LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Are you ready to run for the roses? For the first time, participants of the GE Appliances miniMarathon and Marathon will receive a rose after crossing the finish line of the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon on Saturday, April 27.
The Kentucky Derby Festival teamed up with Churchill Downs to the design the medal, commemorating Kentucky's largest day of road racing and celebrating the historic 150th Kentucky Derby. The Finisher's Medal features a red rose front and center against a black background with gold accents, highlighting the Kentucky Derby's signature color palette.
"This Finisher's Medal is not only recognition for their amazing achievement but also a collector's piece that salutes a historic time in our city," Matt Gibson, president and CEO of the Kentucky Derby Festival, said in the news release Tuesday.
The Kentucky Derby has been known for the red rose for more than 125 years, with the winning horse receiving the infamous Garland of Roses every year since 1932.
"Churchill Downs is thrilled that this year, as we prepare for the 150th Run for the Roses, thousands of athletes from all over the country and world will have the opportunity to run for their rose in the Derby Festival races," Tony Abeln, vice president of communications for Churchill Downs, said in a news release Tuesday.
2024 marks the 51st annual GE Appliances miniMarathon and the 23rd run of the GE Appliances Marathon. Runners from all 50 states and several countries come to Louisville the the race, and for the first time since the 2019 event, both courses will be finding their way back home to Kentucky. The marathon has been split in between Kentucky and southern Indiana since the COVID-19 pandemic but will return to south Louisville in 2024.
The race is scheduled to start at 7 a.m. on Main Street, near Slugger Field, and then end on Adams Street by the Lynn Family Stadium. Participants of the race will be able to experience the many sights and sounds of downtown Louisville, as well as seeing Churchill Downs, the historic Old Louisville Neighborhood, parts of Olmsted Park System and many other attractions. The complete course map and details will be available to runners in the upcoming weeks.
"Whether you're an avid runner looking to qualify for the Boston Marathon, collecting medals from every state or taking that first step, this race means something to every person who crosses the finish line," Kevin Nolan, president and CEO of GE Appliances, said in a news release Tuesday.
Race registration is open online. Current rates are $75 for the miniMarathon and $85 for the Marathon. In addition to the miniMarathon (half marathon) and the full Marathon, the Derby Festival is also offering a Marathon Relay ($325) for teams of three to five runners, as well as the virtual miniMarathon & Marathon ($50) for those who prefer to run at their own pace. More information is available at DerbyFestivalMarathon.com.
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