New!! Ironman Loiusville Kentucky

[Nanci]

What a great location! Reg opens October 21. Race is August 26, 2007.

[Running Mommy]

'cept I hear the swim may be a bit errrr. scary.. As in the late night participants may not need glow sticks...
And the thought of the humidity??? UGH!!!
Oh yeah, you live in FLORIDA!!
So ya gonna sign up???

[Nanci]

Um, no. Unless they change it to a duathlon! Or increase the time limit to 20 hours.

[SR500]

Great Location! Should get a lot of people from the Midwest and South. Louisville biking is awesome!

[Tri Girl]

IMKY? Don't ask why, and no offense to Kentuckyans, but I don't like the letters- IMKY. Seriously tho, I've heard the same thing about the river as RM. Ick!
BUT...IMAZ's swim looked like greenish water to me- any thoughts on that RM? I watched the hour re-play of IMAZ last weekend on OLN (now VS). It looks like a tough course- 3 one way hilly loops on the bike and 2 on the run. I still have my heart set on IMAZ 08, but coming from the frigid winter to a hot April race will be very tough on the body (not to mention training all winter in the dark and cold). I may have to think about IMFL instead- flat and fast- hot and humid!! Now THAT, my body is used to.

[Running Mommy]

Oh no tri girl. IMAZ is almost a FLAT course!! The bike leg is a gradual uphill to the turn around, but I am a hill WEENIE! The QUEEN of the weenies in fact, and it was fine!! For some reason I liked breaking it up in three loops, mentally it was easier for me.
I think the run course was probably hillier, but then by the time you get to the run there isn't much "run" left in my legs for it to matter. And even that wasn't bad at all. I really think of it as a flat course. IMO the hardest part of the race is that it's in the desert. For us Zonies that's not a problem, but for people in more humid climes it poses some issues. Also for people that have been training in frigid weather all winter the heat is a BIG shock.

Now as for the water, yeah it is green, but the local officials keep it in good condition. They are CONSTANTLY monitoring the water. I know last year they actually threw some granules in it in the weeks leading up to the race to break up the algae. A few weeks ago they had an issue before the timex race when the PH was a bit high, but I think they got that in order before race day. I think there may be some triathletes working for the city, because they seem to keep the lake in good order. It's also used by the college for rowing and such.
My worry with KY would really be the industrial sludge that is dumped into the OH river. That is where the swim start is going to be I think?? Of course I could be wrong. I haven't really looked into it that much.
Anyhooo... yeah, IMAZ gets a HUGE thumbs up from me course wise!

[makbike]

I know several people who swim, ski, boat on the Ohio River and they say it is safe to do so. That said, I've lived in and around Louisville since 1974 and I've never been brave enough to venture into the Ohio River, it's polluted history scares me. However, on any given weekend during the summer months you see a lot of people out on the Ohio enjoying the water and those who do venture in continue to do so on a regular basis. I really think your biggest worry might actually be the debris that is seen floating down the river (logs, junk, etc) and the current for the water is always moving at a good clip or so it appears.

The bike ride and run should prove to be equally as challenging given the terrain and the temps/humidity levels. I take my hat off to all the individuals who will give this event an attempt in advance.

Marcie

[Running Mommy]

tri girl... along the lines of not liking the moniker "IMKY" my friend just called it "IM- KY jelly".... eeeewwwwwww!!!!!
she has all kinds of funny names, like IM HOT for IMAZ and IM SPUD for couer d'alene, etc.

[Tri Girl]

tri girl... along the lines of not liking the moniker "IMKY" my friend just called it "IM- KY jelly".... eeeewwwwwww!!!!!
she has all kinds of funny names, like IM HOT for IMAZ and IM SPUD for couer d'alene, etc.

hee hee (and eeewwww, too- that's just why I don't like IMKY- icky).
I like IM Hot and IM Spud. Very clever. She needs to come up with a list of names for all the races. Like IMFL could be IM Shark Bait, and IMWI could be IM a Cheese Head.
Sorry, I'm still suffering from ISS (Ironman Stupidity Syndrome) and lately when I'm not forgetting people I've known for years, or losing something that's in my hand, I'm cracking myself up over really stupid jokes. It better go away someday... or I'm gonna find myself very lonely...

[Nanci]

I think they already call IMWI IM Moo.

IMFL could be IM FLat.