Denise Branagan's Staging Area

This was my 3rd marathon. The weather was pretty warm – 68 at the start – so I decided in the corral to go out at party pace to avoid overheating. The first half is really fun, lots of spectators, and you run through churchill downs which is so great! I also liked Iroquois park, even with the hills (i walked part of the first one, then ran the ups and downs). I found the spectators really lacking though as you came back down and through the city…and the marathoners had to dodge the half marathon walkers which i found pretty frustrating and demotivating (at that point you’re at miles 18-20, and the walkers are wakling a 3.5 hour or so half marathon). The worst of the worst was miles 21-25, which is an out-and-back on waterfront road, so no spectators! I’m so glad one of the volunteers had an orange, i completely cratered and really struggled there. Post race was fine, but we found some good bars on the 1.5 mile walk back to the hotel. I love Louisville, have come here for work for the past 18 years, and enjoyed the experience overall!