I’m thinking I may be onto something with my marathons, but I’m jumping ahead of myself.

The inaugural Kentucky Derby Marathon, Saturday, April 27, drew just over 1,200 runners with 1,031 finishers. The marathon was run in conjunction with the 29th Annual Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon that drew over 7,000 runners. Both courses are point-to-point starting in front of Iroquois Park in Louisville. The first three miles are flat, looping through residential areas until returning to the entrance of Iroquois Park. The 3 miles through the park are fairly hilly. The 6-mile mark is just outside the park and the next 8.5 miles, running through residential areas, past Churchill Downs, through a portion of the University of Louisville campus and into downtown Louisville are flat with very few turns. At mile 12.5, in downtown Louisville, the Mini Marathoners and the Marathoners split their ways. The marathoners run out of downtown Louisville where we hit another series of hills from mile 14.5 through about 18. This is probably the most scenic portion of the course with mile 15.5 through 18 running through Cherokee Park. These hills are more numerous, longer and steeper then the hills in Iroquois Park. The last 8 miles runs back to downtown Louisville, past the Louisville Slugger Stadium and the Louisville Slugger Hall Of Fame. This portion of the course is mostly flat with the finish line back in downtown Louisville where the mini Marathon finished.

Many of the 8,000 plus runners were bussed to the start but there was still a concern about parking. We, Bob Panzak and I, got off to a good start when one of the local Mini Marathon runners’ allowed us to park our car on her driveway. We were less then a quarter mile from the start line. The temperature at the start was cool and in the low 50’s, low humidity and overcast skies. Somewhere behind the finish line in the crowd of over 8,000 runners were Marlene and Dick White. Bob and I planned to run about 8:30 miles with a 30 second to one minute walk at each of the 13 water stations. We projected a finish time in the mid 3:40’s. We were at mile 1 at 8:12 and Mile 2 at 8:00 flat. A little faster then we planned. We tried to slow down some on the third mile. We had our first 30-second water-walking break just past the two mile mark giving us an 8:30 split at mile 3. Mile 4 took us through the first few hills and our time slowed to 8:45. Miles 5 and 6 were 8:04 and 8:04. We lost some time on the up hills but ran the down hills fairly fast so we did not loose much time. We planned to slow down over the flat portion of the course that started at mile 6. It was not working out that way; our pace was still a little fast. Mile 7 split was 8:02. At about 7.5 miles I told Bob I was in trouble, I was forming a blister in the arch of my right foot. I haven’t had a blister of any consequence since my 1985 NYC Marathon. And since that marathon I have always carried a tube of Vaseline with me when running a marathon. I very seldom need it and the few times I did, it was for chaffing. I sure needed it this time. I stopped just past the mile 8-mile mark, took off my shoe and sock and greased up. Mile 9 in 9:45. I stopped three more times over the next 6 miles and was able to grease up some more without taking off my shoe. Miles 9 through 13 splits were 8:07, 8:37, 8:01, 8:30 and 7:58. Half marathon split was 1:49:30. We were running a 3:39:00 marathon. A little faster then planned but knowing the hills were still in front of us we figured we would slow down and save some for the hills. Miles 14 through 20 were 8:28, 8:04, 8:34, 8:00, 8:02, 8:00 and 8:01. We checked our splits at each mile and couldn’t believe we did not slow down on the up hills. We actually did slow up on the up hills but again; we also picked it up on the down hills. We ran the down hills fast, not hard. The last 10K was flat and we didn’t feel too beat up from the hills but we thought we would have to slow down some. Our splits were 8:12, 7:55, 7:45, 756, 7:45, 7:44 and 1:33. Finish time was 3:34:28 and a chip time of 3:34:15. Our second half split was 1:44:58, a negative split of 4:32. Bob and I crossed the finish line shoulder to shoulder but he could have left me several times, especially when I had to stop and take care of my blister. Dick White ran 3:55:32 and Marlene 4:02:58 with chip times of 3:54:49 and 4:02:07.

As I mentioned in my Las Vegas Marathon report, after running 43 marathons, I finally ran a negative split. I have now run back-to-back negative splits. As I said earlier, I think I am onto something with my marathons. I have only worn sun glasses in two marathons and in both of those marathons I ran negative splits.

28 years experience hosting the Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon paid off very well with the Marathon. The course was well marked, digital clocks at every mile mark, split timers at every mile mark, plenty of water and Powerade and volunteers on the course. Music was played at several locations including about a 50 member church band and chorus providing very upbeat music and song at the end of a long uphill at mile 16 in Cherokee Park. Crowds were plentiful over the first 12.5 miles but as soon as the marathoners left the mini marathon course the crowd support was almost nothing. The only minor problems noticed were prior to and following the marathon. The expo was small and disappointing especially considering over 8,000 runners. Very little information about the marathon was readily available at the expo. Race organizers hopefully will do a better job in the future by providing course maps, course description and just general information. We were given our chip, race number and safety pins in an envelope on how to use the chip. That was it, no other information was provided such as where to pick up your shirt, pasta dinner ticket (if pre-paid), race pin (if pre-paid), how to get to the start line, parking etc. After the marathon only water, Powerade and bananas were available. Medals were given to all marathon finishers at the finish line but we had to walk three blocks to the Convention Center to turn in our chip in exchange for the finisher’s shirt. I heard several complaints about the walk but I am sure they came from marathoners who have not run Boston or New York. However, since it started raining about 4 hours into the marathon it was nice to get in doors and change into dry clothes. Whether these corrections are made or not this is a nice marathon to run.

44 marathons in 33 states plus Washington DC completed. Bob now has 23 marathons in 23 states completed. Not sure about Marlene and Dick. Next marathon, Ridgerunner in West Virginia on June 1st with fellow Space Coast Runners Bob Panzak, Marlene and Dick White and anyone else who would like to join us. Ridgerunner is rated as one of the 10 toughest marathons and one of the most scenic in the country with the toughest hills over the last 10K. Temperatures are usually in the high 60’s to low 70’s. May have to go out slow and then back off. Sure wish there was another marathon in West Virginia.


Rest if you must, just don’t quit,
Marty