KENTUCKY’S TWO LARGEST HALF-MARATHONS JOIN FORCES.
Jan. 8, 2014 Louisville, KY. – Kentucky’s two largest Half-Marathons have joined forces to create the Kentucky Half Classic. The Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon presented by Walmart and HumanaVitality in Louisville and Lexington’s RunTheBluegrass Half-Marathon presented by Bodyfit have created a partnership encouraging runners to participate in both events.

Lexington’s RunTheBluegrass, set for Saturday, March 29th, starts and finishes on Keeneland Race Course’s gorgeous grounds and takes runners through picturesque Thoroughbred Farms such as Donamire Farm, Stonestreet Farm and Calumet – while the urban attractions such as Louisville Slugger, Museum Row on Main and Churchill Downs await you along the course of the Derby Festival miniMarathon, set for April 19.

“There is no other partnership like this at this level,” says Mike Berry, Kentucky Derby Festival President & CEO, “It’s a great opportunity to run two very different races with dramatically different landscapes and see a lot of what Kentucky has to offer.”

Runners who complete both races will not only receive a commemorative, Kentucky-crafted finisher’s medal, but will also have exclusive access to Half Classic photo opportunities and designated food and beverage areas after each race.

“No other state in America offers what our new Kentucky Half Classic offers,” says Eric Patrick Marr, RunTheBluegrass Race Director. “The chance to run through multi-million dollar Thoroughbred Farms and also through one of today’s coolest, trendiest American cities. From a runner’s perspective, it doesn’t get any better than that.”

For more information and to register, go to derbyfestivalmarathon.com or runthebluegrass.org.

Since 1956, the Derby Festival has worked to bring the community together in celebration. The Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single-attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.

RunTheBluegrass is organized by The LeXenomics Group in Lexington, established in 2010. LeXenomics regularly hosts events to help new ideas spread throughout Central Kentucky.

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For more information, contact:

Derby Festival Press Office

Aimee Boyd

aboyd@kdf.org

(502) 584-FEST

RunTheBluegrass

Eric Patrick Marr

EricPatrickMarr@LeXenomics.org

859-361-9811

FREE TRAINING PROGRAM KICKS OFF JAN. 14

Jan. 2, 2013. Louisville, KY. – Norton Sports Health and Kentucky Derby Festival are teaming up once again to offer a FREE Training Program to prepare runners and walkers for the KDF Marathon and miniMarathon set for Saturday, April 19, 2014.

The free 14-week Norton Sports Health Training Program offers training tips and weekly group runs for participants of all levels of experience. Runners and walkers can register for the training program online at www.derbyfestivalmarathon.com. The kick-off for the program will be held on Jan. 14, 2014, at 6 p.m. at duPont Manual High School.

The first meeting of the training program will include distribution of a free training packet; free gifts from Norton Sports Health; overview of the Marathon and miniMarathon; introduction of the Norton Sports Health Training Team including orthopedic and primary care physicians specializing in sports health, professional athletic trainers, nutritionists and physical therapists with specialized experience in caring for athletes; and a question-and-answer session for all participants. The 41st annual 13.1-mile miniMarathon and 26.2-mile Marathon start simultaneously at 7:30 a.m. in downtown Louisville.

Norton Sports Health features a team of highly trained sports medicine specialists, including orthopaedists, neurologists, physiatrists and primary care physicians. These specialists work together with trainers, physical therapists, nurses and other care providers to design customized programs that help return athletes of all ages to optimal performance following a sports-related injury.

This is Norton Sports Health’s second year as title sponsor of the Training Program. They are joined by contributing sponsors Swags Sport Shoes and 102.3 The Max.

Norton Sports Health, a part of Norton Healthcare, is one of the Louisville area’s leading sports-related injury prevention and treatment programs. From professional, collegiate and high school competitors to those who just want to stay fit, Norton Sports Health provides advanced care for athletes and active individuals of all ages. The Norton Sports Health specialists are experts in arthroscopic surgery and other minimally invasive procedures used to treat sports-related injuries of the shoulder, elbow and knee. In addition to treating sports injuries, these specialists are involved in research to gain a better understanding of why athletes become injured. The Norton Sports Health team includes fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons, neurologists, professional trainers and physical therapists who work together to design customized programs to meet each patient’s specific needs. More information is available at www.NortonHealthcare.com/SportsHealth.

Since 1956, the Derby Festival has worked to bring the community together in celebration. The Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.

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For more information, contact:

Derby Festival Press Office at (502) 584-FEST