I was racing the Derby Festival Half Marathon for the first time this year (I had previously paced my wife) and was excited for the experience. My first concern was from my previous experience at the Expo. Last year in order to leave the expo after picking up your number and shirt, you had to weave through almost every vendor, in a crowded space. This year that changed and the ease of packet pickup was amazing. I'm not much for race expos, so being able to park, get my number and shirt, and leave without dealing with crowds was a big plus. However, I do know the Expo has great vendors and deals so it's worth checking out if that's your thing.
Race morning dawned with great weather, which was nice compared to some years (obviously you can't control that). The parking is all street parking. Being local, I am fine with this. I was able to park maybe 1/2 mile from the start line and walk, and it was easy to leave after the race as well.
Getting to the start is easy until you get towards the front corrals, which tend to get crowded. I allowed plenty of time so this wasn't an issue. The race started and running through downtown and West Louisville early on was great. For people from out of town, running past U of L and through Churchill Downs has to be amazing. This course is unique for that, and makes it a race worth checking out. Overall, the volunteers and the course were amazing. The people at aid stations were great too, as were the crowds. The only negatives I would point out:
- The mile markers were off early on, especially the first 5 miles. Using a GPS watch this wasn't a problem, but for someone who didn't have this it could really throw you off if you're shooting for a certain pace.
- The aid stations were spread out a bit more than I would have liked. In a late spring race with the chance for heat, they need to be closer together, never more than 2 miles apart.
- I was closer to the front of the race and the markings entering and leaving Churchill Downs were not clear. I didn't have anyone close in front of me to see where they went and I almost made a wrong turn leaving Churchill Downs. This could have been marked better.
Those 3 things are so small and can be easily fixed. Overall, the race is great and it does seem to try to improve every year. It's a race that keeps growing, but they don't get complacent, they try every year to give a great experience.