The Super High Temps thread and my ride in the heat last Sunday reminded me to post a quick note on IMLou. I have lived in and around Louisville for 20 years, and the humidity and heat index during the end of August can be stifling. Hopefully we get lucky, but I wouldn’t bet on it. I flew in to Louisville from 100+ temps. in Tucson a few years ago during August and would have paid a lot of money to have flown straight back to the desert. If you are coming down for the race from the north, get your body ready for the heat. It is definitely not the temperature alone that makes Louisville hot during the summer.
Definitely agree. The humidity in Louisville is the worst. If the temperature and humidity is like normal in late August, I would anticipate alot of DNF’ers.
Maybe I can talk the local fitness club in to putting a treadmill and spin bike in the sauna.
I rode Sunday and it was 97 degrees. I kept thinking if it’s like this in Louisville in August, I am so screwed.
It’s only mid-June and we are already steadily in the 90’s every day. It has been a hot start to the summer.
Well we have this going for us!
The almanac predicts rain on the 26th.
This is a good point. I am here in Columbus, which is about 100 miles north and I have been trying to wait until the heat of the day to do some of my workouts. It’s not pleasent but I figure that I should do something to aclimate myself…if I don’t fry myself in the meantime.
90+ on Sunday here…noticable difference in my running ‘cruising speed’ becuase of the heat. I was covering myself with water every mile, too (as I will at the race).
If it’s really hot, I think we are going to see a really slow race and a shocking number of DNF’s.
What’s the wind like in Lou? Regulalry windy?
Great point.
I was down on Sunday and started the ride at 11am…and let me tell ya…it was hot. I can’t imagine August heat…
The biggest thing I noticed was not having the water every 10 miles to poor over my head.
On a seperate note, very nice course…but Highway 42 is dangerous…be careful!
What’s the allure of shuffling through an IM in a sauna or an oven? Will somebody explain this to me?
It is my first IM in my hometown. So I get to race, i.e. try to kill myself, in front of my family and have ample opportunity to train on the course. That is why I am doing the race.
I for one was surprised when they announced the race was going to be in August I was thinking late Sep or early Oct would have been the perfect time of the year for a race in Louisville.
Who said anything about an allure?
I’m just hoping to get an awesome tan on raceday.
Kona?
I am coming from Atlanta, so hopefully it will not be a shock to me. I do a lot of my run training, including my long bricks, on a road that some people call “Kona Coast,” and many have used for Hawaii training. Hot flat pavement with little shade, a stones throw away from a river and wetlands for the humidity and bugs. I try to run in the afternoon and have now set up the runs so I can dump water over my head every 3 miles. It is miserable, but should mimic race conditions.
A few years ago I went to St. Louis in August, and that may have been the hottest I have ever been. I hope Louisville is more like Atlanta than that week in St. Louis.
"What’s the wind like in Lou? Regulalry windy? "
On the ride out on River Road, and coming back, yes. At some point, we will be dealing with a headwind. Lately, surprisingly, it has been very windy on the out and back on 1694 and coming back in 42.
We have a group coming down from Wisconsin ~~ Good thing I got the new cooler with wheels for our beverages while out cheering !!
What is the normal water temp during this time. I thought I saw on some web site the avg water temp in august is 79F in august. What are the chances of a no wetsuit swim? If it is a wetsuit swim should I invest in a sleeveless wetsuit?? Thanks all.
If it is anything like IMCDA last year, I’m toast!