#Preface
For nearly four years, I've made Louisville my home, and in that time, I've conquered the Kentucky Derby Marathon not once, not twice, but three times.
My running journey has taken me to numerous cities, leaving a trail of miles and words in my wake.
Yet, it's come to my attention that I've given scant attention to the Kentucky Derby Marathon in my writings. It's high time I rectify this oversight and give due recognition to the running party in my very own city.
★ Horse Racing City, Louisville
Louisville, such an intriguing name, was new to me before I made my way to the United States.
Despite my previous unfamiliarity with it, Louisville certainly makes its mark. Named in honor of Louis XVI of France, this lively city is fondly known as the "City of Horse Racing". It proudly boasts its bourbon whiskey, baseball bats, boxing champion Ali, the iconic KFC, and the talented Chinese female footballer Wang Shuang.
And let's not forget, since Wang Shuang arrived after me, should we ever cross paths, she'd have to call me "senior". A little playful joke there!
My French friend, Louise Le Barbenchon, told me that the "s" in Louis is silent, so it should be pronounced "Louieville" here. Pronouncing the name correctly the first time will certainly earn you respect from the locals.
Every year, at the end of April and the beginning of May, Louisville hosts a series of spectacular events in celebration of the Kentucky Derby. These include the "Thunder Over Louisville" fireworks festival and the Louisville Air Show, which take place two weeks before the horse race.
The ideal location to watch these two events is the banks of the Ohio River. This venue typically features an afternoon air show and an evening fireworks display, which I find quite enjoyable. The experience becomes particularly thrilling when the F22 flies overhead, leaving a buzzing vibration in its wake.
The event's highlight is the nighttime fireworks display. The fireworks, accompanied by music, create a fascinating audio-visual atmosphere.
The first Saturday in May each year marks the oldest and most prestigious horse racing event in the United States: The Kentucky Derby.
The inaugural Kentucky Derby was held at Churchill Downs on May 17, 1875, attracting about 12,000 spectators.
On race day, audiences from around the world converge at the Churchill Downs racetrack. It has become a cultural tradition for attendees to dress fashionably, with women sporting eye-catching hats.
The ticket price for the Derby is rather high, but the Oaks race on the previous day is equally thrilling and slightly less expensive. Siqi and I also went to experience it.
The Kentucky Derby Marathon is an integral part of the Derby season. It takes place between the air fireworks festival and the Derby horse racing festival on the weekend. My favorite event is finally about to begin.
★★ Kentucky Derby Marathon
The Kentucky Derby Marathon typically takes place on the last Saturday in April.
First staged in 1974, it has grown into one of the most popular marathons in the United States. This year, the race attracted over 15,000 runners.
The start line is near the Louisville Slugger Field, and the finish line is at the Lynn Family Stadium, home of Racing Louisville.
The marathon course traverses downtown Louisville's streets, passing notable landmarks such as Old Louisville, the University of Louisville, and Churchill Downs Racetrack. After completing the half marathon, you have the opportunity to cross the Ohio River and reach Indiana, providing a unique viewpoint for the second half of the full marathon.
On the day of the big race, we were greeted with a slightly overcast sky - perfect running weather! You could comfortably run in short sleeves. Siqi tackled the half marathon, while I took on the full marathon. We even bumped into Cindy before the start. She was volunteering that day, spreading joy by handing out medals to all the participants.
Alright, it's time to get those legs moving! We'll be starting our run heading west from the baseball field. Our first mile takes us right through the heart of the city. What makes this 1 mile special? Well, keep an eye out for the two huge landmarks in the downtown area. They're quite a sight to see!
Say hello to the golden statue of David! This is a dazzling 30-foot (9.14-meter) gold replica of Michelangelo's David statue, standing tall and proud outside the 21C Hotel (21c Museum Hotel). The golden marvel was brought to life by the talented Turkish artist, Serkan Özkaya.
Another fun spot to check out is the world's largest baseball bat right next to the Louisville Slugger Museum. Constructed in 1995, this massive bat is crafted from steel and tips the scales at a whopping 68,000 pounds (30,844 kilograms)!
After covering less than 2 miles, we reach the first supply point. From there, all runners will make a big turn, running east towards the sunrise.
Right in front of me, there's the lovely church spire, and further off, you can see the city skyline bathed in the warm glow of the sunrise. Isn't it just beautiful?
3 miles into your journey, you'll find a large supply point at the Transit Authority of River City on Broadway. Photographers will be present to capture the moment. Near the L&N Building, you'll be greeted by many children.
Turn right after 4 miles. We will proceed along 4th Street, heading south, until we reach Churchill Downs.
On this road, we will pass several churches. These include the Calvary Episcopal Church, established in 1857, the Walnut Street Baptist Church, founded in 1815, and the Fourth Avenue United Methodist Church, built in 1888.
I have visited Walnut Street a few times and it's truly magnificent. I also attended Ryan's wedding there. The elderly organizer of the wedding shared a wonderful tradition: her grandmother, mother, and she herself were all married there.
Next, we visited Central Park, located between 6th Street and 5th Street at the 5 mile marker. Shakespeare's plays are often performed here during the summer. The availability of food trucks makes it a perfect location for families to enjoy a pleasant weekend evening.
The Historic Old Louisville Neighborhood surrounding the park is a charming locale that hosts the annual St. James Court Art Show.
Known for its Victorian architecture and tree-lined streets, St. James Court displays a diverse range of artworks including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewelry, and more. As one of the oldest and most prestigious art exhibitions in the United States, the St. James Court Art Show attracts numerous artists and tourists each year. It's typically held in early October, drawing attendees from all across the country.
Around six miles into the journey, we passed by the house I used to rent in Old Louisville. Although the house is old, it provides quite a comfortable living experience.
This entire area, known as Old Louisville, is the third-largest historic preservation area in the United States. It boasts the largest collection of restored Victorian residences in the country. Spanning over 40 blocks, the community is composed of Victorian-era houses. The exterior of these homes cannot be arbitrarily altered in color, likely for the protection of these historical sites.
Next, we pass through the main campus of the University of Louisville. With the Ville Grill cafeteria to our left and the SRC gym to our right, everything is so familiar.
Next, we turn right at 7 mile. Churchill Downs Racecourse is not far away. We head towards the twin spires, and then, like spirited jockeys, we immerse ourselves in this glorious racecourse with 150 years of history.
The runners will not run directly on the horse racing track, but through the racecourse, leaving at 8.5 miles, through the dark passage, outside are cheering crowds.
Next up, we'll swing back along Third Street, breezing past the lovely Louisville campus. You'll get to spot my office and the school's library right smack in the middle of our route. Trust me, you're in for a treat with cheering crowds and enthusiastic students lighting up the path. Plus, it's where the relay team gets to hand over the baton, which always adds a dose of excitement!
After leaving the campus, the race route returned to Old Louisville again, and it extended all the way to the 12 mile point in Downtown before starting to spread westward. I also stopped near the 11 mile point and ate some supplies.
Before reaching 12 miles, we passed by the KFC Yum! Center, an NBA-level stadium. This stadium, which opened in 2010 at a cost of $238 million, is now the NCAA home court for the Louisville basketball team. NBA star Donovan Mitchell should have also played here representing Louisville University.
This place isn't just for sightseeing. It's also a hot spot for all sorts of activities. It's even ranked 50th for concert and performance ticket sales according to Pollstar Magazine!
Next, the half-marathon runners make their way towards the finish line. In the meantime, we, the full marathon runners, will ascend the Big Four Bridge after completing 13 miles, and then proceed towards Jeffersonville, Indiana, running alongside the scenic Ohio River.
This bridge was built in 1929. It is a six-span railway truss bridge. This is also one of my favorite places in Derby City, very suitable for walking or sightseeing.
Upon arriving in Indiana, we will head northwest along the Ohio River. Seeing Louisville from this new perspective will evoke unique feelings.
The numerous bridges spanning the Ohio River are particularly magnificent. If the first half of the journey left me with a deep impression of Derby City's urban culture and heritage, the second half was more about the natural scenery and the waves of fellow runners.
About 16 miles in, we will ascend the verdant embankment of Clarksville. With lush greenery on both sides, it presents a comfortable run. It feels akin to running the second half of the East Lake Greenway in the Han Marathon.
Here, I encountered the superstar of our running community, Manivannan Vangalur, who was present to support and cheer everyone on. I met him at the 16-mile, 19-mile, and 24-mile marks, and each time, I received tremendous encouragement.
After the mile-16, Tavi's 4:30 group caught up with me. I kept pace with them for a while, strategically choosing to fall back at the 20th mile.。
Then, as I looked up, my Indian friend Raj approached directly. He should have maintained some distance before turning back. We bumped fists and quickly continued on our way.
On my return journey, I once again greeted the 5:00 pacer, Glenn, and reached Patrick's supply point at the 22.5-mile marker, where I greatly replenished my energy.
An interactive monument of "Rosie the Riveter" is located 23 miles ahead, adorned with the inscription "We Can Do It!" "Rosie the Riveter" is a cultural icon, representing the women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II. Moreover, this symbol encapsulates the collective empowerment of American women and signifies women's independence in the workplace.
So, I'd run for 24 miles and then Mani pops up out of nowhere with some gummy bears to top up my sugar. I'm like, "Dude, how'd you teleport here?”
I finally returned to Kentucky after crossing the Big Four Bridge.
Feeling pretty good, I managed to jog the whole way and crossed the finish line in a little over 4 hours and 40 minutes, not too shabby!
So, the after-party is happening at Racing Louisville's home base, Little Mushroom's doing the volunteer thing, Cindy's already bounced, and Siqi? Crushed the race and finished early.
Managed to snag a group pic with Siqi and Little Mushroom, and then guess what? Spotted a fellow runner rocking Arsenal gear crossing the finish line, so naturally, I had to get a snap with my Arsenal buddy.
The after-race party was buzzing! Ran into Jim and Christine, chatted a bit, then went snap-happy with the medal. Kinda didn't want to head home.
Following the race, I expertly sifted through numerous official photos and handpicked a select few to enrich this narrative.
#Afterword
Exploring a city through a marathon – isn't that just the best way to get to know a place? Four years have whizzed by in the blink of an eye, and I'm grateful for this article because, without it, I might never have delved into the stories behind the buildings or learnt the names of the streets I ran through.
I've taken some time to put together the text and photos. This year, I've become more organized in my work, and I'm determined not to be the guy who updates only once a year anymore. I even made the most of a missed flight in Chicago to complete most of this article.
And, oh, how I love the Derby Marathon training camp organized by the wonderful Stephanie Fish. The chocolate juice we get after each training truly feels like the best drink in the world. But, for some reason, when I buy it myself, it never tastes quite as good.
Patrick Messenger's Track training every Tuesday is always enlightening. He teaches us different techniques and training methods. And the gang at Fleet Feet? Myrdin Thompson is such a fantastic organizer.
Our running community is pretty special, and I always encourage my friends to join the fun. I'm so proud that my Turkish friend Fatih Usta has participated in many small running races and collected some medals after returning to Istanbul. He told me it was my encouragement and that of Siqi's that spurred him on while we were in Louisville. We've even made plans to run the Istanbul Marathon together one day.
Then there's my Bangladeshi friend, Sumit Paul. Last year, during the Ice Cream 5k, he was huffing and puffing and came in near the end. But this year, after my constant nudges to take cycling classes, his transformation has been remarkable – he's always leading the pack now!
And let's not forget Ryan, the new marathon runner in our town, always smashing his PR at the Joe Creason Parkrun 5k. He also completed his first full marathon in Indianapolis.
And, of course, the incredible Siqi, Marathoner!
Just like the saying goes, "Who runs a marathon if they're not a little crazy?" Sure, running a marathon might seem a bit extreme to some, but maybe your knees are stronger than you think.
-End-