Monday, April 20, 2009

Derby 101

The Kentucky Derby Mini/Marathon is this only 5 days away!

Even though I've got the big 26.2 on the horizon now, this race will be anything but a training run...

Both Cuz and I have trained hard for this and I know we will have a great run.


This past Saturday was Thunder Over Louisville, or as I like to call it Complete and Utter Chaos With Fireworks and Planes in the Background. It's a big ol' fireworks show that serves as the official kick-off to the Kentucky Derby Festival.

For all your non-Louisvillians out there, here is a little Derby 101:

  • Big hats are a necessity for the ladies...therefore, they are horribly overpriced this time of year
  • Churchill Downs is located in a really dodgy part of the city-- you'd never guess that while watching the CBS/ABC/NBC coverage on TV
  • The Infield is as disgusting as you would imagine
  • Mint Juleps are more disgusting than you would imagine
  • We never seem to get any true A-list celebs, and Nick Lachey is REALLY wearing out his welcome
  • You can smuggle booze into the infield by hollowing out a watermelon
  • The sound of the horses thundering past the rail is worth all the trouble of going to Derby

It's an exciting time in the Bluegrass.

11 comments:

  1. ahh youre going to do so good! im excited to hear all about it girl :) haha and im loving your nick lachey comment.. you know you love him! lol

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  2. lol!! Watch the dodgy area comments regarding Churchill Downs, I grew up near there. The neighborhood is just old but there are a lot of good people that live in that area. I don't mean to sound defensive, I just have to take up for my 'hood!! LOL! :)

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  3. Haha, sorry Joe-- no offensive! What I mean is it's by no means "horse country." The TV broadcast always splices in shots of the big $$$ farms and then cuts to Churchill like it's the same place.

    I'm glad that you "put on for your city!"

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  4. You're absolutely right and the neighborhood is a little dodgy. I was just giving you a hard time. It's like South Bend, IN...by seeing a football game on TV, you think the place is as beautiful as the campus. Well, I have news for folks out there, Notre Dame's campus is the ONLY thing beautiful in SB.

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  5. I cant wait to see the pictures for this one!

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  6. You don't like Mint Juleps?! That's the only part I like about the actual race...

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  7. Cristina-- I don't have Derby tix for this year, but I'll post my pics from last year!

    Jake-- YUCK!

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  8. You will do such a fantastic job!! Good luck! :) Can't wait to hear about it!

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  9. Can you believe I have now been in Louisville for 10 years, and the mini will be the first time I have ever stepped foot inside of Churchill Downs. Maybe it's because of your first points, and I never paid enough attention to your last point. LOL

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