Meijer Kentucky Derby Marathon
Louisville, Kentucky
Saturday, April 28, 2007

I race walked the Meijer Kentucky Derby Marathon in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, April 28, 2007. I was a nice day with a temperature from 50-75 and gentle wind. It is one of the few events where the half marathon is the feature event and the marathon was added recently. The mini marathon, as it is called, began in 1974 where the marathon was added in 2002. There were around 8500 starters in the half marathon and 1000 starters in the marathon. The two races which ran together for the first 10.5 miles were extremely well organized with plenty of volunteers and water stations, and excellent police control of the traffic. The course was mostly flat; however, miles 2-5 and 15-20 offered hills. The most interesting part was the lap on the infield of Churchill Downs while the thoroughbreds were working out in the track preparing for the races in the derby festival week. The course also traversed the Ohio River into Indiana and back. I enjoyed myself and had my best race time in the last two years.