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Latest reviews by Ian
Ian recommends this race
(2014)
"A 10 out of 10 for the Big Ten"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
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Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
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Overall the race was really well done.
The course was really nice. Just a few awkward moment: Running under McCormic place seemed to screw up everyones watches and paces for the first mile and at the end of the 10K there was a really sharp turn to the last small straight away to the finish that was hard to take at full speed . Other than those two things the course was great, Lake front course routes can get a little congested and be filled with sharp and awkward turns but this one stayed clear of that.
One of the highlights for me was the separation of the 10K and the 5K races, starting an hour apart and on completely separate courses.
Post race celebrations were great and the finishers area was very well organized with towels, food and medals all spaced out to help with the flow of traffic.
Fleet Feet did an awesome job with packet pick up, very well organized.
Race Medals were awesome, did not really care for the shirt designs this year but that is just a personal preference.
Overall a solid race and event, I would 100% recommend this to a friend as well as do it again next year.
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Ian recommends this race
(2014)
"Proud to run....once"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
While the theme of the event is great, the weekend before Chicago Pride Parade, the race it's self was sub par.
Pre race and post race activities were awesome and lively.
The biggest flaw of this race was the course. It was zig zagging through the lake front trails, which are still open to the public. The course wasn't marked well and the staff at key turn points were not paying attention as I ran off course when I was supposed to turn. There were a lot of sharp turns around the tennis courts that slowed down my pace. The 5k starts 10 minutes after the 10k and the courses then merges together the last .4 miles so you now have to zig zag between the 5k runners.
Post race food and drink was abundant which was great.
If you don't like frustrating courses then do not do this race. but if you love a good event pre and post race activities and a lively and energetic atmosphere it's a great race
Ian recommends this race
(2014)
"For the Win"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
This was a great race for my first marathon in a great city. Paired with the 13.1 half marathon it makes for a lively start and after party.
the course is flat and fast.....up until about mile 11-15 where you enter a forest pre sever park and have to talk about 4 miles of steep hills and curves. If you did not prepare and do you research this could be an early "wall" for most runners. Luckily i drove the course the day before so i mentally knew what was ahead of me. after the hills its smooth sailing on flat roads to the finish.
the marathon had about 2,000 participants while the Half had about 14,000 so the first 8 miles was filled with other runners but after you do a lap through the legendary Chruchill Downs, the course get very very eye lonely. you don't pair back up with the half runners until the last mile or so, one thing the director was smart in doing was keeping the road divided for half runners and full runners so you don't have to doge and dive between the two races.
aid stations were plentiful along the course but the end of the race they only had cups of water not bottles.
Over all Louisville is a beautiful beautiful city and the race is perfect for first time marathoners looking for a fairly easy course. I would love to run this again in the future. And the cost is pretty minimal compared to most other marathons.