About the Kentucky Derby Festival Race Weekend
The course starts at a downtown baseball stadium and winds through several Louisville neighborhoods before passing through the infield at Churchill Downs, where the Kentucky Derby is run. That stretch is the centerpiece of the route, and it is unlike anything on most road courses. The finish brings you back downtown, where a post-race party is already going when you arrive.
The weekend opens with a standalone evening race the night before the main event, shorter and separate from the half and full marathon. Runners who want to do both days can combine that race with the half or full. The virtual option lets people who cannot make it to Louisville run the same distances on their own.
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Distances & Start Times
13.1 Miles4/24/2027 07:00$65
26.2 Miles4/24/2027 07:00$75
26.2 Miles4/24/2027 07:00$325
3.1 Miles4/23/2027 19:00$45
13.1 Miles4/24/2027 07:00$50
26.2 Miles4/24/2027 07:00$50
KDF Race Challenge 5K & Humana minMarathon4/23/2027 19:00$105
KDF Race Challenge 5K & Humana Marathon4/23/2027 19:00$115
Going for a Time?
Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.
Where to Stay
Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Louisville — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.
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