There is so much to say about my first Ironman experience, but I will try to sum it up in a few brief paragraphs. The mornings leading up to the swim were cool with temperatures in the 60s, and I was hoping this was going to be true on race day. Unfortunately that would not be the case. Temperatures were already in the high 70s at start time and overall it was the hottest race day on record for Louisville with a heat index of 105 degrees on the run. But more on the run later. First off, the swim.The swim section, which I dreaded the most, ended up being my most enjoyable swim in the past nine months. We lined up and waited nervously, and when it was time to go I felt like a soldier getting ready to jump out of a plane into combat. As we approached the dock, the volunteers were yelling "Go! Go! Go!" nonstop, making us jump in practically on top of each other to start the race. After that initial chaos, the rest of the swim was smooth sailing. At one point I felt so at peace because no one was around me....I realized why when I was approached by a kayaker who told me I was way off course. Oops. Guess that explains the peacefulness. Once I got regrouped, it was almost time for the bike.
I felt great in the saddle at the outset, and although I had a predetermined pace of 17mph the first 20 felt so effortless that I was averaging 21 mph. The bike course was hilly and challenging; on mile 25 we entered a bowl, and going down I reached speeds of 35 to 40 mph! This was crazy because it was an out and back in the bowl on a very narrow road, so there were bikes only a few feet away whizzing by from the opposite direction. Fortunately there were no accidents that I could see, but one wrong move could've taken out a lot of riders. Overall the bike was a lot of fun, and the volunteers and crowd support were the best I've ever encountered on a bike ride (though I did hear later that they ran out of water). With 12 miles to go I felt confident I could put together a good marathon, as miraculously nothing hurt yet. I finished the bike feeling strong and eager to hit the pavement on foot.
In the transition area I quickly changed into my Run For Your Life singlet and took off. I was shocked by how fresh I felt, and I think that being strict and sticking to my nutrition plan kept me in great condition going into the run. By mile 4 I had passed well over 60 people, and I'm pleased to say that I was never passed on the run. (Unfortunately, it was a bit distressing to see that some people weren't faring as well as me. The run course resembled a battlefield with people collapsed all over and ambulances flying by up and down the street. The heat seemed to be taking its toll.) This was a two-lap marathon course, which worked wonders in terms of crowd support because people could stay in the same spot and see you four times. In addition, I saw other folks from Charlotte who were in the race and we were able to encourage each other at every passing. Before I knew it, the race was almost over. Approaching the finish line was one of the most exciting experiences of my life! I remember seeing Lance Leo, a Charlotte Ironman coach, and he encouraged me to finish strong. From there I was all smiles, just absorbing all the cheering and high fives as I ran down the finishers' aisle.
It's difficult not to be biased because my experience through the whole thing was amazing, but I highly recommend Louisville ironman to everyone considering that kind of distance. It was a fun town and a truly unforgettable experience. Huge thanks to God for giving me the strength to get through all this, to all my friends and training partners at Run For Your Life, and to my wife for being all over the course for 12 hours and giving me a crucial piece of gum at mile 14. Thank you all for your help in making me an Ironman.
