Well, now that 2 1/2 weeks have passed and I'm starting to feel normal in my lower extremities, I think it's time for my Race Report.

Day started off with the alarm going off at about 3:00 ,in time to get up, eat a couple bagels and water, and TRY to get back to sleep. 5:00 comes and it's the alarm once again, a bit more food, and we're out the door to the transition area. Transition is all lit up and racers and spectators are everywhere-pumping tires, filling bottles, saying good bye to loved ones for a while. Got the tires aired up and bottles filled and it was off to the swim start.

SWIM:
Had 2 buddies doing their first IM and me my 2nd. And so we took some photos, said goodbye to the wives, and got in line for the swim start. I've only done IMKY as my IM but I have to say that I think the coolest thing about this one is when the guy from Churchill Downs gets on the trumpet does his thing. The cannon goes off for the pros, and shortly after for the AGER'S. The line moves pretty quickly and before you know it we're slowly getting closer. Then I'm in. Easing into a pretty good rythm and I realize that I forgot to start my watch. No biggie, I reach up, push the button and then do some calculating. Missed about 2 miutes- just add it on to the end. First part in the channel went pretty, until we got just out from the turnaround. I stayed a little to the right and when I went to pull one arm down, I felt something hit my hand. Then again with the other hand. Look up to sight and see numerous racers standing up in the middle of the water. And then I realize, evidently, the shore comes out over half the channel under water. At this point I stand to see what's going on and there's people running everywhere towards the turnaround. Without a doubt the strangest thing I've seen in a race. I get back down and try and move out towards the middle and reach the turnaround. Now I'm ready for the current. Only one problem, no big help with the current this time around. The rest of the swim was uneventful except as we neared the swim exit, I did notice a little more wake and actually took in a little water from the small waves crashing over onto me. I know I would have a lot of trouble in IMFL if the water was any worse than this. Up the steps and across the mat in 1:26:59, almost 11 minutes slower than last time, but I was officially out! T1 was uneventful also. Got my stuff and headed out.

BIKE:
The weather was absolutely perfect this time around. 90-94 the entire bike last time, 70's this time. Last time around my goal was to finish around 6:30 hours and I would have made had it not been for a mechanical issue with my cassette and chain that cost me 30 minutes. I had a few rides of about 75 miles under my belt(not near enough), but was sidelined from any work the last 2 weeks with a bacterial infection in my prostate. I truly had no idea what to expect. Of course the first 8-9 miles is flat and then you hit the first big climb. I was a bit confused b/c in the first year of this race, we did not have this hill, but now, due to some bridge problems, this was part of the course. Pretty tough climb, but so early that it was over pretty quickly. Now the fun would start. The relentless up and down and up and down and up and down. Got to the out and back portion and was actually looking forward to the big downhill. Last time around I had to get on the brakes pretty good b/c a rider in front of me didn't know he was supposed to stay right. This time, I was determined to see just how fast I could go and use as much of that speed to get me up the other side. Started down and once again somebody is in the way. I'm screaming "On the left" but they're just not moving over. So I'm on the brakes again. But I still managed 45mph. Wayyyyyyy fun. Also, saw a guy dressed as the devil on the way up. He couldn't have been at a better place. Start having problems at the turnaround with lower back pain. Get to mile marker 30 and really start to consider quitting. It felt as though my kidneys were in trouble. I stopped to pee and it really burned. I told myself to just get back on and try to make it to mile 35, the next aid station, and then I could decide what to do. Made it to the aid station and decided to give it another 5 miles. This went on until the special needs at about mile 60. Stopped in there and got some solid food, tylenol, and some candy fro the next half of the ride. Continued on with the "just make it 5 more miles and we'll see how you feel" routine until about mile 90 when I realized that quitting just wasn't an option. Cruised on in and finally crossed the timing mat at 7:11:38. Not a lot worse than last time, but I was off the bike. And I took the time this time around to look at more of the beautiful countryside, horse farms, etc. T2 was again uneventful, thank God.

RUN:
Run started out ok. I ran the first 1/2 mile to the foot of the bridge out-and-back (also a new addition from '07) and walked up, trying to get in some different calories. Took a few miles to get going, but felt pretty good for about 10 mile. Started having some IT band problems on my right leg and then in the left at about mile 12. Got to special needs and opened up the sweet tarts I had placed in there. AWESOME is the only word to describe the taste of sweet tarts at that point of the day. Started rotating coke/water with Gatorade at every other stop, while eating some pretzels/oranges and cookies. My body was really not handling this race very well and I was reduce to running to the next light, run to the next cone, run to the next crack in the road, etc. I did find some humor though, in the timing mat that has pre-programed messages in it from loved ones, etc. When I crossed, the message popped up with my name and said, " I love you, -Steve. Very funny and an obvious mistake some poor guy made for his wife/GF, and got her race number mixed up. Had to run past this twice and both times Steve's message popped. So, thanks for the words of encouragement Steve! After struggling for the last few miles I look down at my watch and see that I'm getting real close to 15 hrs. I do the math and realize that I need to get going to finish under 15 so I start to run a little harder. Then it hits me. My watch was started 2 minutes late so I really need to get a move on in order to finish under 15. I get close enought to see the lights and hear the cheers and realize that I'm gonna do it. And as I get close, I'm running down the chute, high fiving everybody, and all the pain goes away, I hear him say it, "You are an Ironman." RUN/WALK time 5:59:11

TOTAL: 14:59:20

Last time around I realized alot about this distance and no matter how prepared you think you are, anything can/will go wrong and you just have to accept it. Whether it's mechanical issues or the weather or whatever. It's a long day. This time around, I learned a whole lot more about myself. That the mind truly is stronger than the body. That you can push and push and really accomplish anything you want to accomplish. I also have a strange feeling that GOD is a fan of the IM 'cause there was no doubt he was out there on that course in Louisville.

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right." -Henry Ford