Alright, moment is over.
It was a great experience and I am glad I did it. The swim was crazy fast (the Ohio River was raging) and the bike was hilly but fun. The heat index was somewhere between 102 and 105, so the run was a major challenge.
This is a picture of me struggling through the run.
As advertised, the finish was amazing. It is on a semi-covered street with thousands of people yelling. After the finish I was dizzy and received medical attention. No one told my wife this and she spent the next two hours frantically looking for me. That was the only black mark on the weekend.
Below I have answers to frequently asked questions. Or, answers to questions I had about the race before I did it.
Do people in L'ville really hate bikers?
No, one year somebody threw tacks on the road. But, everyone was really supportive.
Is the Ohio river really as dirty as everyone says?
It is far less dirty than any lake or pond in Iowa. I loved the swim and would recommend anyone doing their first IM, that is scared of the swim do IM Lou. The river is so fast moving for 2 miles of the course you will easily finish in time.
Is the bike course crazy hilly?
No, it has rollers and some hills. But, it was incredibly scenic without being overly challenging.
Was it really hot?
I had always wondered what it was like to run a marathon in the pits of hell...I can now cross that off my bucket list. It was humid and hot. Not much else to say about that.
Did you get bad chaffing?
Oh yes! It is in non "PG" areas, so I will refrain from the pictures.
When did you know you were an Ironman?
I listened to a book on tape while I was training called "Thinking Fast and Slow." The guy in the book talked about people who are successful and how they choose to be successful, not wish it. It is tempting to say I was an Ironman when I finished, but I think it is more accurate that you become an Ironman some horrible weekend in July when your train for 8 hours on Saturday and 5 hours on Sunday with no company. You finish it on race day, but the hard part is the solitude of training.
How many calories did you consume during the race?
It was close to 6,000. As awesome as that sounds, it was all in GU, Bonk Breakers, and Ironman Perform. I would have been more excited to eat 6,000 calories at a buffet (just not Pizza Ranch).
Will you do another one?
Not next summer and probably not the summer after that. I might someday, but it will be in a cooler climate and I would want to do the training with a group.
What now?
I am going to take care of the chaffing. Then, I am not sure. I am enjoying having 20 hours a week of free time back my life. I think I will just take it one day at a time.
Thanks for reading that past 9 months. I appreciate the support and kind words from my friends and family along the way. This blog will go back to focusing on being middle aged and participating in bjj.
