I was conservative early. I didn't train to make this a competitve race. But I couldn't help but feel competitive. My buddies and I picked it up when we the crowd started to separate in the hills at mile 3.

I started feeling rough around mile 9. The crowd was really breaking up and slowing down. The rain picked up a little and it was getting cold. But I popped a tylenol and got around bands and crowds. That fired me up and I picked it up. I started to open it back up at mile 11 and went 90% for mile 13.

Train more.

Walking and stretching. I walked around downtown Louisville and then back to my room.


Lack of speed work and long runs. Read: I didn't train enough. I ran a couple of middle distance runs early in the season. My long runs were two 10 milers. I wish I would have run a couple of more 8 milers and would have done speed work.

I also deliberately went slow at the beginning. I think I could have trimmed a minute or two. But I didn't train well enough to go faster. I would rather go slow early and conserve energy than to burn out. A couple friends started out at a 7 minute mile and then wore themselves out.


A superb race. I ran the full marathon last year. The Derby Festival is putting a lot of effort into the race and takes the constructive criticism seriously. They made a nice route change to go through Churchill Downs. The marathon route changed to run across the Ohio River... a much better route than last year.

Overall, this is a well planned and staffed event. There was a lot of food and great race volunteers. The community supports this event and it shows. A+.