Registration for Derby Festival road races now open | Events

From Kentucky Derby Festival Press Office

For the fifth year in a row, Walmart will be the presenting sponsor of the 2013 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon and miniMarathon. Walmart has sponsored the races since 2009, allowing the registration cap to reach 18,000 runners, making it the largest annual day of road racing in Kentucky. Registration for the 2013 races, which will be held on Saturday, April 27, opens online on Aug. 1 at www.derbyfestivalmarathon.com. Early registration fees are $55 for the mini and $70 for the Marathon through Oct. 31.

“Walmart is committed to supporting activities that promote good health and exercise and the Kentucky Derby Festival races certainly are a great example of that,” said Dwayne Moore, Walmart’s Director of Operations for Kentucky and Southern Indiana. “We are very pleased with the growth of the races and the excitement it brings to the community each year on the last Saturday in April. Walmart takes great pride in being part of one of the top running events in the country.”

As part of Walmart’s sponsorship, the company last year supplied 8,000 pounds of bananas, 10,000 Quaker Oat Bars, 12,000 Sun Chips and 12,000 bagels to runners at the race finish line. In addition, 32 Walmart associates volunteered during the races, helping to distribute nutritional items at the finish.

“In 2012, we increased the race field from 15,000 to 18,000 participants and runners responded enthusiastically. Our local running community has been steadfast in its support of these road races since 1974, when then Mayor Harvey Sloane participated in the very first mini,” said Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO Mike Berry. “Sponsorships like Walmart’s help us to take the event to the next level. We’re seeing more and more interest from runners from outside the state, which is a great showcase for our community and the many special events that make our city so unique.”

The races will once again feature a start on Main Street in downtown Louisville and a finish near the Waterfront at Preston and Witherspoon streets. Entry for the Marathon Relay is $275 per team; entry for the mini Team Challenge is $375. The Marathon Team Challenge fees are $300 for a team of three, $400 for a team of four and $475 for a team of five. The Running Wild Race Expo will be held Thursday, April 25 and Friday, April 26 at the Kentucky International Convention Center.

The 2013 official ASICS Race Gear will feature Technical race shirts in both male- and female-cut designs and in various sizes. This is the first time that the Technical shirts will be offered in gender-cut styles.