Runners Thrive in Louisville, KY
Thanks to the 38th annual Kentucky Derby Festival min-Marathon and its younger cousin, the Derby Festival Marathon, running has always been in high profile in Louisville. The “Mini,” as it’s called locally, is a 13.1-mile race, while the marathon is the standard 26.2-mile race.
In preparation for the late-April Derby Festival races, running stores, local hospitals and volunteers work together to provide information on races, running groups and proper training. Training for the 2011 Mini starts in early January with a new cycle of training and scheduled running groups organized by local sponsors.
Runners also tune up for the Derby Festival races by running in the Louisville Triple Crown of Running races – the Anthem 5K Fitness Classic, the Rodes City Run 10K, and the Papa John’s 10-Miler – in February and March.
Lots of smaller fundraising 5- and 10K races pepper runners’ calendars through the spring, summer and fall. The Ford Ironman series also comes to Louisville at the end of August for a qualifying competition for its Ironman Championship in Hawaii.
Another big race is in October, when the Louisville Marathon winds along the Ohio River. This event, which serves as a qualifying race for the Boston Marathon, is flat, fast, and scenic.
Runners seeking training help for the latter events (including the Ironman and other endurance events) can participate in the Kentucky & Southern Indiana chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Team in Training” program.
For additional information about the area, please visit Louisville, KY Real Estate.
