On Saturday, I ran the Kentucky Derby Marathon in Louisville, KY. It was a fun race and my 45th marathon. I had lots of fun but I was slow due to it being hilly, but it's a race I would run again because it's loads of fun.
After the Disney Marathon, I was supposed to run the Houston Marathon for a PR, but I caught a fever the night before the race and I had to DNS. But don't fret, as I always have back up marathons all throughout the year! When I realized KY would be my 45th, I started counting down through the rest of the planned marathon and realize my 50th would be Chicago later this year! Makes sense it would be that one.
After Houston, I ran the Princess Half Marathon weekend with my girlfriends and we had tons of fun. As I mentioned, hubby and I went straight to the hospital for his second brain surgery, which went well. His recovery was even more amazing than the last time. He was running and back to work in 10 days. My training really did not start in full until after we were back home and rested. However, for the first time in a while, we had time to train me well and train well we did. I am finally back to the mileage I was before my knee surgery and my speed seems to have come back. I did some challenging workouts, including a 21 miler that was more a marathon than anything else (in speed and challenges). Training, as usual, went great. But you know me, I train well and race poorly and this time it was no exception, ha.We landed in Indy on Thursday night and stayed overnight.
We had dinner in Bourbon District at the Hard Rock Cafe. I had some fajitas and my stomach was happy to eat that instead of carbs. I went to bed at midnight and woke up at 6:10am ready to go.
The race started at 7:30am and we stayed a couple of blocks from the start and finish lines. We started around 4 minutes after the race started. No waves. Just corrals and then everybody started as they crossed the finish line. My husband went off like a bat out of hell and then I never saw him again until I was finishing. He was doing the HM and he is slower than me but I feel like he is coming after my 2:04 HM PR, motherfucker.
At this point, I text my husband and say, is this the Flying Pig? The park felt the same way as the Pig. In fact, I wish the hills were located similar to where the Pig ones were because it's Miles 6-9 and then you don't hit hills this bad later. But by placing them from 11-17, which are to me, the hardest miles to race during a marathon (after the HM point and before 20 miles), it made the rest of the race hard.I finally headed out of the park and for the life of me, the flat miles 18-19 felt like uphill. My legs were done. I ran as much as I could but I had issues with my compression sock bunching (FFS, I already ran a marathon sockless, so I should have done the same here but I never learn). I stopped too many times to fix the sock, and to take water, or Powerade. Thank you to the man who gave me a whole bottle of Powerade which I drank while walking. And thank you to the kid that gave me a bottle of Electrolyte Water at Mile 22. Forever grateful.Mile 22 is where the other bad hill is located. At this point I looked at it and said seriously? Even though I am walking a lot, I still see the same people around me so I know I'm not the only one struggling. I finished with the same people I was around at Mile 14, so at least that is something.At this point, I text my husband and whine that I was probably walking the rest of the race. And then I put my phone in my pocket and proceed to run for two miles (except to fix my sock). And then it becomes three miles. And then I text him I'm at Mile 25. He texted back that he was 1/2 mile from the finish. And I keep running and don't see him. And I keep running and running and thinking how much longer to get to 26, sheesh? The marker for 25 was 0.40 from my watch, although I think it wasn't placed correctly since I crossed Mile 26 0.20 off from the watch, which is more normal for me. I finally saw my husband, who took a picture of me on the run (it was hideous so I won't post it) and I head to the finish. Finished in 5:13:15. Not the time I wanted (I seriously thought I could at least run a sub-5 in this course, hahahaha), but faster than the San Francisco Marathon and the Pig, both comparably hilly, albeit a bit worse. So, not too bad.I had tons of fun at this race, notwithstanding. The people cheering were having fun even with the slower runners. It's a party. The only thing I didn't see was bourbon or beer on the course. I know it was there but most likely it was there for the half marathoners and by the time I went by it was gone. It was hot and sunny when I finished, so I don't blame them for leaving, lol.I grabbed a heat blanket and my medal and headed outside to meet my husband and get a beer.
Marathon # 45 is done and 46 is coming up in two weeks. Next time, don't trust your gut and listen to the people that have run that said it's fucking hilly, lol.
Damaris
As part of the 2024 London Marathon, I am fundraising for VICTA, a charity that helps blind and visually impaired children. My mentor while in law school, Jim K (a blind attorney), has been a huge inspiration and an example of courage and perseverance. Please consider donating.
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I always enjoy your RRs. Sounds like a challenging course, but you still had fun! Congrats on #45!
This report entertained the hell out of me, thank you! It sounds like a really neat course, and the Churchill Downs part is super cool. Nice job!
Super B****
As entertaining a read as this was, I'm still stuck on the first line. 45 marathons. You are insane.
chasing the impossible
because i never shut up ... i blog
Warm&fuzzy
but I feel like he is coming after my 2:04 HM PR, motherfucker.
I'm still laughing.
Runner with a riding problem.
That is a crazy looking middle section. Nice race, too bad there was no beer or bourbon on the course.
There was (according to my husband). I just passed by too late for it.
Go figure
I'm kinda bummed I didn't see you out there now - seeing all of your various pictures, I have so many of the same ones in the city. I would never have guessed it'd be such a challenging course, but everyone I spoke with said the same things you did. You sound ready for a trail ultra with your walk the hills and run the flats strategy. It's the only way to go sometimes!
I'm glad your husband is recovering as well as he is...must be a huge relief. It may even be worth letting him beat your PR. NAH
Since I was just pacing a friend and having fun, I did manage to find the beer stop on course...AND, my favorite thing, a girl with a shirt that said Run for Tacos, passing out tacos! Totally ate one of those.
Trying to find some more hay to restock the barn
I'm kinda bummed I didn't see you out there now - seeing all of your various pictures, I have so many of the same ones in the city. I would never have guessed it'd be such a challenging course, but everyone I spoke with said the same things you did. You sound ready for a trail ultra with your walk the hills and run the flats strategy. It's the only way to go sometimes! I'm glad your husband is recovering as well as he is...must be a huge relief. It may even be worth letting him beat your PR. NAH Since I was just pacing a friend and having fun, I did manage to find the beer stop on course...AND, my favorite thing, a girl with a shirt that said Run for Tacos, passing out tacos! Totally ate one of those.
Hell no. I already ran a 50K that had 20 miles of sand dune hills. Nope nope nope.
He was doing the HM and he is slower than me but I feel like he is coming after my 2:04 HM PR, motherfucker.
Best line. Ever. Still laughing!!!
Ugh. Anytime you have to walk that much, it's a pretty rough day. I would have definitely been looking for the beer station; I was looking for one at Eugene but none to be found. (Unfortunate because it's the home of Ninkasi; they did have a beer garden at the finish.) Still surprised there were no mint juleps available on the course (although they are disgusting). Glad you still enjoyed the day (somehow), and congrats on checking off #45.
What is #46?
Dave
Great RR, as always. 45
Ugh. Anytime you have to walk that much, it's a pretty rough day. I would have definitely been looking for the beer station; I was looking for one at Eugene but none to be found. (Unfortunate because it's the home of Ninkasi; they did have a beer garden at the finish.) Still surprised there were no mint juleps available on the course (although they are disgusting). Glad you still enjoyed the day (somehow), and congrats on checking off #45. What is #46?
Martha's Vineyard Marathon. Should be much flatter than this one!