Ironman Louisville

[Bike Chick]

Congrats to all three of you!!! You rock!!!

[katluvr]

Kacie, Wahine & Pika! OMG
You all are did it!! I can't even imagine. Here I am trying just to trackle a sprint. If I EVER did an IM distance (which I doubt) I am sure it would take very bit of the 17 hours to finish. All of your times were FABULOUS

Enjoy your celebrations, rest and recovery. Can't wait for the race reports!

K

[OakLeaf]

Woohoo Pika! Congratulations to all three of you! You are Iron!

[sfa]

Congratulations to all three of you--what an amazing accomplishment!!!

[Pika]

Thanks everyone I will post race report soon, lots to tell you about. I will say that was amazing to see wahine-strong awesome run, you can imagine my surprise past the turn around when I also saw my husband( bib#3027) ( he was suppose to only do the swim and maybe the bike!! (as an aside his bike was racked next to sister madonna) anyway our night ended with a ambulance ride and not for who you might think!! more later my tumbly is rumbly

[GLC1968]

Wow, congrats to all three of you - amazing performances!!

Picka - can't wait to hear more!

[artifactos]

Congratulations!!

Of the 6 people I was tracking from my triathlon club, 5 of them finished. All of them had very hard runs, as the heat got to them pretty badly. But they finished!

The 6th broke his femur in a fall on the bike.

[Blueberry]

Thanks everyone I will post race report soon, lots to tell you about. I will say that was amazing to see wahine-strong awesome run, you can imagine my surprise past the turn around when I also saw my husband( bib#3027) ( he was suppose to only do the swim and maybe the bike!! (as an aside his bike was racked next to sister madonna) anyway our night ended with a ambulance ride and not for who you might think!! more later my tumbly is rumbly

You CANNOT keep us in suspense on that one!! Everyone OK???

[Pika]

Gosh I was hoping to see Kacie's report! I hope she posts soon, I will try to be brief but it the longest day of my life that went by the fastest
My swim was crazy.. I positioned myself at the far right- the least direct route hoping that way I could avoid the "washing machine" but it was a strategy that did not work I was pretty beat up- my mistake was that from my position I ended up on the inside corner of all the turns- Yikes! I am really comfortable in the water but even I got freaked out after being pummeled and pushed- I realized that among all those men I just had to make my own room- wish I played waterpolo that would have been good training! I kept waiting for the open water that everyone told me would eventually come but it never did- I was surrounded the entire time- I think my swim time was a result of swimming for my life- I was very happy that it was over ( but also happy with my time)

T1 the volunteers were awesome!!! Wetsuit strippers, someone to find your bag and hand it to you and then your own "personal" volunteer in the change tent to help you get dressed and then they rebag your wetsuit etc.

The weather the few days before the race was "unsettled"- lots of wind and afternoon thundershowers. The bike started out great- I am not a strong cyclist- so I was doing as well as I was expecting. The downside of getting out of the water when I did- I was passed but not just hundreds but thousands of cyclists!! I just kept telling myself to ride my own race and to remember to have fun- the first two hours flew by- the weather was great then we headed up Ricters pass the climb was good ( I actually passed a few people) then onto the rollers (7) -there was a headwind but it was manageable and really everyone was in the same boat- I headed down the out and back- took a quick peek in my special needs bag and grabbed a piece of candied ginger ( yum) and then carried on to the last climb of the day. The climb to yellow lake is a false flat for a long way and then a gradual climb- As we turned north things got ugly- there was a mother of a headwind(squall) so that I was riding that false flat in my easiest gear wondering what I was going to do once I actually hit the hill.My mantra was "just stay aero and keep pedalling" the climb up yellow lake is crazy with the crowd of volunteers and fans - it felt like the tour with crowds 4-5 deep pressed in on either side of the road- needless to say I had no problem riding up the hill From yellow lake it is a fast descent into Penticon- Ithough I might be able to make up some of the time I lost..I was really hoping to break 7hrs - I was pretty close and given the wind I was happy with my result.

T2 was quick- again the volunteers were amazing- someone grabs your bike and racks it- finds your bag and gives it to you and then someone helps you get organized and dressed- the faster cyclists got stuck int the rain/hail so they were FROZEN after the descent - the volunteers really had their work cut out for them with people unable to move their fingers or feet!!

The run started out ok- I was hoping for a 5hr run- my splits were right on for the first 8 miles and then things started to go south- I couldn't put my finger on it- my legs were ok, I was drinking taking sips frequently so I wasn't thirsty -I had my nutrition plan and was sticking to it but still I felt like crap- I started to walk and then run walk and then pretty soon I was most walking Nothing looked good at the aid stations, I tried the chicken soup one station it tasted ok the next terrible- I kept trying to evaluate why I could not run but I couldn't think of why..boredom?? mentally not strong?? I just couldn't figure it out so I just decided to walk/shuffle the whole way back. I knew I would finish but not in the time I had hoped- then I saw my husband on the run!!! I asked him what the heck he was doing and when he was going to quit and he said he was going to finish it- he looked good and assured me he was walking lots too so I didn't need to worry about him. There was lots of support along the run ( though as an aside- please if you ever cheer for someone don't tell them they are "almost there" unless you can actually see the finish line- here the "almost there" started about 6 miles out I sure did not feel "almost there"
So I shuffled in for the run- I was grateful for all the help and kinds words along the way- can I tell you again how awesome the volunteers and fans are!!

So there I am at the finish.. they have 2 "catchers" to walk you through the maze of stuff to the food and chairs etc- by now it is pretty chilly- I got a few space blankets and had some melon - I wasn't feeling so great but heck I just finished an Ironman- doesn't everyone feel like crap??? ( apparently not there were lots of people looking normal) anyway I though I would feel better if I could just lay down- so I took my space blanket to a patch of grass but just as I laid down someone came over and asked if I needed help- I must have looked kinda blue- she said ohhh we'll take you to the medical tent to warm up- they gave me hot iv bags used like a hot water bottle- they were great but I just felt worse and worse I finally said I think I'm going to be sick - I vomited up the melon (sorry for the tmi) they then took me to a plinth and hooked me up to an iv and gave me anti nausea drugs but I threw up 2 more times!! so more drugs and more iv...now it is getting late ( close to midnight and they close the medical tent at midnight) I am still sick and haven't been able to find my husband. Anyway they waited as long as they could but because I was still so sick the Dr did not want to send me home- so they called the ambulance..just as they were loading me up my husband saw the ambulance and then saw it was me- he had been looking for me for over 2 hrs!!!- he finished only about an hour after me ( only 4 months post angioplasty..he's amazing)...so I get send off to the hospital via ambulance- I ended up staying at the hospital for more iv and yet another anti nausea drug- that seems to do the trick and they let me go home for the best night sleep at about 2:30 am. I feel great today- nice to get the iv for that reason I guess
Now I have to go over my nutrition plan and figure out where I went wrong- I am thinking the temps had something to do with it- also I know I really don't do fesh fruit well on an empty stomach- so heaven only know why I chose the melon after the race- that was definitely a mistake I won't repeat!

What I will repeat is IMC- my husband and I are both signed up again
Thanks for reading ( if you got this far)
It really was an amazing experience- even if it didn't go as planned for me- I was sooo happy for my husband and truly the crowd support at this race was awesome ( even if people did tell me I was almost there with 10km more to run/walk)

[Bike Chick]

Pika, you rock! How awful that you ended up sick afterward and they took you to the ER...I hope you are feeling better....and how awesome that you were able to do this with your husband and sister. DH and I sat here tracking you, Kacie, Wahine and a friend of ours and wondered about nutrition. It's an entire day without solid food and you are asking your body to perform at its fullest potential for hours on end. No wonder that you had stomach issues.

Congratulations, Pika!

[spindizzy]

Pika:
Awesome RR! I had to giggle when I read that you saw that "patch of grass and decided to lie down" - that is so totally what I would do! The volunteers are trained well to spot people like you. (and me!)

You finished! Your DH finished! Congratulations to both of you!

[colby]

So there I am at the finish.. they have 2 "catchers" to walk you through the maze of stuff to the food and chairs etc- by now it is pretty chilly- I got a few space blankets and had some melon - I wasn't feeling so great but heck I just finished an Ironman- doesn't everyone feel like crap??? ( apparently not there were lots of people looking normal) anyway I though I would feel better if I could just lay down- so I took my space blanket to a patch of grass but just as I laid down someone came over and asked if I needed help- I must have looked kinda blue- she said ohhh we'll take you to the medical tent to warm up- they gave me hot iv bags used like a hot water bottle- they were great but I just felt worse and worse I finally said I think I'm going to be sick - I vomited up the melon (sorry for the tmi) they then took me to a plinth and hooked me up to an iv and gave me anti nausea drugs but I threw up 2 more times!! so more drugs and more iv...now it is getting late ( close to midnight and they close the medical tent at midnight) I am still sick and haven't been able to find my husband. Anyway they waited as long as they could but because I was still so sick the Dr did not want to send me home- so they called the ambulance..just as they were loading me up my husband saw the ambulance and then saw it was me- he had been looking for me for over 2 hrs!!!- he finished only about an hour after me ( only 4 months post angioplasty..he's amazing)...so I get send off to the hospital via ambulance- I ended up staying at the hospital for more iv and yet another anti nausea drug- that seems to do the trick and they let me go home for the best night sleep at about 2:30 am. I feel great today- nice to get the iv for that reason I guess
Now I have to go over my nutrition plan and figure out where I went wrong- I am thinking the temps had something to do with it- also I know I really don't do fesh fruit well on an empty stomach- so heaven only know why I chose the melon after the race- that was definitely a mistake I won't repeat!

What I will repeat is IMC- my husband and I are both signed up again
Thanks for reading ( if you got this far)
It really was an amazing experience- even if it didn't go as planned for me- I was sooo happy for my husband and truly the crowd support at this race was awesome ( even if people did tell me I was almost there with 10km more to run/walk)

Hey Pika, great report!! I heard the weather was pretty rough from a few other finishers. You did AWESOME. I laughed at your swim report... washing machine, all the men, I know whatyou mean.

Whatever caused you to bonk on the run may have been a result of earlier issues that also led to your mega crash at the end - maybe not enough or too much or the wrong food for the weather and ride you had with that wind and cooler temps that finally caught up with you on the run? It's really hard to know until you put it all together on race day, even if you have tested your nutrition plan there are so many variables. Even your muscle strain can cause random issues that manifest themselves in more directly unfortunate ways...

I remember finishing my first Ironman, I must have looked like a zombie, I sure felt like one. Everyone, I mean EVERYONE, asked me if I was okay. I made it home and to the best night's sleep of my life, sans IV fluids, but I am so glad there are so many people there to help you out and watch out for you. Volunteers and even spectators really make the race. After my second, things were very different, I had pizza and soda, I could say more than "water" and "take these clothes off me and put on my soft fuzzy pajamas please"...

Congratulations on your first, here's to your second. Congratulations to your husband, too, how serendipitous that he found you just before you left - that would have been pretty traumatic for both of you! I'm thinking maybe I can convince my husband to come up and volunteer for IMCA next year. I don't have any strong desire to race 2 IMs that close together, but I wouldn't mind cheering people on and experiencing it from the other side.

[kacie tri-ing]

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am going to read it again now!

(Pika--I will post mine soon, I promise!)

How are you feeling now?????

[OakLeaf]

Wow Pika, congrats, and hope you're feeling much better.

[Pika]

Thanks everyone for the congrats I am happy I finished but feel there is lots of improvements that I can make for next year
How are you doing KC?? I heard there was lack of water in Louisville- hope that didn't have an effect on you!!
Here it is wed- day three post IM and I am still not digesting food well Still on broth and rice- when I try to eat something else it just sits like a lump- I am hoping my digestive system recovers by tomorrow as I am back to work!!
Gosh I really did not think that it would be my digestive system that would take the longest to recover. ( The rest of me feels great- I could totally run or bike today but my stomach is limiting me!) That seems crazy!!
Looking forward to your report when you get a chance KC
And Colby- do you mean you'd come up to Penticton to volunteer? That would be AWESOME!!