State #14: Kentucky

State #14 Kentucky; Kentucky Derby Marathon and Mini Marathon; Louisville, Kentucky  

April 30, 2016 Birthday Run!!!! Birthday Run 

Overall Participates: 12,314.  Participates for half 10,438 Finished Time: 1: 59:28. Overall Placed 2384Females 821 

Highlights:

1. First time running a state on my birthday
2. Over 12,000 of my friends came to celebrate with me.
3. I ran too fast 7:35 min mile to get away from the people...that lasted for 2 miles.
4. First truly urban race...no back roads...all city...all day. 
5. Mile 8 we ran into Churchill Downs. it was amazing. Plus the horses were running. My ass was trying to take a picture of this magical moment...epic fail.
6. Mile 7 it started to rain and by 10 it poured down hard. Trying to watch for puddles and cracks
7. Freaking tall man's damn long arms kept swinging by my face. Clearly I'm short.
8. Thought there would be more racial diversity running. ..well I was wrong on that note. I could count on 2 hands...twice over
9. Crowd was interesting. ..they were there but kinda quiet at sections.
10. I ran with a flower on me...first time ever because this is how I break in 42 with state #14.  
11. Can't believe there was no Bourbon at the finish line...really?
12. I didn't PR but still under 2 hrs.
13. First time in Louisville but was running in the Chenault homestead state
14. There is a different kind of Southerners here ..too much to go into detail.
15. Loved being virtually tracked by family and friends. Felt like everyone was with me.
16. Enjoyed being further South on the Ohio River. 
17. Dad came with me and we got to explore Louisville, Churchill Downs, University of Louisville and go to the Muhammad Ali Museum. I had no idea about what a trail blazer Ali was.
18. Ran into a couple of my sorors, black girl run sisters, and Black Men run.  We were small but a great supportive group. 
19. To end the race with the pouring rain, I couldn’t find my dad. His phone had died and we didn’t come up with a proper meet up plan. For 45 minutes I was a bit panic. I found him in the rain. We went off to hotel for a shower then to the airport. I had a flight to catch and a party to go to in Boston.