Urban Bourbon Half Marathon and 5K
Louisville's Urban Bourbon Half Marathon blends city streets with park scenery and a festive bourbon-themed finish.
Race Date
Oct 17, 2026
Location
Louisville, KY
Quick facts
- Date
- Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Location
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Distance
- Half marathon (13.1 mi) + 13.1 Miles, 3.1 Miles
- Course
- Loop Course
- Terrain
- Road
- USATF certified
- Yes
- Finishers on record
- 33,537
Highlights
Good For
Atmosphere
Course
The Experience
The Urban Bourbon Half Marathon offers a unique blend of Louisville's rich distilling heritage and scenic fall beauty. This experiential destination race, first run in 2011 and now in its 14th edition, draws participants from across approximately 44 states.
The course winds through the vibrant fall foliage of Cherokee Park, a Louisville landmark, starting and finishing in downtown. While the website copy suggests a scenic route, runner reviews highlight a surprisingly hilly terrain within the park, with one Garmin tracking over 1,700 feet of ascent. The race typically sees around 4,239 finishers, with about 26% returning for subsequent years.
The true highlight for many is the award-winning Urban Bourbon Bash post-race party. Featuring live music, bourbon samples, beer, pizza, and soup, it's a celebration that perfectly complements the race's theme. Participants also receive a long-sleeve shirt and a distinctive bourbon-themed finisher medal, making it a memorable event for those seeking a blend of challenge, scenery, and spirited festivity.
Race-provided description
The Urban Bourbon Half Marathon is a 13.1‑mile experiential destination race that celebrates more than 200 years of Louisville and Kentucky’s distilling heritage. Starting and finishing in downtown Louisville, the course winds through the vibrant fall foliage of Cherokee Park, one of the city’s most scenic landmarks. Walkers are welcome but must maintain an 18‑minute‑per‑mile pace, as the course closes at noon.
Returning this year is the Urban Bourbon 5K, offering a shorter, smoother version of the UBHM experience.
All UBHM and UB5K participants will receive a long‑sleeve shirt and a unique bourbon‑themed finisher medal. Registered runners are also invited to the award‑winning Urban Bourbon Bash at Fourth Street Live!, featuring live music by the Louisville Crashers. UBHM registrants enjoy bourbon samples, beer, pizza, and soup as part of their entry, while UB5K participants may purchase a discounted wristband on race morning for $20 to access the same offerings.
Because of the bourbon theme, all participants must be 21 or older on Oct. 17, 2026, to register. Online registration will close at 7:59 p.m. on Oct. 16, 2026.
Logistics
Race Day
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Start Time
8:00 AM
Giveaway
Long-sleeve sport-tek shirt
Start Location
401 West Main Street, Suite 2300, Louisville, KY, 40202
Course Info
USATF CertifiedCourse Type
Loop Course
Terrain
road
Scenery
Park, Urban
Surface
Paved
Difficulty
Hilly
Net Drop/km
-0.09 m
Separation
2.4%
Also Offers
USATF Certified Course
KY23005DJR · Urban Bourbon Half Marathon
Relatively flat with minimal net elevation change. Loop course — start and finish are close together.
Quality Score
Runner Favorite9014 years running
~4,239 finishers a year
shrinking
26% returning runners
USATF certified · 5 timing sources · 8 photos
runners from 44 states
winner 1:16:20
typical high 66°F
Race Day Weather
5-year historical avgStart (Low)
48°
Afternoon (High)
66°
Pleasant conditions — light layers at start, comfortable by finish
0.1"
Precipitation
10 mph
Wind
68%
Humidity
Historical Finish Times
How 33,537 finishers actually crossed the line across 14 years.
Most recent
2025
Total finishers
33,537
Median time
2:18:07
Latest turnout
2,145
States
51
Turnout by year
2017–2025
Hover the histogram to inspect specific finish times.
Race Photos
Frequently asked
When is the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon and 5K?
The Urban Bourbon Half Marathon and 5K is held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM.
Where does the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon and 5K take place?
It takes place in Louisville, Kentucky.
What distances does the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon and 5K offer?
The half marathon (13.1 miles), plus 13.1 Miles, 3.1 Miles.
Is the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon and 5K course flat and good for a PR?
The Urban Bourbon Half Marathon and 5K is a hilly, loop course course. The course is USATF-certified, so finish times can be used for qualifying.
How many people run the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon and 5K?
HalfRuns has finish records for 33,537 runners who have completed the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon and 5K.
HalfRuns editorial — independent, no paid placement.
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