Ironman Louisville - Triathlon

I had been battling rotator cuff pain 2 weeks before the Ironman. The day before the race, I swam about 500 yards in practice, and it really fired up my shoulder. On raceway, I felt I could probably get about 2000 yards in my left shoulder, and then it would be trashed. So, I made the strategic decision to swim with one arm - I knew I would need both shoulders to stay aero on the bike, and I didn't want to run the marathon in a sling.

Before injuring my shoulder, I was targeting a sub 1 hour swim. So it was interesting seeing what it was like BOP, and seeing what it was like to get swam over. It wasn't that big of a deal. Everyone that ran me over stopped when they realized what they were doing, and altered their course. No biggie.

I was also battling achilles tendonitis in both legs, but especially the left. After about 3000 yards of breaststroke kicks, my left achilles REALLY FLARED up, and I was unable to do any further kicking with that leg. So, I was down to 2 limbs. I was struggling for air, and asked myself what I was doing out there. It felt like my achilles was going to snap, and I decided that I needed to quit the race, and live to fight another day. I looked for a life boat, but decided that I would save time by swimming the last 1000 yards, than getting on the boat and having to wait until the swim ended.

When I got out of the water, I bent my left ankle, and it felt like someone whipped my left achilles tendon. I had accepted that my race was over, and was so upset watching everyone else run up the hill towards transition to continue. I made my way over to the medical tent, because I wanted to justify my decision to stop by hearing a doctor say it would be wise to quit. When I got to the medical tent, I told them about my achilles, and they signaled over a specific doctor (I assume he was a foot specialist?). He pinched it, had me stand on my toes and other things. Then said I had just really flared it up and that it would hold for the race, and that it would be a matter of how much pain I could put up with. I knew that my injuries were going to limit me to a 13-14 hour bike/run, so I started contemplating if I could withstand pain that long. Then, in an agitated voice, the doctor said, "Just go get on your bike, GO!" So, I quit thinking about the pain, and did just that. He saved my race.

I took it very easy the first 80 miles, because I didn't believe my achilles was going to hold up. There was so much burning, it felt like it was on fire. I tried not to think about it, and enjoy the ride. I peed on the bike 6 times. It was a weird sensation to feel the warmth in my crotch, but when it dripped on my legs, the pee it was cold. I feel like I nailed my hydration and nutrition!

There was a person in a gorilla costume/purple speedo/Mexican wrestling mask that was in the front yard jumping on a trampoline. Made my day.

I did not go to the medical tent this time, because I was determined to give the run a go.

The achilles pain prevented me from running and walking, due to the longer strides. The only way I could move forward was to trot. It was probably the most painful way to do a marathon, because it had the impact of a run, but the speed of a fast walk. I had to trot the entire 26.2. It was so frustrating trotting next to people power walking, because it would have been so much less impact. Regardless, I was determined to stick it out.

I pulled up next to a girl around mile 20, and in the most pathetic/beat down voice, she said "I'm so tired". She walked and I trotted next to each other for a while, but eventually she said she couldn't keep up. I felt so bad pulling away. She said she had done 4 or 5 Ironmans, so hopefully she knew how to finish it out.

It didn't hit me that night that I finished, because I really didn't think I would. I went through the finish line/got the medal/picture, and was out. I don't really remember much of it. I ate a couple slices of pizza. When I signed up for the race, I really wanted to go to the finish line to see the last finishers. I decided not to go back to the line, because I was one.


My shoulder and achilles issues disabled me in a 3 disciplines. However, I always get more out of a race when doing it injured. There is no pressure to go fast, so I get to look around and have fun. It also builds so much more mental strength. That being said, I want to be healthy for my next Ironman, so I can hammer it.