Ironman Louisville : Official Thread (Page 3)

I'm having a lot of trouble finding a good tune-up race before IMKY next summer. I'd prefer it to be a HIM. Preferably on the east coast (I'm located in DC). Anyone have recommendations?

I'm right there with ya.  If I can't find anything else I will most likely do Cardinal Harbour in Louisville in July.

I finally bit the bullet and signed up for another 140.6 miles in the oven! Louisville kicked my butt in 2010 (everything I could do just to finish), so I am coming back to get my revenge! I have a lot of work to do, but that is what Ironman is about.  The race starts the day you sign up, race day is just the sprint to the finish.

I stayed at a hotel about 20 minutes away from the race site this year and am looking to get a more convenient hotel for '11. Any input from the BT community about the host hotel and others that people have used would be appreciated. I don't want to break the bank but don't mind dropping a few bucks to optimize my experience. I have seen a lot of negative reviews about the Galt house online at TripAdvisor and Yahoo, but I want to get some feedback from actual triathletes.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Jeremy-
Hello. First of all, congratulations on your 2010 IMLO finish and for your 2011 registration. I'm sure you won't regret it.

The biggest negative I read from athletes about the Galt House was the wait for the elevators. I didn't stay there though, so I can't speak to it through experience.

When I did IMLO in 2009 we stayed at the Comfort Suites Hotel in Jeffersonville, IN. It is right across the river, more or less, and it was very convenient. We will be doing the same for 2011. I think it took us 5 min. or less to get to downtown Louisville/aka swim start area.

Having said that, I saw a couple negative responses on trip advisor about this hotel. However, not only did I stay there in '09, but I've stayed there for other purposes as well and I think it's just fine.
If the location looks good to you, but you are not sold on this particular building, there are two other hotels right next to it. One nice thing is that it is a "choice" hotel and if you are a USAT member you also get a discount.

On the other hand, I wondered if I was missing out on something by not being "in town" per se. I thought about getting a hotel on the LOU side of the river, but the price is right and it's plenty convenient, so we'll stick with the Comfort Suites.

Good luck with your hotel search.

The only downfall of the Galt was the elevators- yes, painfully slow!- but if you can get over it, or hoof it up the stairs with the bike, it is a good place to stay. I was there this year and my experience was great. Everything is within walking distance, i.e practice swim, transitions, restaurants, 4th Street Live and the best part was that after finishing the race, it was only a short walk to the hotel,  a quick shower and change and back to 4th St. to eat and cheer others.

I'm in . Third IM.  I did IM WIS in 45 degree weather and rain - 2006, and then IMKY last year in 96 degrees.  I figure I'm due for a good weather IM, we'll see...
I am doing Rocket City marathon in a few weeks, then Boston in April.  Lubbock is on the list and then on to Louisville. 

Good luck everyone, I'll be checking in for you all to help keep me motivated to train.  I do well in running, OK on the bike, but really need help to get to the pool.

Thanks in advance!!!!

Welcome Nancy! I'm glad you are doing this. It may help with the weather.

Thanks so much Tri-Sam.  I hope we have good weather.  

What kinds of plans are people planning on using?  I took a 20 week plan and changed it for taper around my marathons, etc.  Any other suggestions? 

I've been looking into the coaching here, is the price quote per month or total, cause that sounds too good to be true.  Any experience w/ it?  Helpful? 

Edited by oregonducks 2010-11-10 12:22 PM

All...started a facebook group.....

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=77488936686&ref=ts#!/home.php...

all welcome to join

FM
"The" Cube

Thanks for the input so far, very helpful. I will definitely look into Jeffersonville. The only concerns I had with that were getting to the race and back to the hotel on race day. Were you able to get back and forth easily?

Nancy, I did the BT 20 week program for my first 140.6 endeavor and the race went slightly better than expected. I went to a much longer (36 week) free training program from another tri website for IM Louisville and I felt I was in even better shape with that one. I struggled on race day, but my issues were with heat and hydration (too much of both, very bad news) and my fitness levels were not a factor. My wife also did the 36 week program for her first IM at Louisville and she did WAY better than she expected. She missed her Kona slot by less than 10 minutes and was smiling, laughing and cheering comfortably when I finished an hour later. Long story short, if you can handle the long program and have the time and energy to commit, the 36 week training is probably superior. However, if you are prone to over-use injuries (knees, ankles, etc...) or if you aren't sure you can commit to 9 months of relentless training, the 20 week BT full iron program is certainly enough to get you across the finish line and may be the better way to go.
Here is the link to the longer program: http://www.trifuel.com/triathlon/ironman-workouts/

Hope this helps. 

By the way, we are hiring a local coach for the wife to see if we can get her over the top, and I may get in on it too. If I don't, I will likely use the 36 week program again with slight modifications for my specific needs.

That does help - Thank you.
I did a poor job of training last year, and still did ok at IMKY (except the run due to stomach cramps from them running out of water on the bike - but that's a long story). 
So this year, I want to re-double my efforts and really train and see how I do.
Congrats to your wife - that's awesome.  And good luck this year.  Let me know how you're doing occasionally. 

Nancy

I just want to tell everyone on this thread -THANKS.  I'm super excited.  And to find like-minded people who are gearing up for same event - it's great.
Thanks Cube for setting up the Facebook.  I'll join when I get home (won't do facebook at work).

Nancy

I'm using the 6 month plan from the Gayle Bernhardt book. It came highly recommended. I'm planning incereasing the prescribed bike times. I know going into this I need A LOT of hill work. I live in a very flat area. Hills are such a shocker to my body, so i've teamed up with a Louisville veteran (David tri's) and plan to get some good hill work in throughout the training season. The only bummer is that travel is required to get a decent hilly ride in, but it will be worth it come race day!

Looks like I just found my tune-up race for IM KY. They just announced the American Zofingen Triathlon (1.5mi/69mi/15mi) 5 weeks out from KY. Very excited about this. Finding a HIM on the east coast in that time frame had been very tough. This slightly longer race on a brutal course should be fabulous prep!

edit: turns out they didn't just announce it, but only just added it to their website. Same idea I guess.

Edited by Stephen T 2010-11-13 7:09 PM

Hi friends. I just pulled the trigger and registered for 2011.
It will be my 2nd and I'm so excited
 

Lisa and others who recently joined...
Welcome and good for you!

Peace.

Count me in!  1st IM and looking forward to getting there over the next 9 months or so.  Saw some stuff on hotels earlier, any recommendations.  I saw a few for much less a few miles outside of downtown, any recommendations?

Brian...congratulations on your entry.
I'm booked at the Comfort Suites Hotel in Jeffersonville, IN. I think it's a good deal, but it certainly isn't the only deal. Anyway, it's a good location and a good price.
Peace.

Stephen T...where is the American Zofingen Triathlon????

FM
"The" Cube

Can't wait for training for this to start.  Last year I used a combo of 2 BT plans, this year I'm going to use this plan: 

http://www.trifuel.com/triathlon/ironman-workouts/

It starts 12/19/10 for the full 36 weeks.  

This year was my first IM (IMKY) and I really focused more on "doing" the workouts than the specifics prescribed in the workouts.  I'm really hoping to be able to focus on that more this year and ultimately improve myself.

Like I said, can't wait. 

~85 miles north of Manhattan in upstate NY. Will be a long haul for me up from DC, but with Eagleman sold out there really seem to be no other options within driving distance for a July HIM(ish) race.

http://www.cm2promotions.com/american-zofingen-triathlon

Edit: I realize Eagleman is a June race, but my point stands?

Edited by Stephen T 2010-11-16 8:30 AM

Im planning to start back with my coach 24 weeks out from LOU, mid March. Work it in 2-3 builds. 1) One to a Oly race in May (Peachtree City International)
2) Another to a 70.3 in July (Cardinial Harbour Half)
3) Then the last build to IM LOU in late Aug.

FM
"The" Cube

I like the tri-fuel plan, but why does it go from 19 hours to 15:30 before the taper?  And the long rides aren't quite long enough, but I may use it, plus some other plans as skeletons for what I want to do.

Edited by oregonducks 2010-11-17 10:58 AM

Advise from all you runners turned triathletes. 
I'm mostly a runner, but starting to feel like I'm going over to being more of a triathlete, which is quite a shock for me.   My question is - Have any of you one sport people, turned triathlete lost your advantage in your original sport?
I'm a decent runner, and I don't want to give that up, but my body can't take 60 mpw running plus the tri training, and I don't have the time. 
Thanks for any sage advise