We have a group that swims every sunday morning, starting in the channel, but I believe it was cancelled this week due to super fast current and debris on Saturday evening. Today the current is about 3 mph. My guess is it will be fine by race day.

How does the Louisville swim generally compare to a swim like Chattanooga or a lake swim like CDA? Obviously it will depend on current but I'm just trying to get a general idea of what to expect. I did Chattanooga in 2015 and swam 11 minutes faster than my best swim in a lake. I'm thinking it wouldn't be as fast as Chattanooga generally is but would be interested to hear what others have done compared to other courses. Thanks

I am usually a 1:01 swimmer in an IM with wetsuit (I have 4 times 1h01 out of 7 wetsuit IM's);

I swam about 3' faster at IMLOU in 2016 (few seconds under 58'), on a light swim training year (shoulder issues); Hope that gives you an idea!

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T. Guertin / Spocket

I did IMOU last year and I also think it's probably about 3' faster than a lake swim. I also swam a 58.

It was pretty dark at the start but I had no problem following the people in front of me and by the time I got to the turn buoy the sun was up and I enjoyed the swim.

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Ed O'Malley
www.VeloVetta.com
Founder of VeloVetta Cycling Shoes
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It really just depends on how much the water is flowing. I have come out at Louisville (non-wetsuit) anywhere from 48 to 53, and where my normal Ironman (wetuit) swim would be more like 53-54

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My previous fastest swim was at CDA and swam 59

Last year at Lou, swam 54. I thought the current was pretty significant, but not like Chatty.

Sounds like 3-5 minutes is the consensus. Thank you to all those that replied..

I've heard and read that the Louisville swim is pretty bad. I'm guessing in reality it's not really that bad since you swim there every Sunday. What's the swim really like?

Florence was a non-player in the Ohio Valley but it was a very wet September. The Ohio was up and really fast (pushing 3 mph) earlier in the week, but it's coming down and should be close to normal pool by this Friday, with a good week for water quality to come back in line.

I guess it depends on what people are used to. To me, it's not bad at all. You can't see in front of you under water but who cares. If there is a lot of rain upstream, it will bring debris down stream to L'ville that may take a few days to clear. Most of the IMLou swim is downstream so any current issues are a net positive

Chattanooga rainfall had nothing to do with Florence. They had roughly 6 inches of rain in the Tennessee Valley Monday-Thursday of race week.

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Janyne

The water is disgusting. It's so dark you can't see your arms past your elbows. Doesn't matter if you wear clear or dark goggles -- when your head is down it may as well be midnight. My advice -- don't swallow any. And skip the day-before shakeout swim if there is any chance you'll swallow some.

I did IM Louisville in 2009. About 6 hours after my practice swim the morning before the race, I clearly got sick from the water (accidentally swallowed a gulp). By late afternoon, I was puking my guts up. Barfing and explosive diarrhea until about 3 AM. Somehow managed to hold a couple Ensures down the few hours before the race. Nothing like lining up to an Ironman on a humid 95 degree day already dehydrated. I took my time and finished the race. Stopped 3 or 4 times to crap. Fortunately had some TP in my special needs bags to wipe the explosive diarrhea of my legs. The hot, exposed run damn near killed me.

I did Chatty 70.3 this year. Chatty water is an alpine lake in comparison. And IM Canada water (an actual alpine lake) is like swimming in unicorn tears.

P.S. (edit) IM Louisville is a great race though. I'd do it again, especially not that it's in Oct. Great race. I just got unlucky and made for one hell of an Ironman debut. Good luck man.

Did IMLOU in 2012 and 2014. My stomach has not been the same since. It is a fun race though.

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TEAM HD
Each day is what you make of it so make it the best day possible.

Current (haha) water conditions in the Mighty Ohio River, just upstream from the swim course:

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ky/nwis/uv?cb_all_=on&cb_00011=on&cb_00060=on&cb_00065=on&cb_72255=on&cb_72294=on&cb_99264=on&format=gif_default&site_no=03292494&period=&begin_date=2018-09-17&end_date=2018-09-24