NEW DATE FOR HUMANA DERBY FESTIVAL MINI IS SATURDAY, AUGUST 22
2020 MARATHON, RELAY WILL NOT BE RESCHEDULED

March 25, 2020. Louisville, KY. – As the Kentucky Derby Festival works to move events to later in the year, the new date for the annual Humana miniMarathon has been set for Saturday, August 22. While the half marathon moves to August, the Marathon and Marathon Relay will not be rescheduled for 2020, but these runners will have other options for participation, including virtually.

“This is an unprecedented time for all of us. We know our runners are disappointed that the event is not able to be held in April and we share in that disappointment,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO. “Public health and safety needs to be everyone’s priority right now, and we continue to support that effort. We know we’ll get through this together.”

With a tighter window to hold the road races in August and several other events already taking place, the Festival was not able to reschedule the Marathon and Marathon Relay portions of the event. The Marathon and Relay require runners to go double the distance, can take more time to complete, and close many more roads throughout the city, as compared to the miniMarathon.

Runners already registered to participate in the mini, Marathon or Relay, do have several options and will receive an email with details on next steps they can take, including:

• Run the 2020 miniMarathon at the newly rescheduled date of August 22, 2020 (miniMarathon participants who want to “stay in the race” don’t need to do anything and will be moved automatically to the new August date. Marathon and Relay participants can transfer to the mini through their runner profile. Deadline to move to the mini is April 25.)
• Run the 2020 miniMarathon, Marathon and Relay Virtually (This option allows runners to participate but run on their own time and still receive a medal, shirt and other perks. Participants can choose the virtual option through their runner profile and need to do so by April 25.)
• Defer registration to 2021 or 2022 (Runners who wish to defer their registration to another year, have until April 25 to decide, and can do so through their existing runner profile or email minimarathon@kdf.org to request the deferral.)
• Make 2020 registration fee a donation (The Derby Festival’s miniMarathon has been part of the local community for more than 40 years. As a not-for-profit the Festival is able produce the races each year through entry fees. With the 2020 event initially scheduled for April, a majority of funds from registration have already been put toward operational expenses and runner experiences.)

Due to the expected heat and humidity in August, Race Organizers are already planning some adjustments to the event. The start time for the race will move up to 6:30 a.m. The starting line will be in the same location on Main Street near Slugger Field, make the traditional run through Churchill Downs infield, and the finish will be on Adams Street, just outside the new Lynn Family Stadium.

Said Gibson: “We appreciate the patience from our runners, as well as the support our races have received from the community for decades. We hope that will continue even as the 2020 Humana miniMarathon moves to August.”

The Festival is also working with Norton Sports Health, the Official Race Medical Provider & Training Partner, as well as Supporting Sponsor, Louisville Water Company, to make sure there will be additional water on the course for runners, as well as misters and spray stations. Norton Sports Health is also creating a new training program to prepare mini runners for the new date.

2020 marks the 47th annual miniMarathon and 19th annual Marathon. This is the first time the mini has been postponed to a different date, and first time the marathon has been cancelled. More details on the races can be found online at DerbyFestivalMarathon.com.

COVERAGE NOTE: The Derby Festival continues to work to reschedule other 2020 events in the new timeframe. More information on those events and their new dates will be released as soon as it is finalized.