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I arrived on Wednesday morning to try and get adjusted to the time difference and the excessive heat that the east coast was having. It was 9:00a.m. and already in the 90’s. Since I took the red-eye flight from San Diego, all I did was eat breakfast, check into my hotel, and take a long nap. The Seelbach Hotel is a great hotel and only steps from what would be the finish line and 4th Street Live. But as I found out later, it may not have been the best when it came to pre- and post-race activities. Most racers stayed at the Galt House Hotel. This is where athletes checked in, received pre- and post-race massages, and the expo was located here as well. It was also a lot closer to the transition area and swim start. For anyone participating next year, I would choose a hotel that was closer to the transition area.
The first practice swim on Thursday had everyone shaking their heads. The recent flooding in Ohio had the current in the Ohio River averaging about 2 miles an hour. I would say most swimmers were not making much progress whatsoever. I started out along the river wall and was making progress to the first buoy. But as soon as I started to swim toward the buoy for the swim downstream, it was like swimming in an Endless Pool. If you stopped for any reason, you ended up right back at the start. After my first attempt at the Ohio River, I went to the athlete’s meeting to find out information about the course and vital information about the race. With much relief to everyone, the race officials modified the swim to accommodate the growing concern about the currents. We would be starting next to Towhead Island and swimming in what they said was a better, protected area with less current. It would also be a time-trial-like start.
After the meeting, I picked up my bike from the guys at Tribike Transport http://www.tribiketransport.com/. If anyone has not used this service, you should consider their service for your next North American Ironman race. It’s very convenient, and you avoid the high cost of shipping your bike or the stress of flying with your bike. Knowing that your bike will be there when you arrive makes for one less thing you have to worry about. Ok, back to the race. After returning to my hotel with by bike and race material, I went for an easy, 4-mile run. By the time I was done, I was soaked with sweat. Did I say it is hot here! Lucky for me, the car had a great A/C. So after a quick shower, I drove the bike course to see what it would be like for race day. Friday was another easy day. I just rode the run course and then waited for the athlete’s dinner for some much- needed food.
On Saturday, my whole objective was stay out of the heat and rest. After I turned in my bike and race day bags, I headed back to my hotel for some rest. Needless to say, I did not sleep well. I never do before a race. So when the alarm went off, I started hydrating with my hydration formula from Infinit Nutrition http://www.infinitnutrition.us/ and then ate my PB/J bonk breaker bar http://www.bonkbreaker.com/ and a banana. The morning was nice, and after checking my bike, I started the walk toward the swim start which was about ¾ of mile from the transition area. Since the swim start would be “first come” first start, I wanted to be down there early. I’m glad I did because later, the line on the dock was strung out for at least ¼ of mile. Sitting on the dock waiting for the swim start gives you a chance to talk to your fellow racers. Talking to people from different states and different countries helps pass time, and I feel, gives you a great perspective on things. The pro field started in the water and as soon as they started swimming, a hundred fish started jumping out of the water. Once the pros started, it was time for the age groupers. You slowly walked down to the boat dock and once you hit the timing mat, you dove into the water. The water was 85 degrees so no wetsuits. I think my biggest mistake was not preparing for a non-wetsuit swim. The swim up current was tough, but not as bad as the past couple of days. I was ready for the downstream by the time I hit the turn-around buoy.
I did not waste too much time in T1; the only thing that slowed me down a little was I could not get my bag open to get my helmet and shoes out. Needless to say, I ripped that bag to shreds. The bike course for the first 10 miles is fairly flat, and it is easy to get into a nice rhythm before you hit the hills. There is a lot of tree cover and shade along River Road and the SR 42. Also along the SR 42, a lot of beautiful homes/mansions and horse farms make for a very scenic ride. One section that riders need to be careful of is at the single-lane bridge that you have to cross. It is very bumpy, and with oncoming cars, it made for a sketchy crossing. You do not hit a significant hill until you turn onto KY-1694. There is a nice downhill and then a nice climb up to the turnaround. I felt that this is the only significant hill throughout the course. The rest of the course is a constant rolling hill, and not as bad as Wisconsin. When you arrive in the La Grange area, there are so many people there cheering for everyone, you can’t help but get caught up in the excitement and ride faster through the town.
With the temperature so high (96 degrees), it was nice that all the aid stations had cold water and Gatorade. With the heat, sticking to my nutrition was going to be very important. Around mile 50, things took a turn for me, I started feeling a little nauseous and ended up expelling everything. No worries right, just stick to my nutrition and I will be fine. Also with the heat, I made sure that I was taking my Thermolytes, but this would end up not helping this time. One the rest of the bike, I was dry heaving all the way to T2. I just could not make my stomach settle down. Even slowing down on the bike and sitting up did not work. Once I reached the transition tent, I was ready for the run. I thought then the heat outside was bad, the transition tent was twice as hot. It was like sitting in an Easy Bake Oven! I think I sweated more inside that tent than I did on the bike course. Once outside, I started for the run out, but I felt a little dizzy from the heat. I guess I stumbled a little because next thing I know, I was being led to the Medical tent. Once inside, they started trying to drop my body temperature with ice water and access what my problem was. Anytime I started to drink any fluids, I would reject them. The doctors said I had a common problem that happens to endurance athletes where your digestive system shuts down. They said I had two options, they can give me an IV, but I would be disqualified or I could wait it out. Of course, I chose the second option and waited for my stomach to settle. Needless to say, I sat in the medical tent for an hour and 48 minutes.
Once out on the run course, I felt great for about four miles and then it all came back. So I started walking; I got to review the run course very well. The run is basically flat with one little dip in the road when you pass under the I-264. The course will take you past a variety of Louisville’s well-known sites like the University of Louisville (U of L) campus, Churchill Downs, and downtown. You start within the city and run down 3rd Street to the turnaround. You then head back to the city, passing just 50 yards from the finish to make the final loop of the course. By the time I hit the last turnaround, I was done walking and decided to run the last 6 miles and finish strong. Once I finished, I went straight to medical, and the great medical staff gave me to two IV bags and within the hour, I was feeling great! I was expecting to do this race in under 11 hours, but after what transpired on the course, I just wanted to finish.
The city of Louisville and its residents were a great host for this race. Everyone was super friendly, even if most people did not know what Ironman was. I’m sure it is hard to fully close down roads for an event like this, but there were some near misses from cars being on the road. I heard later that a couple of people where hit by cars on the bike course. Not everything can be planned perfectly or run smoothly with an event such as Ironman, but I feel the race organizers did a great job.
First and foremost, I wanted thank my family and friends for all their support. I wanted to thank everyone in my TCSD family as well for all their encouragement.
A special thanks goes out to Mike Drury, Hank, and the rest of the staff from HI-TECH Bikes http://hi-techbikes.com/, Mike Plumb http://www.tripower.org/ for all your coaching and advice; it is greatly appreciated. Jim Vance, thanks for your advice and your friendship http://www.jimvanceracing.com, everyone at Rehab United and Team EXCEL http://www.rehabunited.com/, Jason Winn from Bonk Breaker http://www.bonkbreaker.com/ & http://220athlete.com/ those bars came in handy, I could not keep torturing my body without Cambria putting my muscles back to functional use http://www.cassidysclinic.com/, Kim Mueller for all your nutritional advice, sorry that it all spilled on the bike course http://www.Fuel-Factor.com. Toby Jones from Art of Tri http://www.artoftri.com/ your shirts got a lot compliments, and I passed out a lot flyers. Hopefully, you will get some business from it.
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