I can’t remember how many Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathons I have actually run. It’s more than 15. I have been a runner since 1974. I started running initially because I couldn’t lose my baby weight from my first son, Chris. Fast forward to 2010, still running but much slower. My fastest 10K time was 43 minutes and a few seconds, fastest 5K 19 minutes and some seconds. Saturday, I finished in a very slow uninspiring time, 2:33:31. I did not finish first or last. All the participants are WINNERS in my book.
Hanging Out with the Younger Folks
My son, Jon, and some of his friends ran the miniMarathon. Jon drove in from INDY and his friend, Jon Dried and Jon’s wife, Beth drove in from Chicago. Another friend, Cory, and his wife, Stephanie, ran the mini as well. We all were dropped off together but pretty much ran our own pace. This is the first year in 15 years of running the mini that I didn’t take a camera. Usually I take pictures and write a column called Hot Shots about the run. I didn’t take my camera because of the rain. Best sign on the course: Scott has a case of the runs!
Cory & Stephanie, Jon & Beth, and Jon Day
A New Starting Line & Finish Line
At the start time, it was raining but the rain stopped and it turned out to be a great morning for the run. The start was at a different place this year but proved to be easier to get in and out of if you were dropping off a runner or walker.
Several years ago they re-routed the mini & marathon to include a run through Churchill Downs. A short run around the infield at Churchill Downs with the horses and jockeys taking notice of the runners on foot, turns out to be a very popular part of the run/walk.
The course this year changed when you approach the finish line. In the past the finish line was in front of the Kentucky International Convention Center but was moved to River Road by Slugger Field. After the finish and the trip through water, sport drink and food tables, runners & walkers were routed down to the Derby Festival Fest-A-Ville at the Waterfront which created a fun destination for out-of-town runners and walkers. Lots of runners and their families were able to greet and meet on the Waterfront.
This year it seemed like the Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon & Marathon sponsored by Wal-Mart had finally officially reached a level that compares with larger destination races. Registration closed at 15,000 runners that’s about double from several years ago. Congratulations to the race committee and thanks to all the volunteers who made the race possible!
The bands on the miniMarathon course were appreciated as well as the people who had their car radios on, their boom boxes on and just clapped and cheered as the runners & walkers passed by.
