Ironman Louisville 2018, A Day To Remember
Looking back, I think I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Let’s quickly recap my experience in triathlon prior to toeing the starting line at 2018 Ironman Louisville— I had decided on a whim to sign up for a half ironman in Ohio on New Year’s Day of 2018 when I was out of shape and unmotivated in my last year of Internal medicine residency. In prep for this race, I had done two olympic distance triathlons both in summer of 2018, then I did complete Ironman Ohio 70.3 in late July. That was the extent of my experience… three races. In the year of 2018 I had successfully learned how to swim, whipped my butt into fairly decent shape (dropped about 20lbs), bought a triathlon bike and a whole lot of new gear and found myself a coach. A lot of challenges had been accomplished and I felt like I could do anything. But was I still terrified of this challenge?? You bet, and looking back I still think I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
I guess to understand this a little more it’s good to know that I’m a very extreme person, a very competitive person and a little bit of a perfectionist (ok maybe a lot a bit). When I decide to do something, it is all-in, balls to the walls type of doing something. So while the above summation of events likely seems crazy to most rational individuals, to me it was just the next logical step— no other challenge would do other than completing a full 140.6 in my first year with the sport.
I’m lucky to have such a supportive husband. He has a long and decorated career in all three sports in triathlon, he’s ultimately the reason I found triathlon. He had completed numerous races including an Ironman in his past. So I was extremely lucky that he decided to race along with me — it was only later on he told me the only reason he did this was to help me through my first one, he was even a little worried with my lofty goals.
Pre-Race
Turns out in terms of a first Ironman, it’s a really wise choice to pick an easy, driveable location. We live in Lexington, Kentucky and luckily Louisville is under an hour’s drive from our home. We’re also very familiar with the city and course as Kit and I met and lived in Louisville during our medical school days. Due to the close proximity, it was very easy to drive down and back for packet pickup as well as on race morning, with the ability to sleep in our own beds the night before the race. Highly recommended if you have the ability to do this.
Weather is always an unpredictable variable in Kentucky in October. As race day grew closer, it seemed that the predicted temperatures were getting cooler. As most of my training had happened in essentially Kentucky summer (which can be 90+ degrees and very humid), I was not very happy with the predicted start temp in the low 40s and high in the 50s. Nice for running but that’s about the end of the positives. The forecast was also looking more and more like rain was a strong possibility… Just what we needed.
So I nervously obsessed over what I would wear and I’m sure obnoxiously bothered my coach for last minute tips about anything and everything a first timer worries about. Ultimately, I decided on a plan and tried to go bed early— that wouldn’t matter as I don’t think I got more than an hour of sleep that night…
Kit and I left before 4am from our driveway in Lexington, the air was cool and the rain was already falling. As anxiety tried to take over, I took a deep breath and just reminded myself that it would be the same for everyone, after all I’m pretty good at suffering.
Getting to transition and then the swim start was an overwhelming blur. I don’t think I anticipated so many people everywhere— and I am not a fan of people everywhere— in the dark and cold. Thankfully Kit helped me check through all my things and then his things (thank god for him), and luckily I ran into two other Rocksport teammates that made me feel slightly more comfortable. Kit and I used our wetsuits for warmth as we walked our way to the docks by the swim start.
It felt like we waited for eternity, as I was shivering through the cold rain, but without much experience I had to think this was normal? It wasn’t until I heard other mumblings/complaining around me that I understood what was happening… because of the current the swim would be shortened from 2.4 miles to about 0.5 miles, and we wouldn’t start for another half hour at least. Great.
Honestly though, in some ways I was relieved. The swim was actually what I was worried most about. I had essentially taught myself to swim months ago and didn’t feel super confident in open water swimming. I had only worn my wetsuit about twice, and in my first ever triathlon I had a panic attack in the water that caused me to nearly DNF. So short swim, yeah, I felt like I could deal with that. Now just to get this show on the road…
The Swim
Kit and I stood on the freezing cold dock for what felt like hours as the volunteers let racers in the water one by one by one… I was at the point where my teeth were chattering, I couldn’t feel my feet- genuinely I was concerned about whether my muscles would work once I jumped in the water.
Finally it was our turn, to jump in the murky, nasty Ohio River- after all that’s the perk of IM Louisville right?? Wrong, I wouldn’t wish open water swimming in this river to my worst enemy. In a positive sense, the water temperature (at 68 degrees) was so warm compared to air temperature that it was such a relief, and the downstream current was so strong that I could have doggy paddled my way to Olympic record pace. In a negative sense, the water was gross… Sticks, leaves, other funk all floating by us. I could taste oil from nearby barges towards the end of the 1600m swim. And in just 16 minutes, out of the water and onto transition.
Swim- 16:40 (1600m)
T1
I think the first thought in my head was just joy that I had actually survived the swim, in all honesty I don’t know that I was prepared at this juncture for a full Ironman open water swim. Who knows, but I was glad to make it. The next overwhelming feeling— I was freezing. Now wet, coming out of the water into low 40s and rain was not ideal. I spent close to seven minutes in transition, putting on FULL WINTER GEAR- it took a while. And let me just say, never was I happier in my life to have put on full winter gear…
T1- 6:56
The Bike
Prior to this bike I had ridden 100 miles in training. That was once, in ideal, flat conditions….
I think a good summary of this bike ride is miserable and cold. From the very beginning it was cold, my teeth were chattering and I was shivering. I was hoping I would warm up, and that was true to some degree as I battled through the first 10 miles of rolling hills. It was around this point that I saw Kit, he was also decked out in full winter gear, also looking cold, but he said he was feeling good. The thing about triathlon cycling is you can’t really bike with someone else— otherwise you will get a penalty for drafting. Due to this and not being able to truly ride “together” , I stayed with Kit for a few miles, I ultimately ended up passing him and heading on.
The cold rain continued. My clothes were pretty soaked and there were descents that got pretty sketchy as my hands were shaking to grip on my brakes. Nutrition become tougher and tougher as the cold made it less appealing to eat and the wet gloves made it very difficult to actually obtain the nutrition from where it was stored in my kit or on my bike. There were a few times I physically stopped to obtain nutrition and to catch some warm broth at the aid stations— thank god for that on this day.
It was amazing to me on the bike course the variety of outfits and choices people were making. I saw trash bags, tri shorts and singlets, full winter jackets and everything in between. So many people were on the side of the road I assume dropping out— I heard later the DNF for this race was near 25%, and they actually had heated buses shuttling people who elected to drop out on the bike.
I continued through the bike and couldn’t be happier hitting the home stretch on River Road coming back into T2. My coach Erin had actually come down to cheer and saw me about this point on the bike. I think her comment after was “you didn’t look so happy to be on your bike”. Fair assessment for sure, but I was definitely happy to be getting off my bike.
Bike Time: 6:44
T2
Did I mention I was cold? Freezing cold. The changing tents luckily did have heaters— a curse and a blessing as I didn’t want to leave the changing tent. I think I spent close to 15 minutes in transition- between enjoying the heat, ripping off wet clothes and slowly putting on dry clothes. There were points when I thought the best idea was not to embark on this run… I’m glad I didn’t talk myself into that idea.
T2-13:36
The Run
As hard as it was starting the run, I’m glad I did it. My legs had a tired sensation that I had never felt until this point in my life, a deep ache down to the bone, an achy pain that reminded me that I was really doing something. I was off on a slow trot, after all this was unknown territory. About one mile into the run I suddenly heard a yell from behind me, and the next thing I knew there was a slap on my butt— who else would it be but my endearing better half Kit? I was so happy to see him, but was unsure if he would want to rage on ahead or stick with me in the slow miles. We talked for a bit, about his bike, about my bike, about the general miserable state of the bike, and it all became somewhat fun again. I forgot about my pain and truly was having fun with my husband.
I was happy that he did elect to stay with me and put up with my 10:30ish miles. My legs were hurting but his conversation was dulling my pain. We kept this pace through around mile 15, by this time it was getting dark and the so-far comfortable running temperature in the 50s was dropping again with the sunset. Luckily, he and I both had put jackets in our special needs bag, which came in very handy toward the back half of the marathon. The later miles were a slow-mix of walk/jogging and a few bathroom stops. I won’t lie and say I was feeling awesome, but I was determined to finish and I knew the goal was within my reach.
We continued to click off miles, and before I knew it we were in the home stretch— the last mile, a point I thought we would never reach. Kit and I had stayed together, and we spent the entire last mile debating what we would do when we crossed the finish line together. After many suggested options- some ridiculous— we opted for a holding hand kiss at the line. And so we crossed, hand in hand, a moment that will live forever in my mind and memory. Many people aren’t lucky enough to race Ironmans, and of those that are there aren’t many fortunate enough to race with and finish with their spouse— here I was creating that memory in my first Ironman. Ironman Louisville, Finished- time 12:52…
Post-Race
In the bliss of that moment I don’t even remember feeling pain at the finish line. I knew I had just accomplished something major- something beyond myself that if I was being honest with myself I wasn’t sure I could actually accomplish. As I said above, I’m so lucky to have support of not only my husband, but also my coach Erin who I credit a lot of my success to. She definitely has figured out how to reel me in and push my limits to achieve my goals.
This race will always have a special place in my heart. I finished and raced with the love of my life in a city that I love and where Kit and I met. Even though the conditions were far from ideal I actually think it made the finish that much sweeter. Prior to this race, I had thought doing an Ironman would be a “one and done” situation (funny I had thought the same about 70.3 distance). This experience certainly hooked me and there’s no doubt I will be back for more… sooner rather than later.
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