“As we run, we become.”
(Amy Burfoot)
My Walk into the Future continues to explore new races and new states in 2026. I made a concerted effort to find races in states that I have never visited and leverage this as part of my running tourism program. My newest adventure allowed me to race in Louisville, Kentucky and then cross the river into Clarksville, Indiana. This equals two new states for me in one trip –economical. 😊
I searched multiple sites to find a race in Kentucky that would allow me to experience the culture and get some sightseeing in. Louisville is home to the Kentucky Derby and has multiple stops on the Kentucky Bourbon trail. The University of Louisville 10-Miler was attractive because of the distance, the state of Kentucky, the Bourbon Trail and proximity to Indiana. I leveraged a similar tactic last year when I doubled up with Wisconsin and Iowa. Two states with one trip.
The University of Louisville 10-Miler was a great experience from start to finish. I flew out of Orlando because there were direct flights to Louisville. The flight was uneventful and I was able to sleep the entire way up. The Muhammad Ali International Airport had a lot of personality and was easy to navigate. I made my way to the rental car counter and my adventure was on.
My first stop was the race EXPO which was held within the L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium on the University of Louisville campus. The EXPO was not huge, but it was the first time I experienced an EXPO in a college football stadium. I got my race bib and my customary pictures. There were not a ton of vendors, so I decided to explore the city a bit before settling in.
My hotel was in downtown Louisville, so I decided to explore a bit. GPS showed I was only 10 minutes away from Clarksville, Indiana so I made my way across the river to get in my second state of the day. I searched for and found Buffalo Wild Wings in Clarksville and made my way there to carb load, eat wings and drink beer. There were several shopping centers close by, so I made my way over to do some window shopping while in Indiana. I still needed to get back to the hotel to get off my feet and hydrate prior to race day. I headed back across the river to Louisville and posted up in my hotel room to stretch, hydrate and mentally prepare for the 10-Miler.
The University of Louisville 10-miler is the grand finale of the Louisville Triple Crown of Running which is a three-race series that builds anticipation, endurance and community within the local running community. This race is a little different than most when I travel. I was surprised to learn the race start line was right outside the main entrance to Churchill Downs. There was a sense of history in the air being this close to the famed venue. There were close to 3,000 runners lined up to tackle the 10-Miler and an 8k race. I’ve never seen another event listing an 8k, but it seems to be a popular race distance in Louisville.
I posted up in Corral B for the start of the race. I couldn’t tell which runners were competing in the 10-miler or the 8k. There were three different bib colors, and everyone was mixed in the corrals. FYI, I didn’t do a good job of researching the course and found out there were steep inclines in my near future. This isn’t a flat, easy cruise. Lesson learned! The course winds through some of Louisville’s most iconic areas, neighborhood streets, scenic stretches, and the rolling terrain of Iroquois Park. The hills don’t just test your legs—they test your mindset.
There’s a point in every 10-Miler where the race becomes less physical and more mental. For many runners, that moment comes somewhere around miles 6–8. It hit me at mile 5 when the hills in Iroquois Park started to get steeper with every step. I had to find a different level of mental support to get me up and over the hills during this portion of the race.
The weather was warmer than I expected but there were a lot of tree lined streets on the back end of the course. This provided a small level of comfort and helped me move towards the finish line. This race provided multiple experiences, and the finish line sets it apart from others. Runners enter the L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium to finish on the 50-yard line. There were folks sitting in the stadium and every runner was displayed on the Jumbotron. I found a little kick and put a smile on my face as I crossed the finish line.
The University of Louisville 10-Miler is more than miles and medals. It’s:
- A celebration of discipline
- A test of resilience
- A community coming together
From the post-race tailgate with music and food to the shared stories among runners, the event reminds you why you started running in the first place.
I decided to explore Louisville and the surrounding area after I got my nap in after the race. Multiple friends gave me advice on places to visit. My first stop was the Angel’s Envy Bourbon Distillery. I’m not a Bourbon person but I was excited to give it a try and signed up for a free tasting session. We were able to taste multiple Bourbons and were given a full understanding of how to sip and what goes well with Bourbon. Turns out you can mix a piece of chocolate with your distilled liquor. Who knew?! 😊
I ventured down to the Louisville Slugger Museum and got a chance to explore the history of the famed bat making organization. There were tours of the museum, but I decided to just walk around on my own. I ventured into a few other distilleries but didn’t do another tasting session. It started to rain during my walking adventure, so I made my way back to the hotel and relaxed a bit. This was a quick trip up to Kentucky, so I kicked back in the hotel and reflected on my adventures over the weekend.
I’m not sure I will run this race again but I’m happy I got a chance to explore Kentucky and Indiana on this trip. I will continue to look for new races in new states to expand my Walk into the Future running adventures.
Where are you traveling next?
Irie!
“Run often. Run long. But never outrun your joy of running.”
(Julie Isphording)
Walk Into the Future 