Inaugural Ford IRONMAN Louisville 2007 Race Report

OK, so here’s the scoop. I’ve been MIA for way too long, probably because of the E.Coli I caught from swimming in the dirtiest river in the States… well, not really E.Coli, but I did get a nasty stomach bug that put me through more pain than the race did.

So, it’s Sunday morning around 3:45 am, August 26th. I woke up feeling well rested and excited for the events to come. I ate a good solid breakfast and waited for my brother and wife to pick me up. Around 4:45am they arrived and we were off to Waterfront Park! We wanted to get there as transition opened at 5:00am because Ironman changed the swim start to a time trial start on a first come first serve basis. Our goal was to get marked, inflate tires, drop off special needs bags and head ¾ of a mile down river to the new swim start.

The swim was originally scheduled to be 1 mile upstream, 100 yards across, and 1 mile downstream. However, in the week leading up to the race there was flooding up north which caused the river to rise and the current to become too strong to swim against. With this event being inaugural, Ironman NA wanted it to run flawlessly. Since the water was already too warm for wetsuits, they decided not to risk it and changed the course to the athletes advantage. The new course started us ¾ from transition going upstream in an area protected from the current, then it swooped us around into the main shipping channel and back downstream with the current to the original exit (making a J shape).

So, back to where I left off. We arrive at an already bustling transition area. We are walking to get stamped (because at Ironman races you get cool number stamps) and my stomach shuts down. I knew I would be nervous upon arriving race morning, but this felt like more than just nerves. I thought I was going to pass out! Thanks to my amazing brother and my super-hero sister-in-law (who saved the day with the medicine cabinet she carries at all times) I was able to stumble through check-in and work my way to the swim start.

The swim start was so cool! It’s hard to describe! The sun is rising and there was a Bugler calling all athletes to post. There were thousands of people looking down onto the docks of a swim start that has never happened quite like this in Ironman NA history!! Finally after what seemed like forever… the canon blew and the line to enter the water slowly moved forward. Sean (my brother) and I slowly weaved our way down the hill onto the docks. We were both too nervous to talk, yet too excited to stop smiling! Athletes were diving off the pier two by two, every second. Then, I was next. I gave Sean a huge hug, and dove into the start of an amazing day!

Making the turn into the main shipping channel was awesome! It’s like someone grabbed my arms and was pulling me towards the exit. As we swam closer to the exit, we could see people lined up along the river cheering us on. That Gatorade bottle marking the exit kept getting bigger and bigger, then WHAM! I was yanked out of the water by a volunteer with a huge smile. “Go, Go, GO!” They were yelling. 1 hour 11 minutes, a swim PR for me. Sean came out right behind me, a PR for him too.

I was in and out of transition in just a few minutes. It was such a rush to launch out through a chute of screaming supporters. I kept thinking to myself, slow and easy. But the first quarter of the bike is fast and flat, it’s hard not to just go. But, I held back and felt great going into the first loop… that’s where the real fun starts! There are some pretty steep and technical climbs along the loop, however there was also a devil and a few other crazy supporters to help push me along. Then as quickly as I turned onto the loop for the first time, I was making my way back for round 2. Wow, I lost a lot less time on the loop than I had expected; my legs really responded to the hills and we had the wind at our back for the return. So I decided to take on loop 2 a little more aggressively. I maintained a strong pace and made my final turn onto US 42. 42 is fast and flat and descends all the way back to transition…it doesn’t get much better than that! I really pushed it on the return, partially because I lost some time when I pulled over at a penalty tent. Note to race officials: First, don’t hold up three fingers at me and drive off like I should know what the heck that means (still have no idea). Second, when you red card someone, yell out their number. Myself and the three riders around me had no idea who had been carded (it turned out not to be me!).

OK, so I’m finishing up my bike and I realized I had made up some time. I finished the bike in 5:54 (my goal was to break 6:00) so I was right on the money. With no time to lose I rushed into transition, still flustered about whether I had been penalized. Luckily, my transition volunteer is a coach and friend. I told her I wasn’t sure if I got carded, but if I did I didn’t stop to get my bib marked! She looked at me and said, “It doesn’t matter now, Della’s out ahead, go catch her!” Della is her coaching partner and another really cool person I had the opportunity to meet.

I started out on the run seeing my amazing family and friends cheering me on. I love seeing my family along the course, nothing makes me want to push myself harder! The first part of the run is a ½ mile out and back, so I got to come back past the transition area and see my family again. This time my lovely brother, Christopher, decided to boost my spirits by putting on my Team USA Speedos, a sombrero, and a t-shirt with mine and Sean’s names across the front (the first letter or my name was an M-dot, creative Christopher!).

8 miles marked the first turnaround. I’ll be honest, it was hot and my hips were tight! I was slowing down with each mile, but knew I had to maintain if I was going to break 11 hours. The next six were a struggle… and slllow! But that led me to the turnaround at the finish line so there were a ton of spectators. I was really hurting at this point but knew I had to push through. At mile 20, and the final turnaround, I passed my brother and his brother-in-law! I was soo excited to see them doing so well out on the course, they looked awesome!! I was at 10:18 with 6.2 miles to go. Sean yelled at me, “Go break 11!” and of course I laughed and continued on at my 10 min/mile pace, but seeing them certainly gave ma a boost and I was able to pick it up for the last few miles.

Getting to that finish line was the most amazing feeling in the world! It wasn’t by my individual efforts that got me to that line, but Sean always encouraging me got me there, my parents and Christopher who were out on the course for longer than I was helped get me there, my sister-in-law Katie definitely saved the day and helped get me there, the crowd support, the amazing volunteers, my coach, all my friends and training partners, so many people got me to that line. It makes you realize what this race is all about, taking that final step across the line, and completing 140.6 miles.

11 hours 20 minutes. I was ecstatic! Everything came together so perfectly for me, and all that hard work and sacrifice finally paid off. We stayed at the finish for a few more hours to cheer on the finishers. People came across crying, laughing, throwing up, and doing cartwheels! Sean and Matt came across the line together looking so strong. I was so proud of Sean! He had worked so hard and had a horrible experience in Ironman Wisconsin, to see him come across that line in 14 hours was huge!! Way to go Sean!

So we get home around midnight. I’m so overcome with emotion and pain it’s paralyzing. I could stop thinking, “That was the most amazing accomplishment of my life!!” I knew I had finished well in my age-group, but thought I had finished 2nd or 3rd. So when I got home, instead of checking the results I sat down and ate some pasta and chicken. Sean and Katie came over for food, when they arrived Katie asked how I had finished. So I go get online and search F18-24…RESULTS: 1st – Monica Murphy. NO freakin’ WAY!!! I sat there for a second in disbelief, then uttered, “Uh, Mom…We’re going to HAWAII!”

I couldn’t sleep that night! My body ached, my mind kept replaying the race, I’m getting up in the morning to reserve my KONA slot! Oh my gosh, OH my GOSH! My cell phone rings… it’s the morning calling. Actually, it’s Nina. She had already gotten the paper, not only did I come in first in my age group… I came in 20th Overall!

Congratulations to all the finishers of the Inaugural Ford Ironman Louisville 2007. I will never forget the memories it gave me and I hope for many more to come!