think about. Not even a 10K or half-marathon mat or halfway mat. That seems rather odd to me. Overall, I would not run this race again as I like organization and I did pay a hefty price for what little I got. I must also agree with others about the HEED on the course. Why?? There are much better, affordable sports drinks out there. Blehck.

I ran this race to check KY off the list. It was advertised as flat, and while it was mostly flat, the course had more hills than anticipated and described throughout the course. Pros: Small race and relatively flat course; volunteers were nice at the race. Cons: The race website was awful, the course map was not updated and still read "2006," so it was hard to know what you were actually running; FAQs say that the race starts/ends downtown by the Louisville Slugger Bat Museum, but that is incorrect and should be updated (hard for out-of-town runners to choose a hotel). Heed sports drink is not tolerated by many runners - better to stick to Gatorade or PowerAde.

Very pleasant, small marathon. Flat course with nice view of the Ohio River. Easy access to the hotel, and the race finish line was a lot of fun. A great, small marathon. I will do this one again.

Great little marathon. Course is flat and run near sea-level. I've run six marathons and this was by far the fastest course I've run. The only hills consisted of little, 50-yard hills running up and down from levies a few times. Bottled water was given at aid stations, which made for easy drinking. Towards the end, I would have liked to have seen more energy drinks. Volunteers were great at the stations, passing out oranges and bananas. The race was a bit cold at first, so wear gloves and a hat. However, by mile three, I shed both my gloves and hat. While the medal is very small (about the size of a half-dollar), the shirt is nice AND they even let me try on the shirt at the pick-up to make sure the size worked.

This is a race that's hard to get excited about. The course is pretty and flat but also monotonous and desolate. Other than the wonderful volunteers at the water stops there is no organization to speak of. The website was basically abandoned three days after the race; the times and photos haven't been posted. (I suspect they never will be.) No clocks or timing pads along the way. No differentiation between marathoners and half-marathoners - same color numbers, same shirts, same medals. This is a fine race if you've run many others. But if you're looking to run the first (and perhaps only) marathon of your life, you'll want to choose something more memorable.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.