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Ironman Louisville - TriathlonFull Ironman


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Louisville, Kentucky
United States
World Triathlon Corporation
85F / 29C
Sunny
Total Time = 15h 46m 9s
Overall Rank = 2069/2276
Age Group = F35=39
Age Group Rank = 73/83
Pre-race routine:

Set my alarm for 4:00 am, woke up about 3:40. Got dressed, ate my breakfast of instant oatmeal and a banana, started drinking water. Walked down to transition with my husband, met up with my friend Jess on the walk down. Put nutrition on my bike, borrowed Jess's bike pump (thanks Jess!). I felt really good and ready to go!
Event warmup:

Walked down to the swim start, noticed a little spot on the top of my foot that my sandal was rubbing, no big deal, just make sure to put some glide on it during the day (this will come up again later!). Got body marked, then headed to the end of the swim line. Volunteers were really monitoring the swim line for athletes only (thank you!), I was very glad this rule was put in place this year. Your friends/family could walk with you, they were just across the line from you instead of taking up room in the line. I got in line about 5:30 (give or take) and we (me, Jess and Karen) were farther back than I expected. I kissed my husband (Brian) goodbye at this point (he could have hung around a little more, but I am a rules girl and I get a little nervous so I did not want to get moved to the back of the line ~ I did not ever see this happen by the way). He headed to the start and I sat and waited. Time went really fast in line. I chatted with people next to me and the next thing I know they opened the chute and we were up and moving. Once they condensed everyone down, we were not as far back as I thought. We could hear the pros start and could see them begin their swim a few hundred yards down. The cannon went off (boom!) and we were moving. I got in the water about 7:12. Not too bad!
Swim
  • 1h 07m 38s
  • 4224 yards
  • 01m 36s / 100 yards
Comments:

Jumping off the dock was fun! Off I go!! Woo-Hoo!! This was a pretty uneventful swim. My third IM swim and by far the easiest. Very little contact, nice smooth strokes. I did stop on a sand bar (toward the end of Towhead Island) and use the bathroom...lol. I cannot imagine that I was the only one! I had to pee so bad while in line, but did not want to get out of line and wait in the even longer porta potty line, so I just decided to take my first pee break in the River! The swim out in the river was cool, just so much open space....weeeee! I sighted off the Red Roof of the Galt house and the PNC bank building and the next thing you know.....red finish buoy ahead! The current was a little rougher here than I expected, I had to swim hard to stay in line for the exit. A volunteer reached out and grabbed my arm and whoop, up I went. I checked my watch...omg, under 1:10! Nice! My goal was 1:10 - 1:15.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing.
Transition 1
  • 06m 30s
Comments:

I saw my friends Bob & Susan while running toward T1. Yay! I'm gald they made it in. Walked to get my bag, just tried to adjust to being upright again. Not much to report here, I did not change between swim and bike this year, just dried off a little, applied some chamois butter, helmet, bike shoes, sunglasses.....off to bike 112 miles! Goal time was under 10:00. So far, so good.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing.
Bike
  • 7h 10m 26s
  • 112 miles
  • 15.61 mile/hr
Comments:

I had ridden this course twice in training and am so, so glad that I did. I felt very prepared for the course, knew exactly what was coming and executed pretty close to my plan. The course can be pretty fast at the beginning, but I held back knowing what was to come. Started sipping water immediately and consistantly. Started my nutrition about 45 minutes in. Beautiful, sunny day; big, white, fluffy clouds in the sky (for the sun to hide behind a little!). Gonna be a great ride....I can feel it!

Ok, so we hit the out and back. Fun! Be careful, though, very careful. People are everywhere here. I move to the right and stay there (I'm a decent swimmer and a weaker biker ~ I know where I belong!). I find my groove and just ride, spin up the hills, cruise down the other side. There is a water stop at the turn-around of the out and back....really? I know we need one, but just does not seem like a good place. There is a wreck there, a couple people in the ditch I think....don't want to look too much and make things worse. Plenty of volunteers there to help, I hope everyone is ok. Woosh, turn around, water, banana, out the other side. Bike aid stations make me nervous, always happy to get through them. On the way out, a guy asked me "how many times do we have to do this part?" "just once" I was happy to report and he was equally as happy to hear!

Ok, next thing you know, time for the 1st loop. Nice, little patch of rollers here at the beginning, and just as soon as you get sick of them....bam, they are over...whew! Into LaGrange...so fun here, lots of people everywhere! Hey, I heard my name announced! Then screams and hollers.....there's my crew....Brian, Bob & Susan! Yay...I pump my arm and give the thumbs up! Off to Ballard School Road, couple big hills here and some more rollers on Old Sligo and Lesprit Parkway.....Hey, theres the Running Spot tent (that's the big Running group here in Cincy, I do some of my run training with them). They give me some big cheers and off I go!

I kept up with my nutrition very well. I took my honey stingers as planned (5 of them overall), had a banana at almost every aid station, sipped water constantly. I had my liquid fuel (EFS powder) broken down into three containers (one I picked up at SN) and they were to be consumed one bottle to each 2 hours and 20 minutes. I stuck with that exactly. Off to ride the second loop.

I stopped to pee at the last aid station before SN (was afraid there would be a long line there), hopped off my bike, a volunteer held it for me, did my thing (oops! I forgot to grab my little packet of chamois butter from my bento box....oh well) and back on the bike I went. A few miles later, I stopped at SN, refilled my fuel, munched on a couple cheez-its, wiped down with a power shower wipe and took off. Saw my friends/family again in LaGrange....so awesome to see them again! Running spot tent again, too! This course is full of people. There are spectators everywhere! There were people dressed like devils coaxing you up hills, grim reapers roaming around....locals out on their driveways, kids cheering, bells ringing, music sounding....it was amazing!!

Next thing you know, I'm done with the 2nd loop and heading back in! Oooowwwww....what was that!?! CRaaaaMp....ouch. what the? My inner quad....ugh, I almost had to unclip and pull over. Slowed way down, massaged it with my hand a little, drink, drink, drink...took a honey stinger. That came out of nowhere! The last 20 miles of this course are pretty fast and flat.....I originally was going to make up a little time here, but just decided to ride nice and easy to the end. The quad cramp scared me a little and I wasn't going to anger it anymore! I had an awesome day on the bike....a little slower than my goal, but I felt really good!! My goal time was 7:00.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing, really. I felt prepared, enjoyed the course, nailed my nutrition. Not sure about the cramp, it hurt really bad, but never bothered me again!
Transition 2
  • 13m 28s
Comments:

Although I enjoyed the bike, I was really happy to get off and leave it behind! I saw Bob & Susan on the way in and then Brian & Tracy (yay...Trac is here!) on the way out! I did a full change in T2. I took my time, wiped down with a power shower wipe, dried off, glide, glide, glide everywhere! My volunteer was awesome, she filled my water bottle with ice water, got me some coke and water to drink, helped me get my sports bra on, put my things away for me...she was great!

Remember that spot on my foot from my sandal early this morning? It was red and swollen now, not too bad, but I made sure to put some glide on it, too. I stopped to use the porta potty before leaving T2. I felt great, clean (well as clean as you can be at this point!) dry and comfortable. It was gonna be a great run, slow and steady was my mantra for the run, slow and steady. Saw my group coming out of T2, high fives all around, feeling great!
What would you do differently?:

Nothing. Goal time was under 10:00 (but really 20:00 for BOTH T1 & T2 combined, so I had some extra time here!). Plus, comfort is always more important to me, especially in T2.
Run
  • 7h 08m 7s
  • 26.2 miles
  • 16m 20s  min/mile
Comments:

Well, things started off fine. I felt really good getting started on the run, saw my group, told them I felt good, hit the bridge out and back, took it nice and slow from the beginning. My plan was to run nice and slow and walk every aid station (about 30 seconds) taking in a honey stinger chew or two at every aid station.

I felt pretty good for a while (9 or 10 miles), talked a little, but mostly stayed in my plan, enjoyed my surroundings and hoped for a good night.......Nope, not gonna happen...uh, oh...somewhere around mile 11, yep 11 I started having waves of nausea that never went away the rest of the night.

My plan included taking some cola at every other aid station or so and taking chicken broth as soon as it was offered (I LOVED the chicken broth at IMFL last year, so this seemed like a good idea). I was able to get broth somewhere along the first loop, not sure what mile (7 or 8?), but it was before the turn around. Not every station had it yet, but I took a little when I could. I don't think it went over very well this time. I'm not sure, it can be so hard to tell what causes it. By mile 11, I was already starting to walk and felt really bad....oh no, not yet, please not this early.

Ok, so I decided to get to SN and re-evaluate my plan from there. It was just a couple miles away and it felt like eternity. Omg...what am I going to do? Don't panic, just keep moving, always keep moving. I get to SN (finally!) and I just start to cry.....tears just pouring down my face. Oh no, I feel terrible, just terrible. How in the world am I gonna make it another 13.1 miles? That loop was SO long. It just seemed to take forever, even the first time around......A really nice volunteer said "You hang in there girl, we girls here just wish we had the courage that you girls do, you just hang in there." Ok, I wiped my face down with a power shower wipe, grabbed my cheez-its (will try to eat one later) and started to move again. Ugh, this was not going to be easy.

Ok, if I can just get to see my friends/family again then I will feel better. I'm still running a little bit at this point, not alot, but some (and VERY slowly). I get close to the turn around, you run SO close to the finish line, so close that I thought I missed my turn and started to panic a little.....nope, didn't miss it, there is the sign....wow, that was mean. You get close in Florida, too ~ but not THAT close, dang. Ok, family? friends? where the hell are you? I NEED to see them, bad. Oh, there they are....Bob & Susan, hi guys.....where is Brian (my hubby)....there he is. I ran over and laid my head on his shoulder. They were all there now; Brian, Bob, Susan, Tracy & Seth. Omg...I feel like shit. I'm not even really enjoying anything anymore. Trac tells me to eat some cheez-its that I am holding, so I take a couple ~ oh crap, I either have power shower wipe all over my hands or they got mixed in my SN bags....yuck, they tasted like wipes....eeew, thats not gonna help at all!

I tell everyone that I'm gonna finish ~ they KNOW I'm gonna finish, but it's gonna be a LONG night and I apologize in advance for making them wait so long...lol. They all give me words of encouragement and I take a deep breath, think to myself 'ok, I CAN do this, run if I can, walk if I have to, just keep moving, ALWAYS keep moving....and NEVER sit down....NEVER sit down'.

Off I go, knowing this is going to be one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it will be SO worth it in the end. I can honestly not recount those final 12 miles in much detail. The nausea was bad, then would lighten up a bit, I would take a grape here, a pretzel there, not much was going in....always afraid to make things worse. At one point, the nausea got so bad that just tipping my cup up to my mouth gave me motion sickness. Then, it would fade away a little. I walked most of those last 12 miles.

I tried to run a little about mile 16 or 17, I "ran" for two or three minutes and suffered the next three miles because of it. Nope, not gonna happen. I walked to the final turn around, 10K to go. Only 6.2 miles and I would finish this race. I had plenty of time. I dropped my time goal a long, long time ago. There were people laying on the side of the road.....ambulances were everywhere.....just keep moving, just keep moving. I wanted to stop, I wanted to sit down just for a minute...NO! NO! just keep moving, just keep moving.

I decided to try some orange slices at this point, I was barely chewing on ice and I needed something else. Ok, that tasted ok. Keep moving, oh, I perked up a little, just a little. Ok, orange slices it is then! I had one or two now at every aid station, they helped. I even picked up a little "run" a couple of times here and there. VERY, VERY slow, do NOT screw this up now. Oh, my feet hurt so bad and my neck...ouch. I was hunched over quite a bit for a while, it just felt better.

Oh....my....this was THE longest few miles.....my garmin died, I had no idea what mile I was on, keep moving girl just keep moving. Mile 25!?! was that the sign for mile 25, oh goodness, I'm SO close, yet SO far away. I really wanted to stop now. My body just ached, my feet hurt so bad and I just felt SO sick to my stomach. It took me 23:58 to get from mile 25.04 to the finish.....What the hell was I doing!?!

I got to the turn onto Chestnut and could hear the finish line but couldn't really pick up the pace, just keep going, SO close, almost there! People were congratulating me...."you did it, you are right there, a little more, congratulations" A spectator said "Run to the light, run to the light" ha, ha, that made me smile a little.....I turned the corner onto 4th street and about broke down, the street turns into bricks and was very hard to manage at this point.....then, There it was.....the lights, the people, the screaming, I could hear so much! I didn't look around too much, just straight ahead....the motion sickness was bad, straight ahead, the finish....the lights, the screaming....oh, I made it, I made it!! I was "running" just a little bit, just a little bit......the lights were SO bright, the people just amazing!! I made it!! Arms up, smile, smile! I made it!! WOO-HOO! STACIE TUMLIN....you ARE an IRONMAN!
What would you do differently?:

I don't know what caused the nausea. I felt great on the bike, did not push too hard, managed my nutrition well. I just don't know what happened or what to do to fix it! I was recently diagnosed with IBS and I'm sure this was a factor, just haven't had a lot of opportunity to work with it. My goal time was 5:00 - 5:30. Oh well, just SO glad to finish!
Post race
Warm down:

My catchers name was "Gary" ~ super nice guy....thanks Gary! He walked me through the chute, got my stuff for me, helped me get my picture taken, made sure I was ok and then released me to my group.

Remember that "spot" on my foot this morning? When I took off my shoe, it was red and swollen and VERY painful! Funny how something so small can turn into something SO big after 140.6 miles!!

Talked with my friends/family! Tracy & Seth went and got my bike and gear bags ~ Thank guys! No WAY I could have gone down there to get them!

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Severe nausea!

Event comments:

This was an amazing race! The volunteers are WONDERFUL!! I cannot believe how awesome everyone is....the ENTIRE time! It is such a long day for people to be out there and stay positive. I was met with happy, perky, positive people at EVERY aid station, EVERY time! THANK YOU.....we could NOT do this without YOU!!




Last updated: 2010-11-10 12:00 AM
Swimming
01:07:38 | 4224 yards | 01m 36s / 100yards
Age Group: 0/83
Overall: 0/2276
Performance: Good
Suit: Pearl Izumi Tri Shorts & Purple Zoot Tri Top
Course: Time trial start; swim 0.7 miles up the river (between the bank and Towhead Island)and then 1.7 miles back down the river to the finish.
Start type: Plus:
Water temp: 84F / 29C Current: Low
200M Perf. Remainder:
Breathing: Drafting:
Waves: Navigation:
Rounding:
T1
Time: 06:30
Performance: Good
Cap removal: Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike:
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
07:10:26 | 112 miles | 15.61 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/83
Overall: 0/2276
Performance: Good
Wind: Some
Course: River Road, (L) KY-42, (R) KY-1694 (out and back), (R) KY-42, (R) KY-393 (start of 1st loop here),(L) KY-146 (town of La Grange),(L) Ballard School Road, (R) Old Sligo, (R) Le Esprit Parkway, (L) KY-153, (L) KY-42 (start 2nd loop here), take KY-42 all the way back to River Road and into T2.
Road: Rough Dry Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills:
Race pace: Drinks:
T2
Time: 13:28
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
07:08:07 | 26.2 miles | 16m 20s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/83
Overall: 0/2276
Performance: Bad
Course: Out of transition, to an out and back on the bridge, then two loops of another out and back.
Keeping cool Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5

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2011-08-30 11:33 AM

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Veteran
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Harrison, Oh
Subject: Ironman Louisville


2011-08-30 12:46 PM
in reply to: #3665746

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Alpharetta, Georgia
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville
Wow that run sounds intense! So proud of you for sticking through it despite the discomfort and agony. That's the thing about the Ironman, right? Things go wrong and you adjust to make it through. Well done!
2011-08-30 12:56 PM
in reply to: #3665746

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Ohio
Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville

Wow Stacie, way to battle through what sounds like an extremely painful and interminable run. Talk about mental strength - you proved you've got it! Great RR - what an experience.

Congratulations,

Twink

2011-08-30 2:48 PM
in reply to: #3665746

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Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville
Nice race and great race report.  Sorry I didn't get a chance to meet up with you in Louisville.  It was sure a great weekend! I think we may have met at Miami Whitewater Park before.  I am friends with Dave, Barbara, and Pat and I live in Okeana.  I believe we met once while running on the park path....maybe.  Anyway, congrats on a GREAT race!!!!  I am so happy for you!
2011-08-30 4:03 PM
in reply to: #3665746

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Member
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SWOH
Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville
This was an awesome race report and really makes me want to volunteer at IMKY next year. I was there and was probably one of those crazy loud people in the chute cheering you into the finish. The people at the end, the ones who had issues and just had to purely gut out one leg of the race or another, are the ones who humbled me the most. You rock!
2011-08-30 8:45 PM
in reply to: #3665746

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Veteran
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Columbus, Ohio
Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville
Awesome race! It was nice to meet you in Starbucks.


2011-08-30 8:52 PM
in reply to: #3665746

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Bronze member
Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville
Loved reading your race report!
2011-08-31 8:08 AM
in reply to: #3665746

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Regular
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Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville
Great race report, and even though you might not have liked your marathon time, GREAT RACE! Unless you're a pro and going for the money Ironman isn't about your time, it's about your toughness. You definitely had that!!! Way to stick it out. And it was really nice meeting you on Friday.
2011-08-31 1:25 PM
in reply to: #3665746

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Extreme Veteran
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Pa
Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville
Nice race report.  Sounds like you had a tough run.  Nice job toughing it out!!!!!
2011-08-31 4:23 PM
in reply to: #3665746

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West Palm Beach
Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville

Way to tough it out!!!! wow!! You are an ironman!!!!

I am sure we were both suffering close to each other on the run! as our finishing times are pretty close ;-)

Enjoy your rest now...I know I am!

2011-09-01 6:36 PM
in reply to: #3665746

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Expert
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CALEDONIA/MIDDLEVILLE, MICHIGAN
Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville
You did GREAT!


2011-09-02 6:41 AM
in reply to: #3665746

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Master
2014
2000
Ohio
Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville
Great Report Stacie! There was much carnage on the bike and the run, that's for sure. I wish I'd seen you out there, but I was in my own little world of hurt. Congrats on your third finish, Ironman!
2011-09-02 5:30 PM
in reply to: #3665746

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Veteran
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Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville
Great race report. Great race. Sorry I missed yall at Starbucks.
2011-09-02 6:55 PM
in reply to: #3671373

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Regular
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Cincinnati
Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville

Stacie -

Great to see you out there and way to push thru to the finish!

Guess I will see you at the Y in a few months at spinning class!

Enjoy sometime off and talk to you soon.  If you get back on the bike for a ride and need some company give me a buzz!

Kevin

2011-09-06 7:01 AM
in reply to: #3665746

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Expert
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Fort Riley, Kansas
Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville
Great race Stacie! Way to push through that nausea. It was awesome meeting you! I love honey stinger gels, I had 5 of them on the run myself. I had a honey stinger waffle in my special needs bag too but it was all soggy by the time I got to it. Hope to race with you again in the future.
2011-09-06 9:39 AM
in reply to: #3665746

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Champion
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MA
Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville

Great job of dealing with situation and finding the toughness to finish!

Awesome swim you had!



2011-09-27 10:18 AM
in reply to: #3674429

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Regular
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Holland, Mich.
Subject: RE: Ironman Louisville
Congrats, Stacie!  Whew, I can relate to your "just keep moving forward" mantra duing the run segment.  The only time I dared to sit down was to change my socks at the special needs area.  A helpful volunteer helped pull me up, and I was off, moving forward mechanically but steadily.  Best wishes in your future races!
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