Changing Course for 2011 Marathon and miniMarathon
- Author:KDF Press Office
- Date Published:02/04/2011
The Derby Festival is pleased to announce some major changes to the race courses for the 2011 Derby Festival Marathon and miniMarathon presented by Walmart. For the first time, both races will start and finish in downtown Louisville. Runners will start the races on Main Street, alongside Louisville Slugger Field, and will finish just outside the entrance to Kroger's Fest-a-Ville venue at Preston and Witherspoon streets. Both races will start at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 30.
"The course changes are as a result of the feedback we received from surveying runners about what they liked and didn't like about the route," said Mike Berry, President and CEO of the Derby Festival. "We feel like the new course will be more enjoyable for both race participants and spectators. The start line on Main Street will showcase one of the city's more historic and scenic corridors, and the finish line location will make for an exciting setting as the runners go past a tunnel of fans."
"Marathon competitors have run through a hilly section of Cherokee Park since 2006, but that portion of the route has been eliminated. While the hilliest part of the course has gone away, runners will continue to go through the beautiful Highlands area surrounding the park. Marathon runners will still run through Iroquois Park and we hope the residents of that area will continue their enthusiastic support. Starting and finishing the races in downtown will eliminate the need for buses to take runners to the start and will allow spectators a much easier opportunity to watch the dramatic wave of runners moving down Main Street."
Berry said another reason for the course change was to showcase the unique architecture on Main Street, including the Museum Row attractions. Runners in both races will still run a lap inside the infield at Churchill Downs racetrack and will now pass by Central Park and the St. James Court neighborhood. Marathon runners will no longer cross the Second Street Bridge for a segment in Southern Indiana.
"We are grateful for the support of the public going back nearly 40 years with the mini, especially the residents of the South End, who will still be able to cheer on the Marathon competitors," said Berry. "We're very excited about starting some new traditions and the opportunity to continue to grow the races. The new course will give spectators more of an opportunity to position themselves along the finishing stretches of the route when runners need their support the most. We hope to offer breakfast-style concessions at Fest-a-Ville, so it should make for a more comfortable and exciting atmosphere for both runners and spectators."
For the third year in a row, combined registration for both races will be capped at 15,000 participants. The races reached the 15,000 cap in March the past two years, closing registration more than a month before the event. The early registration deadline for the Marathon and mini has been extended to midnight on Feb.14. Entry fees for the mini are currently $50 and $65 for the Marathon. Registration is open online at www.derbyfestivalmarathon.com.
The Derby Festival Marathon and miniMarathon are presented by Walmart. Contributing sponsors are: ASICS, Bluegrass Family Health, Churchill Downs, Courier-Journal Media, Powerade and Subway Restaurants of Kentuckiana. Official Pace Car: MINI OF LOUISVILLE.
"The course changes are as a result of the feedback we received from surveying runners about what they liked and didn't like about the route," said Mike Berry, President and CEO of the Derby Festival. "We feel like the new course will be more enjoyable for both race participants and spectators. The start line on Main Street will showcase one of the city's more historic and scenic corridors, and the finish line location will make for an exciting setting as the runners go past a tunnel of fans."
"Marathon competitors have run through a hilly section of Cherokee Park since 2006, but that portion of the route has been eliminated. While the hilliest part of the course has gone away, runners will continue to go through the beautiful Highlands area surrounding the park. Marathon runners will still run through Iroquois Park and we hope the residents of that area will continue their enthusiastic support. Starting and finishing the races in downtown will eliminate the need for buses to take runners to the start and will allow spectators a much easier opportunity to watch the dramatic wave of runners moving down Main Street."
Berry said another reason for the course change was to showcase the unique architecture on Main Street, including the Museum Row attractions. Runners in both races will still run a lap inside the infield at Churchill Downs racetrack and will now pass by Central Park and the St. James Court neighborhood. Marathon runners will no longer cross the Second Street Bridge for a segment in Southern Indiana.
"We are grateful for the support of the public going back nearly 40 years with the mini, especially the residents of the South End, who will still be able to cheer on the Marathon competitors," said Berry. "We're very excited about starting some new traditions and the opportunity to continue to grow the races. The new course will give spectators more of an opportunity to position themselves along the finishing stretches of the route when runners need their support the most. We hope to offer breakfast-style concessions at Fest-a-Ville, so it should make for a more comfortable and exciting atmosphere for both runners and spectators."
For the third year in a row, combined registration for both races will be capped at 15,000 participants. The races reached the 15,000 cap in March the past two years, closing registration more than a month before the event. The early registration deadline for the Marathon and mini has been extended to midnight on Feb.14. Entry fees for the mini are currently $50 and $65 for the Marathon. Registration is open online at www.derbyfestivalmarathon.com.
The Derby Festival Marathon and miniMarathon are presented by Walmart. Contributing sponsors are: ASICS, Bluegrass Family Health, Churchill Downs, Courier-Journal Media, Powerade and Subway Restaurants of Kentuckiana. Official Pace Car: MINI OF LOUISVILLE.
