Ironman Louisville - TriathlonFull Ironman

I think the TT start is good. But, i do wish you were seeded by AG. Hit the water & went right into a comfortable stroke w/ bilateral breathing. Let me add, I am not a very good swimmer & have only been swimming for two years. I have been known to freak out for the first part of OWS. Today just felt good. I was at peace with myself & knew i could do the distance. I hit alot of traffic right before the turn bouy & may have lost a little time due to sun being in my face until the turn. Made the turn a nd settled in once again to a nice pace for me. Life was good for awhile (I knew something had to happen) My left calve began to cramp at about the 1 hour mark. I thought OMG, i have not trained for a year to be picked up in the water!!! Kinda relaxed my legs and mostly pulled for about 5 minutes. The cramp went away, but you know it was in the back of my head for the duration of the swim. Got back into a nice stroke and began focusing on my navigation. I really did not feel much current like i did at the practice swim, i don't know?? At the second bridge I could see the finish & thought i was all alone & could cruise to the finish. WRONG!!! Out of nowhere, some dude swims over me and while he is on top of me, he pushes me down even deeper. Once i made it back up, i screamed "thanks alot buddy", he never checked up. What a loser. I regained myself and swam on in. May bad race karma grant him flat!!!-lol

I think maybe I could have put a little more effort in my pace. But, for someone who could not swim 100 meters 2 yrs ago, I was happy. I hoped for around a 1:20 swim, so I was close.

I never thought I would be so happy to walk into a tent with 100's of naked men, but i was. I had survived the swim. Changed into bike shorts, tri top, grabbed gear & out the door.

Nothing, what a great feeling!!!

OK, i trained on what hills we have in Alabama all year. I think the bike is challenging, but not extreme. The aid stations where the best I have seen in my two years of tri's. Volunteers were world-class. Thank you guys!!! Lagrange is awesome!!! Here we go-let's talk about where we start our major problem of the day. I have trained in 90 degree temps(and above) all Summer. One bottle an hour of infinit has carried my through 3 70.3's this year & 4 century rides. NEVER WITH STOMACH ISSUES!!! At appox mile 70 my stomach shut down!! The smell of anything sweet made me very sick. I knew it was time to bring out plans b,c,d & etc...Finished the bike on water & really began to worry about not finishing...........

I am an above- average cyclist & could normally have finished this bike route in 6 hrs flat with no problems. I began peeing about every 30 minutes early in the ride. I was sweating very little & that is not normal for me. I really think my body was accustomed to high temps and absoption rates, that the cooler temps made me take in too much, too quick.

Stomach had taken over the day. I was worried & did not enjoy T2. I feared bad times were ahead!

Ran out of T2 with no idea how i was gonna make 26.2 with no intake. Suprisingly, i began to feel good. Ran over the bridge and into downtown. Saw my family at around the 2 mile mark and headed out w/ about a 10 minute pace.Tried a gel at 3 mile aid atation. YUK!!!! still no way to take anything other than water. I made it to mile 6 just on fumes. I walk/ran mile 6-14 & tried everything from grapes to cookies. Nothing worked. Made myself run back through the turn-around, appox 1/2 mile. When i headed back out, i began to understand what people mean when they say their mind goes to a bad place. I just wanted to sit down and cry. Yes, the big bad firman wanted to cry. I just could'nt believe this was happening. I had never, ever had stomach issues. I am the poster child for Infinit!!!! I walked mile 14 -20. I ran into Pegasus around mile 17. What a great spirit. I am sure she thought "gee, this guy is a sour-puss!!!" She really took my mind off my stomach for about 10 minutes. She is a aawesome young lady who I am sure will make an outstanding MD one day. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING PEG!! She beagn to feel better and sprinted off to last portion of the run. I made the turn-around & figured out i would actually make the cut-off. I kinda had a moment of relief & gained a little composure. I walked through the timing mat and immediately began running 100 yds then walking 100yds. Oh crap, this was working!!!! When i got to the aid station at mile 21, the only thing i had not tried was Coke. I took in two cups and within 3 minutes my stomach was 90% normal. My pace picked up and I was actually having fun. I made it to mile 25 doing my run/walk shuffle. At mile 25 i decided i would run it in no matter what. I am not a very good writer, so words cannot tell you what that finish looked like when i made the turn. I was filled with emotion. I was there. The finish was within my reach. I thought about all the sacrifices I have made the last year & what an awesome wife & daughter to put up with me during training. I pulled myself together & just let it soak in as I ran down the chute. My friends, there is no way to expalin it!!!

Not sure what happened with the stomach. I strongly think the weather was a factor. looking back, not sure if the Coke would have worked earlier in the run. Who knows???

Down the chute & confirmed IRONMAN. Heard my name from up top & saw family & friends on overpass. Got my finishers stuff & picture. Embraced family and assured them it would be atleast 2011 before i attempted another 140.6 !!!!


I had a goal of sub 14, but it just was not my day. I was trained and ready-no problems with that part.


If you're on the fence about a full Ironman-DO IT !!! What an incredible journey with so many ups & downs over the last year, as well as race day. Two years ago I could not run 1.5 miles, did not own a bike & never been in a lap pool. I weighed 225 & was unhappy with myself. Today I'm at 168. I am 37 & feel better than i did at 20!!!! God Bless & thanks for reading.