IM Louisville...tell me about it?
I am going to be doing IM Louisville this year...can anyone with some course knowledge or experience give me an idea as to what to expect? The swim looks kind of cool and unique, but, I really don't have much on the bike or run. Is it super hilly? Rolling, steep climbs, etc.?
Thanks
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Hey Steve,
There are course talks for Lou, and other North American IMs, available for purchase at the Full Course Talks item in the Store menu. You'll undoubtedly get some good course intel here in the forums, but I found the Course Talk to be a very worthwhile purchase and solid prep for the (unique) characteristics of this race.
addendum:
The main generalization I would make about the bike is that the terrain is such that you'll be making choices for the majority of the ride. Not a lot of "zone out and sit at watts" here. Which is a good thing, because you're EN-execution equipped, and your competition is not. And they will make bad choices.
Hilly, yes, but no monsters to speak of. lots of rollers. I think the starting point is a compact crank and 12-23.
Flat run.
Can be stupid hot / humid - see 2008 race reports, and pace accordingly.
Steve,
See our Ironman Race Kit download here: http://www.endurancenation.us/resources/
Includes preview movies of PnI talking about all of the courses.
The course talks rock. Definitely check those out. Another good place to look for insight is the race reports in the EN 3.0 Forum from folks who did the course last year. We had a great group at IMLOU with some good results.
Here is a link to a thread with video from the swim start:
http://www.endurancenation.us/en_fo...php?t=8806
And here are some links to several (but not all) of the race reports:
http://www.endurancenation.us/en_fo...php?t=8854
http://www.endurancenation.us/en_fo...php?t=8847
http://www.endurancenation.us/en_fo...php?t=8832
http://www.endurancenation.us/en_fo...php?t=8866
http://www.endurancenation.us/en_fo...php?t=8852
http://www.endurancenation.us/en_fo...php?t=8825
http://www.endurancenation.us/en_fo...php?t=8831
http://www.endurancenation.us/en_fo...php?t=8819
http://www.endurancenation.us/en_fo...php?t=8826
http://www.endurancenation.us/en_fo...php?t=8838
http://www.endurancenation.us/en_fo...php?t=8849
http://www.endurancenation.us/en_fo...php?t=8839
not sure where you and Barb live... I am from AR so used to the heat that IMKY will dish out..... 2008: 90+ degrees on the run is what I saw the bank sign say but felt hotter on the asphalt!! so Heat Acclimation is key for this race. Well supported aid stations though so access to water for your bottles and to dump on yourself.. many threads about heat acclimation but salt and water and again heat acclimation!! Humid and Hot and HIlly. You are in the south and you are gonna feel like you are, good hospitality, friendliness and beautiful rolling terrain with horse pastures, just a beautiful bike course set up in a lollipop with two loops of the "pop"... I am not a strong hill climber so used compact 12/27 and managed just fine but you can't lollygag or dropped chains _ (I did it that is why I know!!) The water is warm so no wetsuit and swimming in a smelly, murky, muddy Ohio RIver!! just gotta say that yes a current that I was frankly worried about but not too bad, again I am a BOP swimmer and this was doable and the time trial start is like you and 2400 other of your friends jumping off a dock to go swimming on a warm summer day!!
you swim in a little inlet then bear left and into the river you go to the end... again great support out there and the beach is to your left..... a grassy T1 and wonderful volunteers. The run is still one of my favorites as it has a feel of a downtown marathon, flat with little blips of hills, rises in the road and some cant too. but spectators and college to run by with frat boys hanging and cheering!! two loops of this course puts "hot spots" for spectators to watch.....and the finish into the downtown shopping area is pretty cool!! With this race being in late August the bulk of your training will be in July so you should be heat acclimated and if not.. go out in the hottest part of the day... whenever it is about 100+ and you should be good to go!! I ran/biked in 100+ but found out 112 was my tipping point! 
so was thankful and in fact Praying for cooler weather so was jazzed for 90 degrees on run!!! now this year?? 2009 they had much cooler. KY is a favorite, still is.. passing by the marina and big yachts and then big houses pretty cool and the trees outlinin the course are so green! marvelous.... coming back into town I hear they have fixed the car traffic problem but just be careful on that.... Local Kris F. should chime in here as she knows it well!!
I think Rich has pointed out that hills are a matter of perspective... if you live in flat pancake land then this course is gonna seem "hilly".....I love Kentucky and happy that there is an IM there!! m
Thank you to everyone for weighing in...and Nemo, thanks for he links! I went reading through there and it was VERY helpful to get everyone's thoughts! There were a lot of great race reports, and I am looking forward to 'paying if forward' with one myself when I become an Ironman!
Hi folks! Just getting caught up on forum reading & saw this post. I am local here in Lville & have done the race 2X now. Happy to be of help if I can. Not alot to add right now as Nemo pointed out lots of great links. Here's just a few considerations around the race:
* Kansas is a great prep race- timing is good and course is similar (plus it's one of the more affordable 70.3's)
* If you are local or close enough, Taylorsville Half is also a great prep in mid May in Taylorsville KY. Also gives you some time on the ground to take a peek at the course (www.headfirstperformance.com)
* Along the same vein, Headfirst also puts on a aquabike/tri half late Jul- alittle late in the game to recommend the full half but the aqua bike is a great training experience to get a swim in the Ohio and the actual bike course overlaps some of the IMLOU course. Again- approach this as a training experience, NOT a race
* I did Muncie last year with the thought of it being a "training day". I found it was too late in the season for me personally and it had a negative effect on my overall training (time I gave up for taper & recovery could have been MUCH better spent on following the plan). That being said, I had other folks that I raced with that also did Lville and had a great day both races. You just have to know your own body and what it can do.
* We had an absolutely FREAKISH day temperature wise last year for the race- don't expect it to happen again. 2 out of 3 have been HOT and very humid. Well worth the trip if you can make it in Jun/Jul to preride the bike course, not only to learn the course but to practice your execution and nutrition in the heat
Bike course is beautiful and time trial swim start is awesome! Welcome to the Ville- you'll love it!
Should we form an IMLOU group in the 4.0 forum?
Kris, I am interested in a RR on the course in June - July. I saw in 3.0 that you were trying to organize one last year. Did it ever happen?
Have any EN peeps booked hotel rooms yet? Any recommendations - looks like lots of good downtown options.
Thanks in advance, Scott
I'd suggest holding off on forming an IMLOU group just yet. I'm sure R&P will set up the race groups as we get closer to the race. August is still a loooooong way away. For now, just focus on the OS. If you all start geaking out about IMLou in January you are going to be total head cases by August.
Kris pulled off a great weekend for us last year. You can read up on some of the details in this thread (pics at the end show the great time we had).
www.endurancenation.us/en_forums/showthread.php
I did IMLV as my first IM last year. We totally lucked out with the weather so I can't comment on that. However, I will say that I am a below average swimmer, a strong biker and a medium runner. With that said, the swim was brutal for me. I describe it like swimming in a "warm cup of black coffee"! That was the hardest part of the day IMHOP. The bike course was hilly but totally doable (I feel a compact crank is not necessary) and the run course was basically flat. I would prepare mentally for the swim and be aware of the lack of visibility and the warm water. The TT swim start did make it a little easier not having to battle the feet and elbows that exist in normal IM starts.
All in all, it is a great course and hopefully you'll have the weather we had last year.
Mike
Thanks Nemo and Mike. Just looking to build community with peeps I'll see in August.
I'll channel my geekedness into the OS sessions.
We did the weekend last year mid to late Jul. Headfirst Performance puts on a HIM just abt 10 miles away from IMLOU race site. Last year they let us do just the swim (we were the last wave so as to not interupt the actual racers). It's an excellent opportunity to get a feel for the swim. I'm not a stellar swimmer either and love the time trial start. If you are thinking about coming in to ride the course this summer, would suggest coordinating with Cardinal Harbour race.
Agree with Nemo, OS for now... then maybe a HIM, then on to LOU!