The 2015 Louisville Triple Crown of Running (LTCOR) kicked off with the Anthem 5K in an all new course that featured a flat, Downtown Louisville map. The course for 2015 returned to Downtown Louisville after a 2014 course that became a logistical nightmare for travel to and from the race. The modified courses are a direct impact from the Ohio River Bridges Project and are expected to continue for at least the 2016 race as well.

The Anthem 5K, sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and several other key supporters is the first of three races leading up to the infamous Kentucky Derby. The Triple Crown of Running alludes to the face Triple Crown horse race series that features the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes between May and June annually. The Triple Crown of Running is made of the Anthem 5K, Rodes City Run 10K, and the Papa John’s 10 Miler. The proceeds from the entire series goes to the WHAS11 Crusade for Children, a Louisville based non-profit that benefits children with needs, particularly health needs.

The race is as cheap as $25 with early registration and as much as $60 for day of registration. Approximately 7,000 people participate annually. One full day of packet pick-up is available as well as limited race day pickup. Thankfully, runners can have other people pickup their packets for them if they are unable to make it to packet pickup. Swag is well worth it! Not only do you receive a t-shirt, but also amenities along the course and sports drinks (Gatorade) and snacks (fruit and PowerBars) after the race. Part of the lure for me is the Xact Messaging System which allows for text messaging, email, and social media notifications for individual runners start and finish to the race which in part is thanks to the ChronoTrack Timing System and the disposable timing chips.

The course scenery is not bad, but completely urban. The course wraps through Louisville on East Market and finishing on Main Street. The course was very flat. Access to and from the area was more than ample and parking was overly available. I was able to park within two blocks of the starting line for $5. Race management made MAJOR improvements over last year’s logistics issues.