Race Report
Friday
We arrived in Louisville on Friday after a 5 hour drive. We checked in at the Hyatt and walked to Galt House for athlete checkin. I waited in the first line only to be asked for an unknown card. The clerk pointed to cards, said to stand aside and fill one out, and I could continue. She brief but effective in her response. I think this was the least friendly assistance I encountered all weekend. With first card completed I received my second card to get in a second line.The second line was weigh in. They used a single scale to check body fat, hydration level, and body weight. Coincidentally the vendor was selling scales at the expo. 12.5% body fat was within the healthy zone that started at 8%. I overheard one of the volunteers offer the lowest body fat of the day was 1.8%. Wow. Hydration level of 58% was in the good zone of 50-65%. Body weight was 201.8. Dressed and hydrated I could still be a clydesdale.
Rebecca mentioned something about chatting with people in line while this was going on. I don't recall any of it. I was rather singularly focused.
Next came waivers and insurance forums. Pickup at one table, a separate table to complete the forms, and a 3rd area to return the forms. I really liked the organization. They run a tight ship.
This brought me to the packet table. The volunteer helping me opened the packet and enumerated the contents. Then he proceeded to an interesting numbering scheme for my swim cap. Swim caps come folded in half with a crease at the front and crease at the back. He carefully wrote 95 on end and 14 on the other. He flipped the cap and wrote 95 and 14 again. When pulled over my head my bib number, 1495, appear on the fore and aft of my head. It might have been easier to just unfold the cap.
The next station scanned my timing chip to verify it reads properly. After scan I had to verify my name. Then I had to verify the spelling of my name. All of this happens in a very friendly but professional manner. This seems like meticulous detail. In the time and place it was quite welcome and comforting. It is all contributes to a very personalized experience. Each athlete is an individual, not just a mass of bodies.
The personal experience continued at the next station. The gentleman volunteer complemented the triathlon tech shirt I was wearing. The shirt was for a local sprint triathlon. Several orders of magnitude smaller than the Ironman at hand. He indicated I was probably familiar with this already. More personal attention, these guys really are good.
With registration complete we exit through the IronMan store. I vowed no swag until success. Most stuff was K-Swiss which made passing easier. Then we headed back to the room for a nap. Rest and off the feet.
We woke up and took a short run to t1 and swim start. It was good to see the area several times to orient myself. It would come in handy later. The we divided to conquer. I went to pre-race meeting and watch a very generic video. There was some additional L-vile specific commentary. Meanwhile Rebecca scored dinner - burrito, naked, no cheese. We had relaxing dinner in the room followed by a short swim to test and fit new goggles. Keep sipping water and Gatorade to top off hydration. Enroute to bed I developed a headache. Tylenol and meditation took care of that.
Saturday
We got up at 8 and had bagels for breakfast - plain with peanut butter and an apple juice to drink. Then another walk to T1/Swim finish for practice swim 9-10. Goggles leaked some at start. River current not obvious and water was cleaner than expected, visibility ~ 1 ft. Swim exit - swim until hand touches railing, then stand. I relaxed and sunned on deck to dry then walked back to hotel. From there Rebecca and I go for a short bike ride. Bike to swim start then down 3rd street. This was a test ride on new Gatorskin tires, all good. We had lunch at Friday's - chicken breast, onion rings (no onion), few sweet potato fries, and vegetable medley. Then back to the room. Rebecca naps and I layout transition and special needs bags. Nutrition - blocks of 3.5 hours. 3.5 hours of food and 1 treat per block. Heavy on powerbars early, shot blocks 2nd, gu gel 3rd, sport beans 4th. 3x tylenol in bike special needs, run transition, and run special needs bags. Then drop bike and gear at Transition. Friendly volunteers again - dance troop. It was hot in the sun. Stayed in sun to soak up heat drinking water and Gatorade. Then back to room for another nap. We walk to dinner - garlic bread, ziti with marinara, and chicken breast. Walk to cvs and gas station - for white bread and Gatorade.Sunday
4:15 wake up. Breakfast - 2x peanut butter on slice of bread with Gatorade. At 4:45 leave for T1. Setup T1 and verify bike. Top off tires. Thanks to Rebecca for carrying bike pump around. I lose a valve stem cap. After a few minutes searching for it I realize this is the petty stuff that shouldn't be sweated. I almost forget to drop my hat to T2 bag - that was important. Then drop special needs bags. Head to swim start to get in line.Swim
Get in line for bathrooms - mistake. Get in swim line first to establish position. There is ~45 minutes between first and last swim entry so line position makes appreciable difference. Then a long walk to back of swim line barefoot - bad start for feet. Stop and re-don shoes for rest of time in line. We end up lined up way out on the road. Lots of athletes = very long line. Have Gatorade and water for the line as it can be a long wait. One girl near us hurled so we gave her water to wash her mouth out and sip.Swim start is amazing and loud - a tunnel of excitement. Enter the water from one of two docs. I opted for the second doc as it was only ~10' further to swim. The woman in front of me was going good until the very last second. She came to almost complete stop to step off the dock. I almost jumped on her head. My last step on the dock propelled me sideways to avoid landing on her head. In the water my goggles leak again so I lose time fussing with them. Keep left closer to the island and out of current. This felt faster going upstream. Fight of flight almost kicked in. It was either swim over or be swum over. I got aggressive catching and swimming over lots of bodies. Lots of crowding when hit them main channel. People were tired or hitting current. Make the turn at buoy. Start downstream and realize my watch wasn't started, start watch, swim a bit, take a gel. The gel was a nice break and avoids even bigger energy deficit. Swim for a while keeping right to catch more current. Then I had a problem veering right. Breathing right or left I veer right even though I pull hard with right arm. Pull hard and pull easy with right with no obvious difference. Finally I pull left forearm under me to compensate. Some lost energy but at least it's energy in the right direction. Get to barges and note chop in water, keep swimming. Under bridge take second gel. Sight on Joe's Crabshack roof(teal) then on front of steam boat (white). Back into heavy swim traffic. Swim into/over lots of bodies. Keep head down all the way to the steps. Volunteers basically hoist me out of water - thanks!
Then my first Rebecca spotting! Up and around toward T1. Funny they are offering water to drink. Use it to swish, gargle, and spit. Wish it was mouthwash. Perhaps a T1 bag addition? Run down the gear bag row for my number and volunteer hands me my bag. I head into tent, strip, dry, look for body glide, skip, shirt, shorts, glasses on and fog, glasses off, helmet, stuff bag, handoff bag, out to sunscreen. Some disarray here, had to wait on sunscreen. I do left arm, someone else does right. Up to the bike, tires good, bottles good, tank bag good, moving.
Bike
Head out of town. Start powerbars immediately. Easy ride along the river while still a bit dizzy from water. Then start a big climb. Then big descent/ascent on dog leg. People are poor at keeping right and bad descenders. Why brake? Then excessive slowing for aid station. Descend/ascend and hit hr alert at 160. Sit up and take it easy. Barely able to get up hill and stay below limit. Big climbs to get to LeGrange. Finally into LeGrange. Rebecca sighting! I respond to the crowd, likely wasting energy, but it feels good. There is a downhill through town where spectators are so riders are having easy time and looking good. Big descent but lose all speed for a hard left turn onto a hilly little road. Big climb to left. Bump Bump Bump Bump - I hate joints in road. Big climb again into LeGrange. Grab perform, no water at this aid station. Bike special needs and finally water. Special Needs lady yells about athlete having to stop for water. People jump. Volunteers take this seriously. Very impressive.Through town and another Rebecca sighting! Overindulge from special needs bag - I ate a whole granola bar ~200 cals. Feel horrible. Diesel truck on small road spraying us all down with diesel. It's almost like they were following a rider. Even when it was clear they wouldn't pass and move on. Annoying. Feel horrible. Bump Bump Bump. Back starts hurting - likely around my longest aero ride. Then I remember Tylenol stuffed in sport beans bags from special needs. I start to improve. Hit another aid station. Nice volunteer. Held bike, big chunk of ice for collar of jersey. Ahh. Ride a few miles, coming back around, good stop that was 87, this 'should be' easy. Stop for pee break. Cheer from Steve. On bike and pressing on.
Big descent. I'm flying others are moving slowly. I fly through an intersection where a cop has traffic stopped. He gives me thumbs up approving of my downhill speed. Start chatting with Steve. This is his 2nd IM, first was FL. He's from ky, this one to raise money for mission trip to Indonesia. We head into the park and more bumps - love those road joints.
Rebecca sighting! T2 volunteer checks with me to make sure i don't need anything left on my bike pointing to tank bag. Very observant and helpful. Love those volunteers!
T2 change shorts, water from volunteer. Guy pukes in front of me. Clean and body glide my feet, start out, find water and take Tylenol. Try bathroom as point of good practice, success.
Run
Heading out chute food bounces out of my jersey pockets. Grab it and stick in shorts pockets. It took a few seconds to remember what I should do with food. A little disoriented already. This is why everything needs to be rehearsed and automatic. Rebecca sighting and pause for a kiss. Running on a peer comments - 'you make this look easy'. Spectator signs and comment about indiana, confusing. I guess IA is across the bridge? Hot. Ice sponges on head and in collar. Perform+water at every stop. Alternate 2 shot blocks, 1 endurolyte at aid stations. Start using 9,1's.Head under KICC. Dense spectators who are also clearly hot and showing lots of nice tanned skin including one with amazingly short skirt. I realize the run course goes even further south than we rode on bikes. I see Steve again and get his name this time.
South side of city smells like sewer. Out of shot blocks, need food plan with gels, confused, finally decide to alternate gel and endurolytes at every aid station. Try not to finish gel as too much cals. Aid station ~ every mile.
Run special needs. Great volunteer. She offers to change socks for me, i decline. She stays with me through cleaning feet, reapply body glide, clean socks, more Tylenol. I start to get up and the volunteer cringes and offers to help. It wasn't that bad. Back in motion.
Rebecca sighting before big crowds! Big crowds, catch a glimpse of finish, turn for 2nd loop. More spectators enduring the heat. One particularly low cut shirt: "i don't do triathlons, I do triathletes".
Rebecca sighting! I intend to slow to 8,2's. I meet Paul, a Marine, we walk and talk. Back to running. I jockey with 2 heavier girls for a while. I refuse to be that speed and turn up pace to shake them.
Turn at mile 20. Possible low 5's marathon, possible 9:30 finish. 5:05 r's record, but aggressive for me. Back off that and shoot for 9:30. Still daylight with 10k to go. Wow! Darkness starts. Hot flash. Hat off, unzip jersey, glasses off. Trying to cool off. Low and getting concerned. Assume-to-be first loopers receiving glow rings. Worried i will receive one. Long trip back into town. Take a long walk break to make sure fresh for finish. Run some, walk hill, near finish, hat on, zipper up, run some, walk hill, recognize where i saw Rebecca earlier, start running. Get faster all the way through finish. Glasses off and into pocket as turn to finish. Be ready for pics! Guy in front of me veers right to slap hands. I veer left. Bright lights, hand slaps, noise. Hands recoil and point to right and Rebecca. I acknowledge her and head to finish. I don't even hear my name announced. Dan, volunteer, meets me at finish with medal and hat. Water, pictures, shirt, chit chat, meet Rebecca, Dan hands me off to her. 13:48:56
Post
To room for my non-sun glasses. Down to KICC for food. Guy says medical is backed up. Medical really appears backed up. Find food entrance. Pizza for me, a few chips, banana, cookies for us both, coke for me. Outside with Rebecca and sit on steps to eat. We check on foreign friend beside us, and find she has support.
Back to the room. Ice bath, still missed quads. Chafing stings, ice cold. Shower, Recoverite.
Dress, walk down to finish. Have a burger, mac&cheese, water, beer. Cheer for those still finishing. Finish meal and join madness for last 10 minutes. Go crazy encouraging people. See last woman make it and first guy who doesn't. He's cramped and hobbling along but cannot make it down chute. Fear of what happens at 12:00am.
Lights stay on, crowd still cheers, announcer says they are not Ironmen but they are iron in our hearts. crowd still goes crazy cheering people in. Finishers dwindle. We leave before it gets sad.
