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2013-03-07 3:39 AM


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Subject: IM Louisville

Does anyone have any good theories (or know for certain) why this event, as opposed to most other IM events, does not sell out until late?

 



2013-03-07 7:37 AM
in reply to: #4649632


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Subject: RE: IM Louisville
The heat (with heat index and humidity temps are normally 90-95 avg), the bike is difficult with non stop rolling hills. 2 things that are hard to prepare for if where you live doesn't allow for it. And some people just don't do well in the heat. That would be my guess but I enjoy Louisville, have done it the past 2 years.
2013-03-07 8:15 AM
in reply to: #4649632

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Master
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Subject: RE: IM Louisville

I have never done it but here are reasons that I don't want to do it and I am sure others share the same views.

1.) Heat & Humidity- It is always freaking hot!! usually in the 90's. The south and August are just a bad combination IMO.

2.) Non-wetsuit swim- Not really a huge deal but to some it may be.

3.) TT Swim- For those who have never done an IM before, they might not like this swim. You have to stand in line and you jump in the water based upon where you stand in line. If the last person enters the water 40mins after the first person, they still have 2:20 to do the swim but they still need to make the midnight cutoff. This means, depending on where you are in line you might have only 16:20 to finish instead of 17hrs and that might scare some folks.

4.) Bike course problems- I hear that over the past year or 2 or 3 they have had problems with a section of the bike course that goes through a certain town or county where they do not like the Ironman and dont want them on their roads. As a result, they have tacked the roads in the past and lots of people have gotten flats. Not sure how true it is but have heard from several people it has happened on more then 1 occasion.

5.) Did I mention the heat??

2013-03-07 8:32 AM
in reply to: #4649632

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Elite
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Subject: RE: IM Louisville

I've done it plus 3 other IMs.  It's a three part problem:

1. Heat.  The race is either hot or crazy hot.  

2. Location.  It's not the most exciting place or course.  The finish is great, but it's not that much better than IM Wisconsin for example.  IM Wisconsin, IMCA, and IMLP sell out fast because of the atmosphere and course.

3. It's not a fast course.  Let's face it.  A lot of people want a PR or an "easier" IM, and this one isn't it.  No wetsuit on the swim, rollers on the bike, and a hot as heck run equal slower times.  IMFL and IMAZ sell out fast because the courses are fast.

 

The best thing about IM Lou is that it doesn't sell out.  You can start into your training and know that you are healthy and have the time to train before plunking down the money.



Edited by brown_dog_us 2013-03-07 8:33 AM
2013-03-07 8:36 AM
in reply to: #4649632

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Subject: RE: IM Louisville

IM Louisville was my first and I completed it last year.  This question gets asked each year also and yes the majority of the reasons are:

1.  Heat and humidity

2. TT swim start

3. Not wetsuit legal

Now if you live in the south you get use to working out in the heat and humidity.  As for the TT swim start, it really isn't that bad.  Yes if you are the really last person then you could only have 16 hours and 30 minutes to complete the course and you will have several people that don't mind starting towards the back.  And with IM looking to start all their IM races with TT swim start this might no issue.

The finish line is nothing but a huge party and the volunteers are just awesome!  I have heard from several other Ironmans that there is no finish line like Louisville's.

2013-03-07 1:01 PM
in reply to: #4649632

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Elite
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Subject: RE: IM Louisville

The race has a bad reputation that I feel it doesn't deserve.

Yes, it is hot (& humid). No, you don't get to wear a wetsuit and it is a TT start (so what?).  Yes, the bike has rolling hills.

But, the run is flat as a pancake and the finish is AWESOME!

As for location, check this out:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/05/travel/lonely-planet-top-us-destinations



2013-03-07 1:36 PM
in reply to: #4649632

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Subject: RE: IM Louisville

I think this race got a bad rap due to the heat + humidity from people who aren't used to racing in it. Seriously. I don't hear this complaint coming from folks who live in similar climates - at all. 

In 2011 I trained in what the Weather Channel named the "Heat Dome" with something like 40 continuous days over 100 degrees. EVERY long ride and run it hit 100 degrees. So when I got to Louisville, the highs in the upper 80s felt great. Even 90s would have felt better than the 105-110 temps I had trained in. 

But people (mostly those who came from cooler climates) STILL complained up and down about how hot it was. 

It's Louisville. It will be hot. 

2013-03-07 1:50 PM
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Master
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Subject: RE: IM Louisville

It's also one of the busier times of year for IM races. Now some of this is more recent development - but Ironman Canada fell on the same day - now it will be challenge Penticton and Ironman Canada but a week or two before is now Ironman Mont Tremblant, a couple of weeks later is IM Wisconsin, and if you did another such as Lake Placid there isn't much time in between.  (Not that it has to stop you) - and other events like Rev 3 Cedar Point.  So, for the potential IM participant there are quite a few options ...

And to Lisa's point being one of the people who wouldn't have that kind of heat acclimatization i wouldn't register.  Not that it isn't a great race but knowing how I function in the heat ... it doesn't sound like a fun day. 

At IMMT we talked to one guy who said it was his 6th IM but the previous year he didn't finish at Lou - he passed out somewhere on the run and woke up in an ambulance.  Yikes.

2013-03-07 2:31 PM
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Elite
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Subject: RE: IM Louisville
Another reason is that very few people do Louisville more than once.  There are a decent number of people who sign up for IMFL, IMMoo, and IMLP every year.  
2013-03-07 6:38 PM
in reply to: #4650648

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Subject: RE: IM Louisville
brown_dog_us - 2013-03-07 3:31 PMAnother reason is that very few people do Louisville more than once.  There are a decent number of people who sign up for IMFL, IMMoo, and IMLP every year.  

I will have to disagree with this statement as there are lots of people who do Louisville more then once. You just haven't heard it as much since it hasn't been around that long.

2013-03-08 6:45 AM
in reply to: #4649632

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Elite
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Subject: RE: IM Louisville

Maybe.  I know 10+ who do IMFL every year, but only one guy who has done IM Lou twice.  Actually, he may have done it three times!  We need rocketman to come by and defend himself! lol.  

My point was that a lot of people sign up for next years the day before the race and that starts a snow ball of less spots, which makes people go to the race and volunteer in order to get a spot, and finally there aren't a lot of spots left when it goes online so it sells out fast.



2013-03-08 7:32 AM
in reply to: #4649632

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Subject: RE: IM Louisville
I've done Louisville twice.....so far.
2013-03-08 7:41 AM
in reply to: #4650538

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Subject: RE: IM Louisville
lisac957 - 2013-03-07 1:36 PM

I think this race got a bad rap due to the heat + humidity from people who aren't used to racing in it. Seriously. I don't hear this complaint coming from folks who live in similar climates - at all. 

Agree with that. Also from others who like to make mountains of molehills. I understand the various complaints, but feel they are way overblown. Heat is definitely a weakness for me, but I would much rather take another shot at this race than do one like Arizona. The bike course is way more interesting.

2013-03-08 8:06 AM
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Subject: RE: IM Louisville
Hey...does this mean that maybe Mike Reilly will be the announcer this year?  The guy they had 2012 announced me, that I am from Muncie, IN.."..a great place to vacation".  Weird thing to say and no one vacations here.  It's a nice place, but vacation destination?
2013-03-08 8:50 AM
in reply to: #4651464

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Subject: RE: IM Louisville

Afletcher - 2013-03-08 9:06 AM Hey...does this mean that maybe Mike Reilly will be the announcer this year?  The guy they had 2012 announced me, that I am from Muncie, IN.."..a great place to vacation".  Weird thing to say and no one vacations here.  It's a nice place, but vacation destination?

He might be there this year......I can't remember the reason he wasn't there in 2012 but he was the announcer in 2011.

2013-03-08 9:24 AM
in reply to: #4651572

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Alpharetta, Georgia
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Subject: RE: IM Louisville
japarker24 - 2013-03-08 8:50 AM

Afletcher - 2013-03-08 9:06 AM Hey...does this mean that maybe Mike Reilly will be the announcer this year?  The guy they had 2012 announced me, that I am from Muncie, IN.."..a great place to vacation".  Weird thing to say and no one vacations here.  It's a nice place, but vacation destination?

He might be there this year......I can't remember the reason he wasn't there in 2012 but he was the announcer in 2011.

He sure was - and was nice enough to give us some good pre-race mojo!



2013-03-08 12:03 PM
in reply to: #4649632

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Subject: RE: IM Louisville
Thought Reilly was at IM Canada in 2012, so maybe they have him alternate each year since those two events can be on the same day?
2013-03-08 1:14 PM
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Subject: RE: IM Louisville
He wasn't there in 2012 because he was announcing IMCDA.
2013-03-08 1:48 PM
in reply to: #4651417


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Subject: RE: IM Louisville

 others who like to make mountains of molehills.

These "negatives" dont sound like anything at all...

Non-wetsuit? So then swim without one...I get that a wetsuit can add a little speed, but if I'm being honest, I kinda think wetsuits are for wimps.

And the heat? Alright, its hot...hydrate. Persevere. Anyone who dreams of racing in Kona (I know I do!) ought to WANT to fight the heat.

Rolling hills on a bike course? Maybe they should have an indoor trainer option from now on.

Time trial start...ok. That is kinda lame. So maybe its not as baddass as the mass start, but at least the relatively uncrowded water could make for a pr in the swim leg.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isnt this sport about challenging oneself? Dont we do this BECAUSE its hard?

2013-03-08 6:03 PM
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Subject: RE: IM Louisville

I won't do it because of the heat.  yes kona is hot, but it is kona.  IMLoo is just one of many many ironmans that we can chose from.  I'm in Canada and can probably count the number of hours out of a year where the humidex is 95F on two hands.  it just doesn't get that hot here and with the amount I sweat and overheat, I feel like IMLoo would be boarderline dangerous for me.  (Plus, you say, just drink more water - in 2010 they ran out of water on the bike course.)

I have a friend from here that did IMLoo in 2010.  She is a much faster runner and cyclist than me, I just did IMWI in 13:30 this year, she did IMLOO in 16:30ish in 2010.  Her boyfriend, who is stellar runner and several time over boston marathoner (and a good cyclist), finished even later.

2013-03-09 4:25 AM
in reply to: #4652673


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Subject: RE: IM Louisville
Daffodil - 2013-03-08 7:03 PM

 in 2010 they ran out of water on the bike course.)

 

?!?!?!

I've heard the outrageous entry prices (yes, they are outrageous!) were mostly due to being super over-stocked at the aid stations so that they'd never run out. Yikes.



2013-03-09 9:13 AM
in reply to: #4652892

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Subject: RE: IM Louisville

For BOP riders, yes, they ran out that year. And think that was the only year it happened there (?)

Also, IM Canada ran out of water in 2010 or 2011, so down with them too?

2013-03-09 11:17 AM
in reply to: #4653024

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Subject: RE: IM Louisville
brigby1 - 2013-03-09 9:13 AM

For BOP riders, yes, they ran out that year. And think that was the only year it happened there (?)

Also, IM Canada ran out of water in 2010 or 2011, so down with them too?

Also Chicago Marathon. They had a water issue one year.
People don't seem to be boycotting that one though, last year it sold out in 6 days and this year so many people were trying to register in the first hour that it crashed the server and they had to give the last 15000 spots away via lottery.

Yup, those races stink because of that one issue that one time  

2013-03-09 11:30 AM
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Elite
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Subject: RE: IM Louisville

I did IM Lou in 2010, and it was more the middle of the pack that went with out water.  They were out of water at the second of the last aid station for me.  My wife went 2 or 3 aid stations without water, and that was a couple hours of riding.  They restocked the stations after we went through though.

Anyway, I'm not so sure I would hold this against Louisville since it has happened at most of the warm weather races.

2013-03-09 12:15 PM
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Subject: RE: IM Louisville
brown_dog_us - 2013-03-09 12:30 PM

I did IM Lou in 2010, and it was more the middle of the pack that went with out water.  They were out of water at the second of the last aid station for me.  My wife went 2 or 3 aid stations without water, and that was a couple hours of riding.  They restocked the stations after we went through though.

Anyway, I'm not so sure I would hold this against Louisville since it has happened at most of the warm weather races.

This - it is one of the reasons why I will avoid warm weather races as best I can.

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