Ironman Louisville : Official Thread (Page 79)

Sticks? Naw, I wasn't doing that, but if someone got hit by a rock in the back of the helmet just outside of Sligo, sorry, that was me. I have pretty good aim, and a great throwing arm ;-)

Naw, seriously, you guys did great out there. I was watching you guys from outside Sligo (between Sligo and the turn to head back up the hills into Buckner), and was the guy in the green VW with the cowbell. I was also the swim marshal on the swim start at the top of the ramp - you guys had to run around me before doing a "U" Turn to go under the arch - I was blocking a sharp "leg" on the fence that you had to run around - I probably told you guys to loose your shirts/water bottle/towel/etc.

You guys all rocked out there. Sorry I really didn't get a chance to meet you guys.

Well 14:11 and I am an IRONMAN. this was my first full and it rocked. Feeling it today, but would not change anything. The energy was awsome.

Great job. This was my first also. Doesn't it feel awesome?

Awesome job everyone! I can't wait to read everyone's RRs   I was volunteering at the bike exit making sure your helmets and numbers were on and everything was set for the bike.  It was awesome to get to help out and cheer each and every one of you on (the volunteers standing around me were like - "you can take a break" - I just laughed, "Then I might miss creating a smile on someone's face!"

It was an amazing experience just to spectate - and I signed up for next year  

I hope everyone had a great race and made it home safely

Congrats all Ironman and THANKS to the volunteers!!
-marn

The feelings on race day were amazing.  The whole spectrum.  I think I might be addicted.

Just home home today, I can't believe I am an IRONMAN!  Nice to meet all the BT people!  Congrats to all those who participated and a big THANK YOU to the volunteers.

Congrats to all, it was great to see everyone made it, what a great day. Special thanks to Paul (Tri wog Stl) for letting me hang out with his family after the race, much more fun than being solo. Good to meet Mark (BamaDC), thanks for the swim and ride (nice picture). I can't thank the volunteers enough, great job . Great experience for my first IM  11:17, not sure I can top that, but I'll give it a try next year. Thanks for all the advice, BT made the event much easier. It's only been two days and I don't know what to do with my time, can't wait to start training for IMLP 2010! 

I know I am addicted but the family isn't. So I will wait a couple years before doing another.

Neat tidbit from the volunteer party, 96% finish rate the highest in IM history. I guess the wheather makes a real difference.

For those of you who haven't heard. Rob (wiky) Qualified for Kona on Sunday.  His wife just had their thrid and he's not going.  So go send Rob some love.  Oh yeah it was his first Ironman.

There's a nice IM-Lou recap video posted on Universal Sports.....not much age group coverage, but a good recap of the pros and some nice shots of the course.

http://www.universalsports.com/mediaPlayer/media.dbml?SPSID=105911&SPID=13056&DB_OEM_ID=23000&id=646360&sid=13056


Edited by g_shotts 2009-09-03 8:34 PM

It's probably a bit larger picture than just a percieved poor performance that you're going through.  Maybe others can confirm what is a secret in this endurance lifestyle, that depression sets in after such an accomplishment.  We all get it to some degree (and it's probably what causes us to repeat an ironman).

You've spent the last 12 months, and especially much of the last 4 months, with this event as your life's focus.  Not just the time training, but the plannng and timing of meals, planning of family events, when to sleep, when to work, etc. - everything was focussed on this one day. To all of your friends, you become the athlete preparing to do an Ironman.  Once it's over, you have no focus, no identity.

You spend the final week slowly building pressure; as you pack your gear, as you travel to the site, as you drive the course, at the expo, at meals, visiting with athletes.  The adrenaline mounts, the nerves are frayed.  Race morning comes after little sleep.  The final hour before the gun is nerve-wracking as you wait.  The adrenalin causes an enormous chemical imbalance in your body - especially if you're at your first IM.  Then, you throw your body into the water and the real physiological abuse commences.  You spend the next 11-16 hours completely destroying your body.  Digestion stops and blood thickens as you dehydrate, muscles are consumed as your body burns everything for fuel, and kidneys slow as they clog from this ketosis.  The finely balanced chemical soup that is your body is simply a mess.  

For at least a week or more after the race, your body has to rebuild and find that chemical balance once again.  During that time, depression sets in and work and family can suffer.  Normally, I have almost no temper, but after an Ironman I find that anger is just under the surface for a week or more.  No matter how hard I try, I find myself set-off by the smallest things.  Slowly, this will all returm to normal as I get back into the realities of daily life and my body finds its equilibrium.

I'm sure there have been scientific studies of this behavior - probably a minor form of post-traumatic stress syndrome or the like.  I know it's real, as I've suffered and have watched many training partners do the same.  Adding the thought that your effort was limited because of nutrition or injury probably compounds the depression. 

I may be completely wrong, but this might be a physiological explanation for the feelings you describe.  But then again, maybe you just had a bad day. 
Better sign up for next year just to be sure.


Congrats on your finish, Ironman!

I finished. 15.5 hours. I know I could for a 14.5 hour but oh well I finished. As far as the run, if you swallowed the wrong water on their that would explain your run. That happened to two of my friends.

I'm having a simular feeling.  I went into this race with the sole goal of finishing since this was my first IM and not knowing what to expect.  During the run I found myself not wanting to do anything to jepordize finishing so when my stomach started acting up I stopped eating right, when my knee started hurting I stopped running as much, and so on.  At the finish I had TONS left in the tank.  I was hurting in a few spots but had plenty of energy.  My finishing time was 13:53 w/ a terrible 5:45 mary.  I'm a little embarrassed and disappointed with that. 

I guess I'll have to do another to get revenge.

I somewhat feel your pain in that so many things went right for me early on and then the wheels just fell off the wagon on the run.  I had been dealing with some injuries and I was resigned to those being my impending downfall......then that never materialized....and something else (blisters and some cramping - one of which was completely unexpected the other-the cramps-were partially my fault for missing the pick up of some more Enduralytes on the bike) caused my demise.

So now I have this disappointment that I let a really great chance to PR go sliding by...what do I do???   In my case I just chalk it up as something to learn from and realize that I did my best with what was presented me that day and I WILL LIVE TO RACE ANOTHER DAY!

Take some time to realize that it is normal to be bummed a bit after such a big event and after a few weeks it will be time to focus again on "something"...another race, a project around the house, a different kind of race??  But DO find something to re-direct your energy into.....you will feel better soon!

Chin up Ironman!

Paul

How long do most of you take off before your next triathlon? I "tried" a sprint triathlon this morning and have never done so bad in my life. I actually had to walk part of the run. I had no energy and felt terrible the whole time. Any suggestions for post Ironman workouts so I don't feel so bad a week later?

Wow, that had to hurt!  I can't imagine trying a sprint triathlon in this state.  But I would be interested to hear specific things others have found to help recover from IM.

I did Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon today, started slow but met someone and ran with them to finish. Ran a 1:47, not too bad a week after IMKY.

Thanks for posting this!! My dad is at 4 mins 38 secs catching Max Longree's (sp?) bike.  He is so excited to be on a video clip  

I was away from a computer for a few days so I am catching up. Congrats to everyone!!! It was a great weekend (except for waiting on line Monday for finisher stuff).

For those who are upset with their time...... I was in the same boat last year. The heat and poor nutrition ruined my run from mile 2 and I ran a 5:50. I learned a lot from that so I came back this year for revenge. I was able to do what I had to do and take off almost 2 hrs.

did anyone post pics of the athlete dinner?

Congratulations to everyone. 

For those who used Tri-Bike Transport......Everyone have there bike?  I live in Miami and still don't have my bike.  I know about 10 bikes shipped from my LBS but almost 10 days now seems unacceptable.  I wanted to ride this weekend and no bike.....  Called them and they said the holiday screwed things up since some bike shops were closed Monday.....

Late in the day on Wednesday and still no bike.  Hummmmm............ What to do...

Anyone besides me think this is unreasonable especially considering taking upwards of 2 weeks to get your bike returned is definately not in the brochure  .

Guess one advantage of doing it yourself is it comes home with you.