Derby Field

After 149 Kentucky Derbys, Louisville Knows Sports

Louisville Sports Commission’s Fall Runathon Returns with Splash of Bourbon

Louisville, Ky. – April 11, 2019 – The Louisville Sports Commission’s (LSC) seventh annual Fall Runathon – a popular three-race running series anchored by the spirited Urban Bourbon Half Marathon (UBHM) presented by Jim Beam® – returns in 2019 by popular demand. The LSC today released the 2019 Fall Runathon schedule, featuring the Louisville pure tap® 5K, the Norton Sports Health 10K and the UBHM that provide unique courses and quality experiences for runners and walkers, while promoting active lifestyles for people of all ages and fitness levels.

“We regularly see a flurry of training in the spring as people of all ages and abilities prepare for the city’s recently completed Triple Crown of Running, followed by the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini and Marathon,” said Karl F. Schmitt, Jr., president and CEO of the Louisville Sports Commission. “And while this uptick in healthy activity is great, many participants hang up their running shoes once Derby has come and gone. With our Fall Runathon series, we want to continue to encourage a mindset of year-round training.”

The ninth annual Louisville pure tap® 5K will be held Sept. 7 at the historic Louisville Water Tower. The race begins and ends at the home of Louisville’s drinking water, Louisville Water Tower Park, following a flat course that runs east and west on River Road. Registration is $25, and will increase to $30 on Aug. 14. For more information and to register online, visit PureTap5k.com.

The Norton Sports Health 10K returns for its seventh year on Sept. 21 at the Parklands of Floyds Fork. The race offers a scenic course that showcases native plants and wildlife. There also will be a Wellness Festival and a free 3/4-mile kid’s fun run at the Egg Lawn. Registration is $35, and will increase to $40 on Aug. 1. For more information and to register online, go to NortonSportsHealth10K.com.

Returning this year on Oct. 19, the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon presented by Jim Beam® (UBHM) pays tribute to the Commonwealth’s signature industry while wrapping Kentucky bourbon, food and entertainment around a world-class half marathon. The 13.1-mile course pours through the settings that make Louisville unique and showcases 200 years of bourbon heritage and culture. The course starts and ends in downtown Louisville and winds through the fall foliage along the Scenic Loop in Cherokee Park.

Registration for the half marathon starts at $70 and increases on May 8 to $75. Registration price includes admission to the Urban Bourbon Bash at Fourth Street Live! featuring bourbon tastings, Falls City Beer, Bearno’s Pizza, a three-hour concert by Louisville Crashers and more. The Urban Bourbon Bash was named one of the best after-parties in the country by Runner’s World. For the complete registration schedule and special event offerings for the UBHM, visit UrbanBourbonHalf.com. The half marathon is intended for those age 21 and older, which means runners must be 21 on or before Oct. 19, 2019, to register.

Those interested in participating in the full three-race series can receive a 10 percent discount off each race’s registration price. However, since the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon is meant for those age 21 and older, you must be 21 by Oct. 19 to register for the three-race series. More information about the Fall Runathon, including registration and route information, can be found at FallRunathon.com.