Ironman Louisville Race report

Well, I am a little behind on the race report but am doing it! I have to start with this by saying that the best part of this race week was the underwear run we did the day before IM (ironman). A local triathlete was killed by a hit and run drunk driver weeks before the IM, and to be able to support such a great cause, his 3 kids college fund, was an honor. It was a great way to cut loose have fun and really relieve the stress of IM.
 
This race was a little strange for me, I never felt like I was racing an IM or had the feelings I normally do. I was stressed, but that had more to do with the injury and everything else. The morning of went flawlessly with Heath dropping us off at transition. Set up was pretty quick and then it was time to head over to the swim start to sit in line. We (forrest, regina , susan, jeff and I) got over their fairly early but were still pretty far back. The girls and I joked around laughing making fun of Forrest, he gave his morning clothes bag up early and was freezing. He ended up taking Susan’s jacket and curling up in a ball on the ground while I took blackmail pictures with the crackberry. I have to go ahead and say I love these guys! I don’t think there is anyone else I could be around at Ironman time who just gets it. We can be mean and the other will laugh at you, we can be nice and someone will ask what’s wrong. . . it really is great. Although they did forget my tiara and wand they bought me, I think Forrest just secretly wanted to keep it for himself. Sorry to digress, back to the race . . .
 
Swim start was almost a run and jump, I swore I wasn’t running to jump in that cesspool but I followed the herd and did as told. I am not a fan of the time trial start. I am not a fan of the Ohio River . . why again did I sign up for this race? The swim was BRUTAL, I wasn’t so much in pain as I just didn’t like it. I needed to be able to power through this choppy water, and this arm just wasn’t able to do that. The start was supposedly up river so I just told myself to make it around the little island and it would be ok after that. NOT! I never got the good current to take me back to shore. I don’t think I have ever seriously focused so much just to get through a swim. I even thought about rolling over on my back, but I just couldn’t give up. When I finally got out of the water I cried, I am not kidding you. I couldn’t believe I made it. I NEVER thought it would be that tough. Swim time 1:28, 12 mins. slower than my slowest IM swim time. Big thank you to Julie lending me a speed suit or else it would have been even slower!
 
Transition was a little slower but I was happy to see Susan who said that Regina was right ahead of us. It was good to know that I hadn’t been left behind and that they survived it too. Time to start the bike and see if I can make up for the horrible swim. My hopes were that I could make it to special needs before needing anything for my shoulder/arm, but after the swim I lasted to about mile 5 of the bike. Of course it didn’t help that I was almost knocked out at the end of the swim with some nice person punching the back of my head. After that I just tried to remember where the long hills were so I could spin them out. I passed Regina and then Susan who mentioned filing assault charges against the swim. The bike was going well, I was enjoying the fun rollers when suddenly my chain came off. I tried to jerry rig it back on but then it becomes stuck. I pull over on the side of the road to assess the situation. 5-10 mins. later I finally get it back on. The chain was twisted and stuck in the back derailleur, I couldn’t believe what a pain it was to get undone. The riding really felt pretty good other than the shoulder and arm being uncomfortable. I have to say it wasn’t an easy course, but it was definitely fun. Some spots were downhill and technical which I love, if only the wind would go away. Finally I get to the last 10 miles which is flat. I know that now I am in the home stretch and just need to hunker down and keep my focus. I wanted to come in at 6:15 but rolled in with a time of 6:21. Bike avg. 17.6 mph. Now let’s just see what these legs can do. If I have a good marathon I could still manage to break 12 hrs.
 
Heath told me right before IM that I needed to not set any goals for myself except to finish. The trainings not been there, the mental part has been shady, oh and don’t forget pre existing injury. I really thought I could do a 4hr marathon. I start the run feeling good like I usually do, I am just weird like that. I walk aid stations take in oranges and water. My first gel doesn’t taste too bad, but I only take half just as a precaution. I hit the halfway point and I have already prayed to the portolet for a good 5 mins. I look at my watch and realize I’m going to have to keep pace to finish under 12. I see my family my friends and everyone who came out to support me. They gave me the extra oomph I needed to keep it going. I remember saying to one of them that it wasn’t easy, and I was very serious. Probably about mile 17 I have the dizzies and the stomach getting worse. Oranges no longer work and I just keep trying to move forward. I walk and I barter. Just a minute. Just to the next aide station. I talk with other racers, and try to help motivate them to take my mind of me. I told someone to just try and jog with me, we could do 5 mins. He was on his first lap and had already given up. I really couldn’t believe that what was stopping me wasn’t my injury it was something else. I got so mad. My knee was now hurting and the lack of nutrition was obviously causing the dizziness. Finally at mile 22 I had enough. I calculate that I have 40 mins. to make it to the finish and still make 12:30 hours. I took all that frustration and turned it into pure focus. When I get pissed its on. I was mad, and I thought I could translate that into what I needed to finish that marathon. I don’t remember much of the end. I do remember coming through the chute (12:30) and seeing my mom filming, she tried to high five me but I just didn’t have the strength. I finished with a smile however was quickly wheeled into the medical area dreaming of an IV. I scared a few people at the end, they mentioned something about me not looking good . . . how dare them! All I’ve got to say is if you need to get somewhere fast in a crowd, my hubby can clear the way . . . Sarah even got a little demandingJ. 
 
I crossed the finish line and was so grateful. Grateful I didn’t give up, not just then but before as well. I didn’t want to do that race, I wanted to quit when I found out that they didn’t want me to swim for 4 weeks. I wanted to throw my hands up in the air and say WTF else can you throw at me. I’m not a quitter though. I have so many people who support me and believe in me and I couldn’t let them down but I couldn’t let myself down either. When I commit to something I try to follow through. Ironman is a HUGE commitment and I am happy to say that is my last for a while. 
 
Thank you to everyone that has helped me along the way. My committed father has made it to EVERY IM, and even drove 12 hours in one day just to see me finish. My mom has flown all the way from Minnesota for 3 of them . My husband, the best Sherpa of all time, knows how to coordinate spectating/drinking through an IM. Forrest and crew, thank you for pushing me and keeping it real. My friends who put up with the countless training hours and odd schedules, you’re awesome. My sponsors: Trisports.com, Dukes May, Atlanta Bread, Greg Spindler, Gault Homes, Barracuda, Zeal Optics, Powerbar, Overbrook Chiropractic, and Run In. . .you all make what I do possible and I definitely couldn’t do it without your support and help.
 

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