Ironman Louisville 2008

Swim 1:14:28

I actually came out of the water about 1:13, but whatever. Coach said, "don't overdo the swim. It's just a warmup." Normally, I rock the swim. I held back a little here. After all, I was swimming 2.4 miles. Getting out from behind the island was somewhat brutal. It seemed to take forever. We swam 3/4 of a mile against the current. I glanced at my watch and I believe it said something around 28 or 29 minutes to get to the turn around.

After the turn around, there seemed to be people piling up on top of each other. I would have guessed the opposite. I only really punched one dude. And he totally deserved it. I started getting delirious when I was passing under the 2nd to last bridge. While breathing, I looked over and swore I saw a seal sitting on the pillar holding the bridge up.

"Are there river seals?"

Then I looked a few more times, and realized it was a large piece of metal. Guess I was getting dehydrated? That should have been a sign for the rest of the day.

Finally, I could see the swim exit! I got SO excited and picked up the pace. Also, because I got passed by a chick, and I wasn't about to let that happen. Jumped out of the water and felt pretty decent. I saw my parents and heard them yell for me. Barb was there snapping some pics:

Apparently, I was having THIS MUCH FUN:

Transition 1 8:36

I really hope from now on I have a personal clothes changer...if not, I'm bringing my own! The volunteers were SO helpful. Took me a little longer than I wanted, but I also used the restroom. Saw Mike on my way out. My parents were also at the bike exit. I was off.

Bike 8:30:56

WOWEE. This bike course was H-A-R-D.

The first 12 miles or so were flat. Great! I was trying not to go too fast, and just get a good solid warmup. People were blowing by me like I was standing still. NEAT. I knew I had to hold back, though. Then.....the hills came. There was a semi-short out and back that was absolutely insane. I hit 40 mph on 2 of the downhills, and 38+ on several others. There are NOT hills like that in Memphis to train on. My legs were feeling it. I saw one guy (or girl...people said it was a girl) getting carried out on a stretcher into an ambulance. (S)he crashed off to the side of the road. That always scares me.

Finally, I was heading toward LaGrange. This is where the spectators are. Luckily, the spectators were on a slight downhill so I looked awesome when I passed my parents. They had a sign and yelled really loudly for me! That gave me a boost of energy. But then I still had a second loop.

On the back part of the loop, it got really hot. I was going up some hills at 5mph, which made me feel like I was baking. I got to the part of the loop where you either take a left for your 2nd loop or go straight. The guy in front of me went straight, which was sad because I was far, far behind him. I turned left and started the loop all over again. Just before we hit LaGrange, we were in a strong headwind, pedaling DOWN a DOWNHILL going 10mph. Talk about frustrating!!! I wanted to cry. But alas, I had no extra salt reserves for tears. All the sudden, a girl came up on the left of me, and goes "Oh thank goodness! I have to cuss to someone! F****** S***!!!!!" I was cracking up. 'Cause I felt the same way! Ugh that was a hard part for sure. Probably the first time I wanted to pull over and quit.

We went through LaGrange again, and the crowd had thinned out. But, of course, my family was still there! They cheered so loudly like I was winning the race.

Then, it got REALLY lonely. By now, probably 2/3 of the field that started after me, had passed me. I was seeing less and less athletes out on the road. It got so difficult mentally (and obviously physically). I wanted to quit so many times. Why did I sign up for this? I pressed on.

I should mention, my nutrition went rather well on the bike. Probably 10-11 bottles of gatorade, 3 bottles of water, and 2 salt tabs per hour. Though it was hard to tell how much liquid I was drinking because I would throw the warm half drank bottles to get colder full bottles. I thought I was doing a great job hydrating.

FINALLY, I was off the loop and heading back to L'ville. When I got to the flats, I knew I was only about 12 miles from transition. My time was brutally slow. I wasn't happy with that, but wanted to do whatever I could to get off the bike! Finally, I saw transition. I unvelcroed my shoes and was ready to jump. I heard my parents cheer for me when I came in and it felt amazing to be on my feet.

Ok...NOT HOT picture.

Transition 2 7:59

Again, I'm so glad the volunteers were there! One lady even got me cups of water to wash my feet with! I lubed up and put my tri shorts and shoes on. I was off! I ran in and out of transition, which gave me confidence. I could run after 112 miles on the bike!!


Run 6:32:14


I have NEVER been so happy to run a marathon. Granted, I've only run one other marathon before, but still! Even if they told me I could ride the marathon, I still would have run it. I definitely broke up with my bike, far too many times to count.


My family was again there to cheer me on out of transition. As I passed them, I said "This was a terrible idea!!" I felt really good running. I saw Barb when I was turning to go across the bridge. I said "Where's your husband??!" She said just up ahead. I said "Good, I'm going to catch him and trip him!" Apparently I get kinda bitchy when I'm exhausted and dehydrated...

The first mile of the run...I look happy here!

Saw Mike on the bridge and he said his legs were cramping. I told him to suck it up and run, or I'd catch him! (Please see previous comment)

I ran the first 10 miles (aid station to aid station) and felt great! That is, until the dehydration caught up to me. About mile 10, I started getting GI issues. I had left my salt tabs in transition, which would be a bad thing! I couldn't get in enough fluids to counteract the dehydration, so what I did take in, just sloshed around in my stomach. I couldn't stomach any more gels, so I ate pretzels and drank coke.

My stomach issues came and went. One minute I felt great and was running with a smile on my face, and the next I was practically doubled over in pain, feeling like I was going to vomit. Again, I wanted to quit. I'm done, I thought. But obviously, I had come this far, I was going to crawl across that finish line.

Possible the worst and best part of the day were actually the same instance: coming up on the finish line, but having to turn for my 2nd lap of the run. I got really emotional because I knew I was so close. And then, I turned and headed towards a whole lot of nothing. I saw my family again, and reiterated how bad of an idea doing an Ironman was....They kept me going, though.

I ran with a girl at this point for a couple miles. It was so nice to get my mind off of how badly I was hurting. By now, my back was tightening up and everything hurt, even my hair. She was having the same GI issues I was. She started to feel better, so I told her to run ahead. I never did catch her, though she was only about a half mile in front of me the rest of the race.

Finally, I came to the last turn, where I only had 6 miles left. I wanted to cry. There were very little people left on the course (compared to the 2300ish that started). It was lonely...I was hurting...but I knew how close I was. I had already come about 134 miles, and only had about 6 to go. I walked a lot the last few miles, and I was worried about making the time cutoff. I knew I'd probably make it, but hey, you never know! I was forcing myself to run, and it was VERY VERY SLOW. But I was running. I was repeating my mantra "Strength and Perseverance". I thought about what coach said "If you can walk, you can run". So I ran as much as I could.

Finally, I had two miles left. I glanced down at my Garmin, and it had shut off! UGH. It had been a long day. I saw the "25" mile marker and got incredibly happy, though this was going to be the toughest mile. I came up to the last aid station, and saw my dad waiting for me. I started to tear up.

"Daddy! My body is shutting down."

"I know babe, but you WILL finish this race."

I am tearing up thinking about that now. He ran with me (ok so he power walked while I ran) the whole last part of the race. He kept telling me how everyone kept calling to see where I was. He said how his side of the family was all at my aunt and uncle's house following me all day and calling in. Just knowing I had SO much support at the race and all over the country made me smile and got me through that last mile.

Once I turned the corner and saw the finish line, my dad said I took off. He said "See you at the finish." I was blinded by the spotlight and everything was kind of muffled sounding. That probably could have been due to severe dehydration, or because my emotions were getting overwhelming. Finally, I was at the beginning of the chute. I heard the announcer say "It looks like we have another Ironman coming in, and this one is an IronGIRL!" He said my name, but I barely remember it (sorry Dawn, I know I promised to really listen!) The hundreds of people at the finish were cheering for ME. 99.9% didn't know who I was, and they were cheering for me! I started to cry and finally, after 16 hours, 34 minutes, and 13 seconds.....

ROBYN KARLAGE, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!!!!

A lady put a medal around my neck and asked if I was ok. Um, no, I just did a freakin' Ironman lady. I'm nuts!!

They took my finisher picture, and I found my family. I was crying, my mom was crying...and probably everyone else was too. I got many, many hugs and congratulations. We headed to get my morning bag of dry clothes, and I SHOULD have gone to the med tent for an IV, but I just wanted to sit down in my hotel. (I'd pay for that decision later)

THANKFULLY, my dad had gone to get my bike and transitions bags during my run so they already had them. I feel so sorry for anyone who had to go get their own post-race! My family walked me up to my room, and my cousin and dad got me bags of ice for an ice bath. After reading my hilarious text messages from Alissa and everyone congratulating me, my family went back to sleep. They deserved it as much as I did!!!

I sat in the ice bath, got a shower, and collapsed in my bed. After answering some facebook messages, I was OUT at 1:30am. Nearly a 24 hour day, 16.5 of those RACING.

It was the HARDEST thing I've ever done, by far. I'm pretty sure it will be harder than childbirth. I'll let you know when that occurs. I have to admit, there were times I doubted myself, and then quickly realized that I couldn't be so negative. I wanted to quit. I wanted to cry. I hated myself at points. But....I didn't fail. I didn't get the time I wanted, but given the obstacles I had to overcome (including a 103 heat index), I think I did a pretty damn good job.

BIG THANK YOUS

-My family FOR SURE gets the most thanks. I cannot even begin to tell you how awesome it was to have my parents, brother, cousin Holly, and Step-Grandma Martha there. I'm not sure I would have finished...especially without my dad. I will remember that last mile for the rest of my life. Hey Dad, remember when you destroyed me in that first 5k we ran? hahaha.

-All my tri friends at the race: Mira, Mike, Barb, Mary Sunshine, Eileen, Kate (and her family), and all the new people I met!

-My coach! Without you, coach, I would have NEVER made it through. And you even answered your phone after midnight to talk to me :) THANK YOU THANK YOU

-Volunteers....these races would never happen without volunteers. And they stayed out there ALL DAY for those of us who finished very late into the night

Some random things I'd like to comment on:

1. Dude at the swim start. We are waiting for the start of the race, and everyone begins to talk about their Sherpas. He says "My Sherpa is drunk in the hotel! So much for a Sherpa!" That just made me laugh...cause my Sherpa was drunk too, at a lake in Missouri...dude at least yours came to the race!!!! (Love you Corky)

2. To the 14 year old boy at one of the last bike aid stations who said "Gee, they must be really tired by now".....to you I say "DUH YOU IDIOT"

3. To the 12 year old boy at one of the run aid stations, while I was waiting for a port-a-potty who asked me if I was "at least having fun"...I LIED. At that point, no I was not having fun. But I lied to you so you'd stop talking to me. Sorry.

4. I'll go ahead and apologize to the guy I punched in the river. Sorry, man.

5. To the guy on the run who eavesdropped on a girl telling me I looked good running, but I said "It's fake", and then he said "You're the only woman to ever admit that"....all I have to say is WOW. Keep those comments to yourself, dude.

6. To Alissa who sent my favorite text message "Dear Lord, please put a man with a cute butt in front of Robyn for the run", THANK YOU.

7. To Gary Z who apparently told EVERYONE and their mom to track me online, THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH.

8. To Corky..thank you for my AWESOME MDOT cake!!!

8. I'm sure I have other things to say over the next few days...and MANY pictures to add...so stay tuned!!!