Registration Open for Louisville Sports Commission’s Three Fall Running Races
Louisville, Ky. – Jan. 3, 2024 – Registration is open for the Louisville Sports Commission’s (LSC) three popular fall running races, starting with the Louisville Pure Tap® 5K on Sept. 7, followed by the Norton Sports Health 4-Miler on Sept. 30 and the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon (UBHM) on Oct. 12. The three races provide unique courses and quality experiences for runners and walkers, while promoting active lifestyles for people of all ages and fitness levels.
The schedule of races:
- Sept 7: Louisville Pure Tap® 5K at the historic Louisville Water Tower Park
- 30: Norton Sports Health 4-Miler at Iroquois Park
- 12: UBHM starts and finishes in downtown Louisville.
“We regularly see a flurry of training in the spring as people of all ages and abilities prepare for the city’s Triple Crown of Running, followed by the Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon and Marathon,” said Greg Fante, 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 running races, we want to continue to encourage a mindset of year-round training.”
The Louisville Pure Tap® 5K on Sept. 7 will be held at the historic Louisville Water Tower Park. The race begins and ends at the home of Louisville’s drinking water, following a flat course that runs east and west on River Road. Race participants are again invited to bring their dogs to participate. There will be an additional $10 fee to register dogs, with proceeds supporting Friends of Metro Animal Services. Dogs will receive a special bandana to recognize their participation. Runner registration is $25 and will increase to $30 on Aug. 12. For more information and to register online, visit PureTap5k.com.
For the second year in a row, the Norton Sports Health 4-Miler will be held on Sept. 30 at Iroquois Park on the lower loop near the intersection of Amphitheater Road and Rundill Road. Thanks to a partnership between the Parks Alliance of Louisville and the LSC, the four-mile course will take race participants through the Jack O’Lantern Spectacular trail after they cross the finish line. Runners and walkers will be able to see more than 5,000 artistically carved illuminated pumpkins before the event opens to the public. Registration is $30 and will increase to $35 on Mar. 1. For more information and to register online, go to Norton4Miler.com.
The 13th annual UBHM, scheduled for Oct. 12, 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 Feb. 1 to $75. Registration price includes admission to the Urban Bourbon Bash at Fourth Street Live! featuring bourbon tastings, local craft 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. 12. 2024, to register.
Participants in the full three-race series 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, participants must be 21 by Oct. 12 to register for the three-race series. More information about the Fall Runathon can be found at FallRunathon.com.