Ironman Louisville - TriathlonFull Ironman

Swim was fairly uneventfull. I was able to draft some at the beginning when we were by the island. I didn't really get bumped into that much. After rounding the island and heading back downstream I made the mistake of moving more into the middle of the river, thinking I could catch the current. I lost any chance of drafting at that point, plus added significant distance to my swim. After going under the first bridge I began angling myself back towards the pack and was able to catch some draft at the 2nd bridge. Came out of the water and felt a little light headed and weak legs for a couple of seconds but then everything kicked in and I headed towards transition

Not angle out to the middle of the river and lose my draft and add distance.

Transition went fine. A volunteer grabbed my bag. I found a seat and put on my shoes, helmet, etc... Headed out the door, got sprayed down with sunscreen, grabbed my bike and headed out. I also fired down a GU and some water while I was changing

Not much. I was happy with this one.

This is where the issues began to happen. When we headed out I took it nice and easy for the first 12- 15 miles as they were flat and I didn't want to blow myself up later. I was doing a good job of drinking my Infinit, water and endurolytes. I was feeling strong. We hit the out and back and everything was still going well. I was able to spin up the hills, hit my nutrition. I felt good. I did see one poor woman down in a ditch at the end of the downhill with an Ambulance.

After I got off the out and back and headed towards LaGrange I was still feeling good, but was noticing that it was getting hotter out. I was still able to take in my nutrition and was feeling pretty good. Once I turned onto KY-146 I noticed the winds had picked up and I had a nice headwind now. My heartrate began to creep up and I went through the headwind. I saw my wife and family in LaGrange and that gave me a boost. The rest of the loop was fairly uneventfull.

When I came through LaGrange the second time I noticed the wind was even stronger and my heartrate kept creeping up. It was also significantly hotter. After I passed my family around mile 70, I began to have the first signs of trouble. My stomach was getting very unsettled. Around mile 80, it wanted no more of my Infinit or GU's. I could only take in water and some endurolytes. Once I made it back onto state route 42 the heat had really kicked up and I felt really sick. I continued to drink water and supplement with endurolytes, but couldn't take in any calories. I tried to force some down but it would bring me to the point of wanting to vomit. At the second to last aid station I picked up a bottle of Gatorade and tried to sip on that. I could tolerate that some as it was ice cold and felt good going down. I was still hurting due to lack of calories. Once I got back to transition and tried to get off the bike, my right hamstring cramped. I hobbled back to transition and stretched it out.

I need to figure out why my system shut down. I also just need to continue to ride more and build up my base.

Right hamstring cramped after I got off the bike. I took my time to try and gather myself for the run. The heat and lack of calories were getting to me.

Not have issues on the bike that caused me to sit for a while in transition

Where to begin. The run was a complete disaster for me. I walked probably 95% of it. As soon as I left the transition tent, I knew there was no way I could run. I walked at about a 15 minute mile pace until mile 10. I was trying to take in water, gatorade and food at every aid station, but was having a tough time getting anything down other than water. At mile 10 I was able to use the bathroom and get some food in me. I was actually able to begin doing a slow run\walk. I was able to do this through mile 14ish. Then the wheels completely feel off. From mile 14 - mile 20 I walked again at a slow pace. I was having trouble taking anything in and was getting dizzy and for some reason my face felt like it was on fire. When I got to mile 20 I told the volunteers I needed help. They got me over to the grass and sat me down. A specatator who happened to be a doctor came over and checked on me. The volunteers put a bag full of ice on my neck and brough me water and a powerbar. Surprisingly I was able to eat the powerbar. After sitting there for almost 30 mintues waiting for the EMT's, I felt much better and decided to get up and walk the last 6 miles. I was able to walk the last 6 miles but had to sit down a couple of times to rest. I started to grab powerbars at each aid station and eat those as I walked. They seemed to help. At mile 25 my wife found me and walked the rest of the way in with me. I couldn't have done this without her. Once I rounded the corner to 4th street I saw the finish and the adreneline kicked in and I was able to run it in. This was not the ideal way I wanted to do my first IM marathon, but I'm happy I didn't quit and was able to finish.

Not push the bike as hard and figure out why I could keep any nutrition going on the bike

Went to the convention center and sat down. My wife got me some food and drinks and I tried to eat a little, but my stomach was upset. We stayed there for about 25 minutes and then headed to the Galt House


The heat and humidity got me and not being able to consume calories had a massive affect on me.


This was an excellent run race. The only issue I had was the heat and humidity. Then again it was Louisville in August.