Ironman Louisville - TriathlonFull Ironman

This is an area that I have really no idea what happened. I was in the water at 7:32 or so (right what I wanted to hit!). I got to the turn buoy and took a sneak peek at my watch - 8:07. 35 minutes out upstream and I was thinking I would be between 1:30 and 1:40 so not bad at all. I swam back at the same perceived effort and did freestyle all the way with no stopping. I knew I was in the water for a long time but 1:52 was a bit depressing. Seems like I could float that fast! I should have made some plan adjustments at this point since nutrition was probably already off having been in the water longer but didn't (mistake).

Other than get more nutrition in T1, nothing. I really am not sure why the time was so poor.

Seemed like a reasonable transition... didn't rush but didn't waste a ton of time either.

Should have taken a minute or two to eat more after the swim.

First 23 mi = 15.62 mi/h
Next 17 mi = 14.39 mi/h
Nest 30.5 = 12.96 mi/h
Last 41.5 = 12.62 mi/h
Total 112 mi = 13.50 mi/h

As opposed to the swim, I have a pretty good idea of what went wrong here. Based on my 3 - 100 milers I did while training I thought averaging 16mph for the whole course was conservative and give me a 7 hour bike split. It took me 1:20 longer and I really fried myself... tons of mistakes here. Certainly the heat played a factor and the hills were way tougher than I anticipated, but I think I was my own worst enemy. I had 2 pb&j packed on my bike to start and 2 more in a cooler special needs, my plan was to eat sandwiches at miles 20, 40, 60, and 80 and then eat gels, sport beans, chomps and bananas in between. Also my plan was to drink enough to need 2 waters at every aid station and take salt tablets. I really think it was a good plan and worked in training for me. I just totally failed in the execution. I ate 3/4 of a pb&j at mile 25. I ate some sport beans and bananas from time to time and took 1 water at every aid station. My stomach just hurt and I could not get more down. Maybe heat impacted ability to eat, maybe just a bad day? No luck with the pre-race porta-a-potty (never been a problem in the past) which didn't help. I did finally stop at the porta-a-potty at the aide station past Lagrange (mile 60ish?) and managed to get some stomach relief... felt a little better. Clearly I fell victim to the pre-race message which I heard over and over and I promised wouldn't happen to me - I got behind on calories and hydration and couldn't make it up. Pace kept falling and falling and I knew if I didn't keep going I would be in danger of missing the 6:20 cutoff. I skipped special needs (couldn't have eat the pb&j anyway) and just kept going as best I could. Lagrange was awesome both times! Finally and mercifully, I pulled into T2 at 6:00, 20 minutes before the cutoff. I had very mixed emotions as my day was not going well at all, but also knew that despite being fried, the run was my relative strength. So many negative thoughts throughout the bike and saw so many people that were pulled over just lying down. I really held out hope that I could walk a mile or so to start the run and rally with some water and nutrition.

Just about everything... stop earlier to regroup and certainly eat and drink better. Had a few points on the bike were I was on the verge of completely bonking.

Happy to be rid of my bike, stopped to take shoes off before walking to the tent. Kept moving albeit slowly. Decent about of people in the changing tent and med tent that were done.

Actually nothing.

First 3.4 mi = 13:45/mi
Next 4.8 mi = 12:42/mi
Next 4.9 mi = 12:29/mi
Next 2.2 mi = 12:36/mi
Next 4.8 mi = 13:17/mi
Next 4.9 mi = 13:07/mi
Last 1.2 mi = 13:12/mi

Wow... this was a roller coaster. I spent the first 1.5 miles walking and taking in fluids and nutrition. I knew that I couldn't walk the marathon and I'd need to find a way to get moving or I wouldn’t finish before midnight (what I wouldn’t have given to go back to the start and get in line earlier). I managed to find the magic combination of 1 chicken broth, 1 flat cola, and 1 water + 1 minute or so of walking to settle it at each and every aid station would give me enough energy to run almost to the next aid station. Also remembered a tip I read on BT somewhere about running with ice in your hands. After the nutrition, I took the ice, put some in each hand and just ran (relatively speaking). I actually think holding the ice was totally mental and kept me focused on something other than running and hurting. I was constantly doing the math about the midnight cutoff. I hit the turn for the 2nd loop at a bit after 9:00 so had just under 3 hours to run 12 miles... probable but not safe by any means. I hadn't actually pee'ed since about mile 60 on the bike so was relieved to need to go on the run at mile 10 or so (ended up going about 5 or 6 times on the run so must have gotten rehydrated pretty well). I met some really nice folks on second loop for a few minutes at a time. I also passed a lot of folks on the second loop, some upbeat, some crying. Kept the pace going as best I could. Hit the final turn at 10:25ish so 10k in 1:35... looking good but still not in the bag. Wife walked out and met me at mile 23... 3.2 miles and had an hour to go. That was the first time since the start that actually finishing felt like a reality. I knew I was going to finish and become an Ironman! The next 3 miles were a total blur. My wife was telling me about all the friends and family that were tracking me and watching the live feed of the finish. The finish was awesome... I wanted to finish running and with a smile... although it took a heck of a lot longer than I ever imagined, I crossed the line running and smiling somewhere around 11:45pm and heard the words Brandon Yoder, you are an Ironman.

Given the state I was in after the swim and bike, I am pretty happy with the run.

I honestly felt totally exhausted (duh) but not dizzy or out of sorts. Got my medal, hat, shirt and picture. I really needed to sit down and eat something solid. I wish I could have stayed to cheer in the folks that made it in after me since I was with them. Hyatt was 100 feet from the exit and just got to my room and collasped. Wife brought me some white castles at about 12:45... woke up, ate 3 and fell back asleep.


Mainly poor execution which was further hurt/impacted due to heat. I felt like my training was okay and never imagined finishing much past 15 hours. Learned some difficult lessons the hard way. 90% happy about finishing and mental strength for not giving up. 10% upset that my times were so poor.


For me, the bike course in the heat was obviously tough. The run course was great. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the volunteers. As one of the later finishers, they stayed positive and helpful until the end. The finish was amazing!