Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon: Louisville, Kentucky, April 29, 2023 – Marathon #14
I just got back from an incredible race in Louisville, Kentucky, and I’m still buzzing with excitement! I was especially looking forward to this one because 21 runners from my running club, the Marathon Maniacs, were participating. Stefanie reached out to organize a meetup for us, which was amazing—since I usually travel solo and don’t know many people at races, this was a great opportunity to connect. We decided to meet at the expo and have dinner the night before the race. It ended up being a fantastic time with Stefanie, Kristen, and Sam. We shared our personal running stories, each of them unique and inspiring. Thanks for meeting up, you guys!
Running in Kentucky was a blast. We went through the streets of downtown Louisville, past the Louisville Slugger Stadium, and one of the highlights of the race was running through Churchill Downs. That was such a surreal experience! At this point in the race, I was moving at a pretty good pace, but I reminded myself to take it all in. I even managed to capture a few video clips while running. The organizers also displayed our names and images on the big jumbotron, which was awesome! Around mile 12.5, the marathoners split off from the half marathoners, and we were sent up and over this cool bridge. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this bridge actually took us into the great state of Indiana! The race was incredibly well organized, and the weather was perfect.
As this was my 15th marathon, I’m still learning the importance of patience. I’ve been trying to slow down in the first half of the race so I have enough energy to finish strong in the second half. I’m thrilled with my time, especially considering this was my third marathon in just 20 days. I shaved off 24 minutes from my previous time, which was a nice surprise. While I don’t race for time, it always feels good when my body cooperates and gives me a confidence boost.
After finishing, I decided to stick around the finish line to wait for my new friend, Stefanie. I knew she wasn’t too far behind me, and I love having someone cheering you on at the finish. Normally, race coordinators don’t let you linger at the finish line, but they made an exception for me. I cheered on so many first-time marathoners, encouraging them up the final hill, and their smiles were priceless.
When I saw Stefanie coming around the corner, I started yelling for her. I even caught a video of her crossing the finish line and snapped a few pictures. She was definitely surprised I’d waited, but also really appreciative.
Once we had our medals and snacks, we took an Uber back to our hotels—Stefanie to hers, and I to mine. Later that evening, I had the opportunity to attend opening night at Churchill Downs. What an experience! The atmosphere was electric, and I found myself wishing I could share it with my friends and family. I even placed my first bet on a horse named Nicholas Jones (number 7). The only logic behind my pick? My son’s name is Nicholas, and his birthday is December 7th. Unfortunately, Nicholas Jones didn’t win, but I had a blast cheering him on.
The Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon was an unforgettable experience that I’ll cherish for a long time. Now, it’s time to turn my focus to Rhode Island next weekend!