Ironman Louisville

I'm going back this year after a disappointing finish time last year.  I really enjoyed the race.  I think the race has a bad reputation that it does not deserve (We did have great weather last year).  I'm considering going back every year.  It is a perfect spot on my calendar.

Alan

I'm sure if you tried, you could find another IM race around that time to put on your calendar. I hear Canada is nice in August...

What reputation does it have?  I had only heard/thought that it would be incredibly hot and humid which was my turn off. But, it is the closest one to home and actually is driving distance which would be a huge plus. Flying with my bike was insanely difficult.  Well, it was more the walk from the car in the airport parking lot with my bike in a box that was difficult.  

What are your thoughts on it?

Other than hot and humid, it has a reputation of the swim not being exactly what you call "nicest river you ever swam in".

I could care less about the river, I do care about the heat and humidity as I have done two HIM in 87-90 and came very close to heat exhaustion last year in Augusta (got chills and goosebumps on the run, and not the fun kind of chills and goosebumps).  Year before that I did White Lake in 90 degree temps and it was brutal on the run, especially since it was the first 90 degree day of the year.

Josh,

The race doesn't sell out in less than 24 hours like many IM races do, so people ask why? 

1. The city:  People don't think Louisville is a worthy "destination". 

2. The swim:  Many IM purists don't like the time trial start.  And there is a generally accepted idea that the Ohio River is nasty.  And people don't like no wetsuit swims. 

3. The bike:  The "hilly" bike course turns people away.

4. The run:  The run has been classified as boring.

5. The weather:  It is going to be hot in Kentucky in August.  That is just a fact.  The 2010 race when the weather was insanely hot and humid and the DNF rate was sky high did not help the reputation of the race.

For me, I REALLY enjoyed Louisville (the race and the city).  The finish at 4th Street Live is among the best of all IM races.  I don't mind a no wetsuit swim and I didn't find the Ohio River to be that bad.  I didn't find the bike course to be any hillier than what I normally train on (it could be very hilly if you come from a flat place).  Once I got to the run, I was just in survival mode, so I wouldn't have been able to take in the scenery any way (hoping to change that this year).   And the weather was not all that bad (keep your fingers crossed for this year!!!).

Alan

Yea, I knew it didn't sell out and the reasons you mentioned were what I assumed.  I struggle in heat, like bgarobski.  You mentioned augusta, so that's giving me worry since I'm signed up for that race this year.  I'm trying to do my training when it's hottest so I can try and get used to it the best I can, however, I live in asheville, so it never gets all that hot.  I hope I can tolerate it.  I've never DNF'd and I don't want to start now.  

Back to Louisville, people said the same thing about the arizona swim, that the reservoir was disgusting, though I didn't notice. In fact with 14 hours of race ahead of me, water quality was the last thing on my mind.  Again, coming from asheville, i'm not concerned about hilly.  Mountainous I would be, but hilly is good. More time to rest on downhills  Like you said about the run, as far as i'm concerned all runs are boring.  It's the spectators and fellow racers that make it more enjoyable for me.  

My biggest concern would be the heat. I guess I can see how augusta goes and decide from there. My plan A for next year was IM florida, but who knows. If I handle the heat maybe i'll consider Louisville.  

Thanks for all the feedback 

Regarding the time trial start.  That certainly wouldn't be a turn off to me. Less kicking, bumping, etc.  I can see how purists would have issue with that.  My question though is does the race still end at 12:00?  How do they do the timing? is each persons time started when they enter the water or if you start in the back of the pack is that just tough luck?  Do you have less time to finish the race than those who started ahead of you?   

nevermind, read the rules online.  That kind of sucks for the later swimmers!  You could have a faster race than a finisher and still DNF

Augusta is a total crap shoot that time of year.  I remember the weekend after augusta this year, it was 50 degree in the AM and a high of 65.  The weekend of the race, it rained the night before and drizzled until the start.  Clouds on the bike make it really pretty nice since you don't really notice the humidity on the bike.  But for me, the sun came out in its full glory just as I was finishing the bike.  The temps climbed very quickly to 87 and the dew point rose to 73 according to the weather info I pulled in at that time.  That made for a huuuuuuumid run.  15min after I finished, clouds and drizzle rolled in and cooled things down big time.  My wife started an hour after me and hit the run course a good 90 min after I did and she only had the full sun for like 20-30 minutes before the clouds and drizzle came so she had ideal temps for most of the run.

if it wouldn't have been for the rain the night before/morning of, the humidity would have been bearable. 

Sounds like a plan that could be used for Augusta, Louisville, and certainly White Lake!!!!!!

Or heck any Ironman!

Since I don't think I am going to get out to Louisville to ride the course beforehand I am trying to ride the most hills I can in the most heat...I think I am in luck this weekend!

Only a triathlete would ever say that they're in luck because they get to ride hills in the heat of Raleigh