The fourth time back on Louisville's Derby course finally changed the story: the familiar streets, race-season noise, friends on the route, and a finish clock under four hours.
- Run50 #1 Full Marathon -
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Race: Kentucky Derby Marathon
Preface
Fourth run at home, Run50 Part 1
Louisville, KY
This is my fourth time running the Louisville Derby Marathon.
But this is the first time I’ve included it in my 50-state marathon tweets.
Louisville, the city where I studied in college for several years,
It has almost become my second hometown.
Every year from the end of April to the beginning of May, Kentucky will enter the Kentucky Derby Festival:
There are colorful hot air balloons and the stars are shining at night;
There were fireworks displays that lit up the Ohio River;
There is also a flying stunt show, where planes draw patterns in the sky.
This year, we went to see the hot air balloon Glow Show for the first time.
Under the night, the balloons lit up one by one, like huge lanterns.
Early the next morning, we even drove and chased the hot air balloon all the way.
It's pretty beautiful to see them floating in the sky over the Bluegrass State.
The day before the race, I went to Expo to get my bib.
In the evening, it was dinner time for runners. I, Siqi, and Brother Jie, who came from Cincinnati, ate Sichuan cuisine at Sichuan House.
Brother Jie is a running friend I met on Xiaohongshu, and he came here specifically to run the Derby Marathon.
Running is a good exercise:
Can make friends in different places, Chinese, foreign, alien...
If there is a marathon on Mars one day, I would also like to sign up.
State 1 · Kentucky | Home of Bluegrass, Horse Racing and Bourbon
Louisville, KY
Kentucky, nicknamed the "Bluegrass State".
Here are three things that are most famous for:
Bluegrass meadow: A type of grass named for its blue light on its leaves, a mecca for horse breeding.
Kentucky Derby: The largest horse racing festival in the United States.
Bourbon: 95% of the bourbon in the United States is produced in Kentucky.
Louisville is the gateway to this land:
The Ohio River flows through the north of the city, and the high-rise buildings in the city center intersect with the old warehouses on the river bank.
Churchill Downs Racetrack, the Louisville Slugger Baseball Museum, and the legend of Muhammad Ali all leave their mark here.
For me, Louisville is the starting point of my American marathon.
Starting point to downtown, Louisville cruise
Louisville, KY
Before the race, I met many acquaintances at the starting point:
Cindy will do a half marathon this time; Zoe will do a half marathon, and Ryan will do a full marathon. Wish them good luck!
It’s late April in Louisville, and there’s still a bit of chill in the air.
The starting area was bustling with runners from all over the United States.
With the sound of the starting gun, the crowd slowly poured through the starting arch, and we entered downtown Louisville.
Although the city is not big, the buildings on both sides of the street are very interesting:
Old red brick buildings, retro warehouses, and new buildings with glass walls are mixed together like a glass of bourbon and Coke.
Before I reached mile 1, I saw my favorite camera position: photographers were mounted on high cranes, taking condescending photos of runners like "airdrop snipers."
To be honest, apart from Louisville, I have only seen this kind of posture in Chicago. The photos taken are very aura.
Then there are two iconic Louisville landmarks:
Golden David Statue - the world's largest replica of Michelangelo's David, 17 feet tall and sparkling with gold;
Louisville Slugger - The largest baseball bat in the world, standing a full 120 feet tall and reaching into the sky.
Walking through the compact little urban area, you quickly see the Mile 2 sign.
From here on, the cheers gradually thinned out, and the atmosphere shifted from the lively downtown to a more calm rhythm.
Church and Old Louisville in the Morning Light
Louisville, KY
Not long after running through the city, the morning glow gradually brightened on the horizon.
The old red brick church looks particularly solemn in the morning light.
There are more and more spectators on the roadside, and many children stretch out their hands to give high fives.
A child in blue smiled and shouted: "This is a party!"
The atmosphere was like a street carnival.
About three miles away, you will pass a majestic gray stone building (Louisville's City Hall/Courthouse complex), with a steeple and bell tower rising into the sky. This is as majestic as an ancient European city.
At mile 4, the track turns onto Louisville’s main thoroughfare: Fourth Street.
It’s one of the liveliest places in town, packed with photographers and spectators.
There is a photographer here around the corner, but it’s not easy to see.
For your next test: Remember Louisville’s prime photo spot, right around the corner from Fourth Street.
It was here that I caught up with Jack who was coming from Cincinnati.
To be honest, his pace was not as fast as mine at that time.
But who would have thought that he would run for 3 hours and 30 minutes in Indiana at the end of the year, which can be called "a growth spurt."
I muttered in my heart: OK, it looks like I have to take another roll, the potential is endless!
Go south along Fourth Street and enter the Old Louisville area.
This is the largest Victorian-style residential area in the United States, with steepled churches and old red brick houses on both sides, full of historical atmosphere.
This is the place I am most familiar with in Louisville. I once lived here for a year and it was considered my “second home in the city.”
Not far away is Central Park, a small but beautiful city park.
Each summer, it hosts the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, the longest-running free Shakespeare festival in the United States.
The usually quiet park turned into an exclusive stage for runners on this day.
Here, I saw a local legend: Manfred Schmidt, an old German man volunteering here.
He ran nearly 40 marathons in his lifetime, nine of which were the Boston Marathon.
He has a special rule: never wear race clothes that he has not personally run in.
There are two exceptions:
The 2015 Boston Marathon was supposed to be his 10th time competing. He had already reached the standard and had sufficient training.
However, he unfortunately suffered a stress fracture a few weeks before the race. Although he could not compete, he still flew to Boston to cheer for his friends on the side of the track. He wore that T-shirt with so much pride.
Hamburg Marathon in 2012, the year his wife was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor.
He gave up going to Germany to compete and chose to accompany his wife on the last journey of her life. Later he put on that dress, not to show off, but to miss his wife.
I had a chat with him, and he said it very lightly, but I was shocked when he heard it:
Running is not only about performance, but also about weight and memory in life.
Further ahead, you can see my alma mater: University of Louisville (UofL).
Running through this place, I felt a little inexplicable:
"If we become prosperous in the future, we will donate a building to our alma mater no matter what."
From the modern in Downtown, to the classic in Old Louisville, to the cattle and horses at UofL,
Running these few miles feels like a journey through time.
Churchill Downs: the temple of horse racing
Louisville, KY
Not long after leaving UofL, you will pass a fire station (Louisville Fire Station 18).
The firefighters sat neatly at the door, cheering us on while drinking coffee.
Turning further, my eyes suddenly opened up.
Louisville’s soul landmark, Churchill Downs Racetrack, is finally here!
The most famous horse racing track in the United States, it has been home to the Kentucky Derby since 1875.
Every May, tens of thousands of spectators gather here, wearing exaggerated Derby hats, drinking Mint Julep, and watching the horse racing in the field.
The winner of the horse racing festival often becomes an overnight celebrity and puts Louisville on the world map.
The statue of horse and rider Barbaro at the entrance of the racecourse is majestic and galloping as if it is about to burst out of the stone at any time.
This is the world's first sculpture of a horse and rider completely in the air, commemorating the legend and short life of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.
Many runners will stop here and take out their mobile phones to take pictures.
After all, “You don’t have a Derby Marathon until you reach Churchill Downs.”
Entering the inside of the racecourse, the photographers on the side of the track were already in place. The sun was at just the right angle to take photos one after another.
Not far away, there were actually riders training with the horses!
Here I met a familiar figure Lynsey O’Donnell,
She is recognized as the "warm-hearted sister" in our running circle. She is always the first to like it in the circle of friends and will leave a warm encouragement.
This time we met by chance in the tunnel, we said hello, waved and took a group photo.
At that moment, I felt that running a marathon is really a way of socializing: you will meet the most familiar strangers on the road.
Running out of Churchill Downs is the split point of Mile 8:
The half-marathon runners head back north, while the full-marathon runners continue south toward Iroquois Park.
The park has a rich history and is named after the Iroquois, the indigenous people of North America.
One of Louisville's three classic parks (the other two are Cherokee Park and Shawnee Park),
The designer is the famous Frederick Law Olmsted, the "chief architect" of New York's Central Park.
The classic route of the Derby Marathon is:
Downtown Downtown → Old Louisville → UofL → Churchill Downs → Iroquois Park → Return to the finish line.
In previous years, the track would cross the bridge and run to Indiana. This year, the entire race will be in Kentucky, which is considered a "return to home."
Before running into the park, there is a subtle sense of ritual in my heart:
It’s as if the transition from “Louisville’s urban silhouette” to “the natural landscape of the Bluegrass State” has been completed.
Iroquois Park: Derby’s hill climb trial
Louisville, KY
After leaving the racetrack, the track continues south into the neighborhoods of Louisville.
On both sides are quiet communities and neat brick houses. When I ran to an elementary school, a student brass band composed of children lined up on the roadside.
Brass and percussion instruments came together to perform magnificently.
After 11 miles, we finally turned into the sacred place for local runners: Iroquois Park.
This is not just a scenic spot, it is also the “base camp” for Louisville running circles:
Ice Run and Pizza Run are held every summer. The registration fee is only $5. After the 3-mile run, you can eat ice cream and pizza. It is as lively as a community carnival.
To me, this place is more like a "running club" where I can meet a lot of familiar people every time.
The track in the park is winding and undulating, and several long uphill sections are a cruel test for runners.
Fortunately, the dense trees cover the scorching sun, and the air is cool, like a "natural air conditioner."
The supply tables along the way were filled with energy gels, fruits, and even Cokes.
At the entrance of the park, I saw Karen Carter. She had just entered the park and seemed to be much slower than she usually was;
I ran out of the park and met Glenn Richardson again.
This great master usually "runs 100 miles whenever he has something to do", but this time he actually "contained" himself and became a pacer, smiling relaxedly.
At mile 16, I spotted cyberpunk warrior Ryan in the lap.
He wears a camera next to his eye, and his style looks like something out of "The Matrix."
However, his condition was not very good at the moment, and his speed had obviously slowed down.
I reached out and gave him a high-five and shouted "Come on!", and he gave me a tired smile in return.
In a marathon, it doesn't matter whether you run fast or slow. If you participate, you will be invincible.
17 miles later, we arrived at the supply point of our old friend Patrick.
Last year he also set up a stall along the Ohio River in Indiana. This time he moved the battlefield back to Louisville and is still full of enthusiasm.
Next, we have to cross the LU campus for the second time from Third Street.
This time, I was able to see the laboratory, library, cafeteria, and museum. I recorded them all so that you can watch them after graduation!
I found out after the race that Jackie saw me on this stretch of road, and specially took a photo and sent it to the group, saying, "ZZ, ubiquitous in my running life!"
Maybe my headphones were turned up too loud and I didn't hear her shout at all.
Final sprint·Break 4 at home
Louisville, KY
In the blink of an eye, it was mile 20.
On the way, I saw Xiaobai and Xiaoyan, who were participating in a marathon for the first time. Obviously they were a little overwhelmed, but the half-marathon finish line was just ahead.
The next track passes through Downtown Louisville again. The half marathon runners are about to cross the line, but we full marathon runners have to continue to turn back and make up the distance.
Just near the finish line, Siqi waved to me and said hello.
At about mile 23, I met Teacher Li Yang, a local Chinese professor and a strong player. This time it looks like he will easily break 4 again and is still strong.
Further on, when I reached the turnaround point around mile 24, I glanced at my watch and made a mental calculation: Today is a solid day and I can finally break 4 on this home track.
Although the weather was gradually getting hotter, I had left a margin before and didn’t go all out.
The second half of the process is all about getting ready, smiling, and preparing to face the photographers' attacks. I have to say that the photographers at the Derby Marathon are really professional and their capture angles are perfect.
Finally crossed the line, fixed at 3 hours and 57 minutes, and finally completed my 4th time at the Louisville Derby Marathon!
After the game, Siqi and Cindy were already waiting for me in the party area. We carpooled back together and picked up Jim on the way — oh! Poor Jim, his car was stuck in a road closure, so he had to walk home and pick up the car after the game.
Extra | Pink Storm at the Racecourse
Louisville, KY
A few days after finishing the marathon, we went to see another highlight of the Kentucky Derby Festival: Oak Day (Mares’ Derby).
This is the "appetizer" for the Derby, and tradition is that everyone wears pink to support breast cancer charity projects. The entire stand was like a sea of pink, bustling with activity.
This time we finally bought tickets with seats, and we were in an "upgraded treatment" area. All food and drinks were free. Although the tickets were indeed not cheap, the atmosphere was very good.
There are various photo and check-in spots at the entrance of the racecourse.
The funniest thing was that a drunk stranger suddenly walked in and insisted on taking pictures with us.
He smiled happier than us, but his wife roared behind him:
“Get back here!!!”
For a moment, we couldn't hold it in in front of the camera, we really couldn't laugh or cry.
Extra | Bourbon Half Marathon
Louisville, KY
In October, I participated in the most famous local half marathon: the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon.
If the Derby Marathon at the end of April is Louisville’s traditional show, then the Bourbon Half in October is an autumn carnival of lap races.
This race is recognized as the best half marathon in Road City. The route is well designed and the scenery along the way is pleasant. The atmosphere was full immediately after the race, with bourbon, craft beer, and a live band performance.
On the day of the race, we started running against the rising sun and passed through the scenic Cherokee Park, with autumn colors covering the track all the way.
After crossing the line, the atmosphere instantly switched from "race" to "party". I held the bourbon in one hand and swayed to the music with the other. I felt that the distance between the track and the stage was as short as a sip of wine.
As for flavors, my personal favorite is the apple-flavored Bourbon. After half a marathon, a sip of slightly sweet and slightly tangy bourbon is complete.
Postscript
Breaking four at home, runners all over the map
This time, I finally passed the four-hour mark at the Louisville Derby Marathon, playing four home games, and finally passed this hurdle.
The highlight of the Derby circuit, though, is not just the results, but the connections made along the way:
There is the ever-warm Lynsey O’Donnell;
Glenn Richardson, who can run a hundred miles at will,
The awesome teacher Li Yang,
And there’s Manfred Schmidt, the legendary old man who volunteers on the roadside.
In life, we are very close to Cindy and Jim. They are like our parents in the United States.
Jackie Rountree is even more interesting. Not only is she often seen running and cycling, but she also invited us to attend her and Scott’s wedding.
And Zoe and Ryan, it seems like Zoe is faster than Ryan!
There are so many acquaintances saying hello on the road, it really feels like "you are all over the map".
Sometimes in the United States, it is not easy to establish a circle with local people. Fortunately, running shortens the distance.
Of course, I have to have Siqi to mess around with me.
That makes this Run50 even more interesting.
- End -
Words | Arsenan
Photos | Arsenan
Design | Arsenan