Louisville Lovin' the Hills
About the race
This wonderful challenging race started in 2004 by Eric Grossman. In the beginning there was just the 50k which remains today as one of the hardest 50k's in this part of the country.
I love these trails and this race! The first 4 years of the race I ran it and it became my New Year's focus each year. It gave me a goal for early in the year and put me in great shape for any other races I wanted to run later.
This was my A race and as the race director I am still in love with these hills. Once you run them you will fall in love too! Please come join us this year.
After the race
After the race we gather in the Horine Center. It is located at the start/finish area. Because it sometimes snows it is nice to be warm. Hot homemade soup, and some for all, meat and vegan and whatever else.
The prizes are donated by Quest Outdoors. Each person receives a wooden medal. There is always extra swag, like hoorags to the first 200 that sign up for the 50k or 15 miler.
The people and homemade soup are a great way to finish a run! I love to hear each adventure!
Packet pickup and pasta dinner
Packet pickup will be Feb 6, 4 to 7 pm at Quest Qutdoors.4600 Shelbyville Rd Suite133, Louisville, Ky. 40207.
True Noth Catering provides the best pasta dinner ever, with many options from vegan to meat. The dinner is free during packet pickup, just let me know if you are coming so we have enough food!
You can also pick up your packet race morning 7am to 7:50 am at the race start, Hoine Center.
If the race is postponed
Feburary 2026 had so much ice and snow. Lovin' the Hills had to be postponed. The park has the final say.
This year the race is postponed, it will be on May 29. I already reserved that date. I may plan a stage race for the weekend. I will keep you posted.
Training runs
Every year we have training runs in January leading up to the race. Exact dates will be posted later.
They are a fun way to prepare for your trail run and see the course before the race.
The course
50K
15 Miles
6 Miles
The race is a single track trail through the forest, divided into 3 parts. The Red/Orange Trail, Blue, Yost, Purple Heart and Siltstone together with Scott's Gap make up the full 50K. The 6 mile course is the Red/Orange Trail, and the 15 mile course adds the Blue, Yost and Purple Heart trails.
Location
City insight: Fairdale
Fairdale is a former census-designated place in southern Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA, that was annexed to the city of Louisville in 2003 and is now a neighborhood within Louisville's city limits. It had a population of 7,658 at the 2000 census. The climate has hot, humid summers and cold winters, so spring and early autumn are the best seasons to race.
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