LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As Louisville races towards Derby season, new details are available about what the 2021 Humana miniMarathon and Marathon will look like. This year, the event will span two states and four cities to allow for social distancing and compliance with COVID-19 guidelines.

The Kentucky Derby Festival (KDF) developed plans for both virtual and in-person race options this year. The in-person race will start and finish at Lynn Family Stadium, home of the Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC. Participants will run a looped course that includes the Big Four Bridge, Ohio River Greenway, and parts of the Louisville Loop.

“The Derby Festival is lucky to have great partners on both sides of the river — the City of Jeffersonville, the City of New Albany, the Town of Clarksville and Metro Louisville — helping us produce the event this year,” said KDF President and CEO Matt Gibson. “We want to ensure participants have both a safe and a memorable experience.”

Below is a map of the course:

COURTESY KDF

After departing from the stadium, runners will cross the Big Four Bridge and continue along the developing Ohio River Greenway. The Greenway will take runners through Jeffersonville, Clarksville, and New Albany before returning to the Big Four Bridge and completing their run along the Louisville side of the river.

While both mini and Marathon runners will travel along the Big Four Bridge and the Greenway, Marathon participants will also run a portion of the Louisville Loop along the Riverwalk before finishing at the stadium.

The routes this year were changed to allow for social distancing and to create a course that could be open for multiple days without requiring road closures. The miniMarathon (13.1 miles) will take place over four days, from April 22-25, while the Marathon (26.2 miles) will take place on April 24 only.

“We have created a unique open course this year, utilizing bike lanes, as well as walking and running paths,” said Race Director Chris Martin. “The modifications to the course help us ensure social distancing, but also limit the streets closures and impact to the community during the days of the event.”

The park areas of the course will still be open to the public as the event is underway. Start times will be staggered from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. each day, and finishers are expected to be completed in the early afternoon hours. Spectators will be discouraged, and signage will alert the public of the event.

Other changes will be in place this year, including:

• Temperature checks at the start
• Masks are required at the start and finish line areas, as well as throughout the event venue; However, participants can remove their masks while running the course.
• Staggered start times that are pre-schedule
• Self-start course, utilizing bib timing chips and timing mats so participants don’t have to wait in a corral.
• Course time limits for both miniMarathon and Marathon
• Self-serve water stops provided by Louisville Water Company
• Participants are encouraged to bring their own nutrition, as it is not able to be provided along the course due to COVID-19 precautions. 

There's currently a waitlist for the Marathon; however, there are still spots available for the in-person miniMarathon. Registration is open online.

2021 marks the 48th annual miniMarathon and the 20th annual Marathon.