TWO DAY EXPO OPENS THURSDAY
April 15, 2014. Louisville, KY. – More than 16,000 people are expected to attend the two-day Kentucky Derby Festival Race Expo this week, in preparation for the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon/miniMarathon® presented by Walmart and HumanaVitality. This year’s Expo will be open in Hall 2D at the Kentucky International Convention Center, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 18.
The Expo features packet pick-up for the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon/miniMarathon® presented by Walmart and HumanaVitality, as well as the miniFun Run presented by HumanaVitality and Subway® Restaurants; and the new Tour de Lou cycling event. NEW this year, runners can also attend a special Speaker’s Series featuring topics such as: Race Preparation, Jeff Galloway’s Run/Walk Technique, Post Race Nutrition, and more. (The complete Speaker’s Series is listed below.)
More than 100 exhibitors will be set up at the event to showcase the latest in health and fitness products, athletic apparel, shoes and accessories and the Derby Festival’s official ASICS Race Gear will be available for purchase. Visitors can get a FREE massage or heat therapy treatment. PLUS, guests can have their photo taken at the race finish line, before they even run the race at the HumanaVitality photo booth. The Conlin Company will also be on site both days casting for an upcoming television show called UTOPIA, which will air on Fox.
Runners and their families can carbo-load on Friday, April 18, at the Running Wild Pasta Dinner from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Louisville’s own Wesley Korir, winner of the three consecutive KDF miniMarathons in 2009, 2009 and 2010; and the 2012 Boston Marathon champion, will be speaking and taking questions at the Pasta Dinner. Tickets for the dinner are $9 for adults and $6 for children under 12 and are available by calling (502) 584-FEST.
There will be NO LATE ENTRIES for runners who want to participate in the races but are not registered. However, race organizers will offer 250 “Charity Bibs” for runners who missed the registration deadline. The bibs – which allow entry into either the Marathon or miniMarathon – cost $125, with proceeds going to the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation, the Derby Festival’s charitable arm. The Charity Bibs will only be available at the Race Expo, first-come, first-served, beginning at 4 pm. on Thursday, April 17. The Charity Bibs are tax-deductible.
The races, which will begin simultaneously at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 19, will start near on Main Street in downtown Louisville (near Louisville Slugger Field) and will finish at Preston and Witherspoon streets. The runners will also run through the main gate at Churchill Downs for their lap through the infield.
The Race Expo contributing sponsors are BB&T, BlueMile, LHC Group, 99.7 DJX.
