The first couple of miles were slow it took 7 minutes to cross the start line the news said it took 15 minutes for everybody to cross. You head up into the first park and is the hilliest part its not to bad I was taking it easy, it was real muggy from the rain and I was sweating pretty good HR in check. Came out of the park about mile 6 and had to potty like a mad man, you loop back around to the start line so their is a bunch of porta pots. At this point you start to head towards town on the ironman course til you reach mile 9 then they detour you into Churchill Downs. Going through the tunnel under the track to the infield my knee was starting to hurt and had a few negative thoughts. That didn't last long the crowd support was great it does make a difference. At mile 12 the marathoners break off, this race is mainly a minimarathon so 10000 of your running buddies leave you. At this point is when I decided to break out the mp3 I figured less cheerleaders so I need music, no dice it was locked up I should have checked it after I recharged the battery, thats a first. The marathon started about 7 years ago and has really picked up some popularity in recent years and had about 1500 registered. I'm still feeling pretty good the knees and calfs are screaming, but very manageable. About mile 13 you start a gradual incline up to Cherokee park this part was hard I didn't train in this portion of the course. Cherokee even with the hills was not bad because I was real familiar with this part. One of my biking friends saw me who was on a radio support team on bikes gave me some encouragement, she was in alittle shock when I told her this was my first race. Coming out of the park one of my coworkers who ran the mini was their to cheer me on, he wants to give it a shot next year. I had about three endurolytes left I think they were helping I reach in my pocket and their gone. No big deal I then started to drink powerade instead. I was pretty much doing the airbourne shuffle. I would spill about half a cup of powerade on me when I ran through the water stations, I felt I needed to keep running no matter what which is kind of dumb. I was heading back towards the river when I lost my last hammer jel it was my money jel at mile 21 with 50 big grams caffeine I just said oh well and kept on going. Mile 22 you go back up a slow incline so you can cross the river I saw alot of people hurting bad and EMT's working on a few folks. I had a blister break on me at the crest of the bridge and man that hurt. Its strange your brain feels the aches and pains but then you just block it out and keep going. I walked a total of four times once for a potty break and the last three waterstations I bet for a total of two minutes. It cleared up about mid race not a cloud in the sky about mid 60's it was actually kind of hot at the end. Mile 24 I got a good kick coming off the bridge people cheering I felt great. Mile 26 my parents were their cheering for me got a little teary eyed, wife and kids stayed home I was not to sure about the rain. Crossed the finish got my medal I had a ticket on my bib for a free beer. I now love beer with bananas.

Nothing, I had talked to my mentor group that I would hang on with the 4:00 pace group as long as I could. Maybe next time. When we got to the race I was like I'm just going to run as fast as my body tells me which turned out to be 11 min. miles. I really just wanted to finish.

Beer and bananas. I felt great just sore.


More longer runs, a more agressive training plan. My last month of training was not that great missed a few runs. I have a base line to improve from now and I'm hooked.


Its a great race, with great volunteers, beautiful race course, and a challenge to boot