Race Recap Part 2

I probably should have written this blog right after the race so it would be fresh in my mind, but driving home took a little longer than anticipated (an extra 2 hours!!!)...and dinner seemed WAY more important once I finally did get home. Sorry!

The race started at 7:30 a.m. and as we walked to the starting line we saw about a dozen hot air balloons floating over the city as the sun was rising. What a gorgeous and peaceful start to the day!

Around mile 5 Jen and I started to panic that there was not going to be any Gatorade on the course...

The marathon and half marathon (or mini marathon as the Kentuckians call it) stay together for the first 8-9 miles. One of the highlights of the course is running through Churchill Downs. We stopped for a few pictures and were lucky enough to see horses running on the track too!

Finally at mile 9 there was blue Powerade. I've never been happier to see a sports drink of any kind.


We entered Iroquois Park around mile 11. This is similar to the Eden Park climb in the Flying Pig marathon. The road through the park was curvy,  hilly, and shaded. It was a nice change of pace from the flat mostly residential areas we had been running in. I believe we came out of the park around mile 16. 

Goodbye shade.

There were only small sections of shade for the remaining 10 miles. It was very sunny and warmer than ideal for marathon running. A nice wind did cool us off after we hit 20 miles, however it was a headwind. There was also Mt. Everest at mile 23.  We powered up and over the hill and into the homestretch.

It was great running together the whole time. Chatting, being quiet, encouraging each other and other runners, laughing. It amazed me how much we sill have in common all these years later! Who else could I have discussed Lauren Tanner with at mile 10?


Congrats to Jen on marathon #16 and state #13!


Stay tuned, my #7 may be sooner than later!