TEAM EN HAS 9 ATHLETES RACING THIS SUNDAY — GOOD LUCK Y’ALL!
RACE BACKGROUND: Ford Ironman Louisville made it’s debut in 2007 and has quickly become one of North America’s most popular Ironman races. Our racers will have a one loop course in the Ohio River. The swim is unique Ironman swims in that it features a time trial start. After a dip in the river, racers are treated to scenic bike ride. The two loop bike course takes racers rolling through miles of beautiful horse farms and country side. The run finds you passing along several Louisville landmarks, Churchill Downs, Papa John’s Stadium, University of Louisville and this year features a final view of the Ohio as the runners cross the 2nd Street Bridge. The finish at 4th Street Live brings our racers home in a rock style venue and true southern hospitality.
THE ATHLETES:
Bill McKinney “Blazer86” #1129-
39 years old, from Minneapolis, Minnesota. This will be Bill’s first IM, and it’s a present to himself for his 40th birthday (9/26). Bill was a soccer player in college and a triathlete. Once he graduated, Bill biked a ton (racing, commuting, and messengering), but didn’t do any triathlons. 2 years ago he was inspired by a friend to get back into triathlon. Bill completed a HIM last fall, finishing in 6:10. Bill is coming back home, having grown up in Kentucky and is looking forward to seeing some old friends at the race. Bill and his wife, Amy have 3 kids, Ellie (8), Finn (6), and Mette (4). Unfortunately his wife, Amy, and the kids will not be able to make it down to the race.
Diane Berberian “irondiane96” #2385 -Louisville will be Diane’s 4th ironman. Her last ironman was 1999 in Panama City Beach. After being diagnosed with an illness in 2000, which changed her life and made it difficult to train and race at any distance. Diane is visually handicapped but not yet ready to qualify for assistance during races. She suffers in the swim due to this challenge so that is her focus this year………..getting through the swim! Diane was fortunate to get a lottery slot in 1996 and finished Hawaii in my second year of triathlon competition. Her first season, she did the Great Floridian iron distance race in Florida.
Diane experienced a long taper this year following some nagging back/hip issues. The weather this past week completed her taper as Hurricane Fay dumped a daily dose of rain. So, at this point in the game, Diane is well rested and ready for the ironman challenge.
Diane says, “I am not a fast triathlete, I am a MOP and just possibly BOP this year but I WILL FINISH even if last!”
Jim Hansen “jhansen21” #605-
IMKY will be Jim’s first Ironman. Jim feels really ready to race since he has been extremely focused on executing the training plan to a “T”. Aside from a couple minor running injuries early in the spring that forced him to dial down the run intensity/volume, training has been perfect. Jim had a “little” disruption a few weeks ago with the early arrival (5 weeks) of his son, Drew, but thanks to an extremely supportive wife (Andrea) even his arrival hasn’t caused Jim to lose sight of my goal. With that said, he thinks it comes as no surprise that his one thing is getting home for some much needed QT with Drew and Andrea. He’s way behind in the diaper changing/sleep deprivation game, so he has his work cut out for him post-IM, but he can’t wait! Andrea and Drew are planning on coming to Louisville on Saturday to cheer Daddy on which will be a huge lift to Jim. During the race, he’s also going to be locked in on “Execution”. Jim knows what he has to do to finish strong and can’t veer from that plan. The confidence that the EN system has given him going in to this race leaves no doubt in his mind he will have a successful day.
Brian Quarton “IMBQMD” #1201-
Ironman Louisville will be Brian’s first Ironman. Brian has had a great experience with the Intermediate Ironman with Power program. A runner who has taken up triathlon this year, Brian has gone from a back of the pack swimmer to the middle of the pack and has improved with every race. He says, “My arms were previously vestigial appendages used for holding my Garmin.” Cycling has been enjoyable. The biggest surprise has been his running. “I expected to slow down a bit as my running volume went down, but my off season training and ironman training has carried through.” Brian attended EN Louisville Camp where he was unfortunately the first EN camper ever to seriously hurt himself. ”After riding about 82 miles of the race course, I ran into a parked car. I’m just glad I can joke about it now.” Fortunately after a trip to the dentist, a new helmet, a new Cervelo P2C frame and about 2 weeks off the bike, the rest of the program went well. The taper has been great and he will be ready to go on Sunday. His wife, Lori, and four kids will be there in support. As far as expectations, Brian laughs, “I think it is probably dangerous for a guy completing only his sixth triathlon to expect too much.” And concludes, “I just want to get to mile 18 of the run and be one of the 1% who are still competing and not one of the 99% who are just running it in.” Not an easy task. His One Thing: “I want to get to the finish line and walk for the first time, taking it in.”
Melanie Zinger “mzinger” #476-
Melanie (left) & Emma (right)
Melanie has raced 4 other Ironmans, but this is her first IMLou. Florida was her first in 2003, Couer D’Alene in 2004, Wisconsin in 2005, and Lake Placid in 2006. She took last year “off” from the long distance races. She’d like to do all the North American Ironman races, so maybe someday she’ll be able to IM Arizona, “if the body may not cooperate for another one, we’ll see 
”
Training/tapering has gone fairly well. Her partner, Emma, has been training for this Ironman with Melanie. It’s been a struggle for Emma at times as she’s had a lot of low back (SI joint issues). Last week during their last race rehearsal, she somehow seemed to have reinjured her back pretty badly to the point where she’s probably not going to be able to race. This has been the biggest obstacle honestly as it’s been really hard to see her dreams and goals get crushed by this nagging injury that she’s spent a lot of money and time rehabbing. She did Lake Placid with Melanie in 2006 and this was likely going to be Emma’s last Ironman as the running was getting too hard on her.
Therefore, Melanie’s one thing will be to not quit or give up on this race when the going gets tough as she’ll be out there racing for both of them. Melanie was also told by people through the years that she’d never be able to run a marathon (let alone do an Ironman) as she wasn’t a “real” athlete. Well, it never gets old to prove all those folks wrong
Her expectations are to execute the best race she possibly can and perhaps improve her time of 11:26 from Lake Placid.
Kris Frazier “krisf” #1384-
This will be Kris’s first IM and 5th triathlon season. Formerly a runner, she suffered a stress fracture and while recouping, a friend encouraged her to give cycling a try. A few duathlons later, she realized that swim, bike, run was much easier than run, bike, run. After attending Rich’s IMLou Camp and hanging out with Rich on the course during race day last year, she signed up for ’08 and here we are!
Training has gone well with this year. With the race being in her home turf, she has great training partners, family and friends to encourage her, as well as her ENchicks from the women’s forum! Following the Cruisible plans last year and EN OctOS, half and full IM plans this year have put Kris mentally and physically ready to race. When it comes to expectations and her “one thing”, Kris is looking forward to fulfilling her 18 month journey by hitting 4th Street Live with a smile on her face!
Paul Vance “pvance” #1772 –
This will be Paul’s 2nd Ironman, both of them IMLOU. The reason Paul is doing IMLou again is Redemption. Last year Paul walked most of the run due to severe cramping. Paul hopes that is a thing of the past. Paul is pleased with his training; would like to have a higher watt FT, but all in all happy with the training. The taper is good and bad. Body needs the time off yet the mind says “need to train”. The knee is still Paul’s biggest worry. Paul’s meniscus, in his left knee has been taken out over three operations. The long 26 mile pounding could take its toll, but Paul is staying optimistic!
Paul will have friends and family to cheer him on. Paul’s oldest daughter, Briana, age 10,
will be volunteering with her cross country racing team, passing out drinks on the run course. Expectations are to finish in 12 hour range; if his knee does well, to finish in the 11 hour mark.
Greg Crofford “ghc19172” #538-
This is the Greg’s first and likely the only since he says can’t seem to be able sign up for any others. Greg says he has been hitting my taper workouts but have had little short lived “creaks” come up. Greg assumes it just is a little inflammation as his body naturally tries to recover and repair. Since it is his first major taper of more than say 25%, he’s going on faith that I’m not going to lose fitness and it will pay off come race day.
Greg’s wife and two kids will be heading down with him. They are young, one and three, and are pretty excited. They go on almost 40% of his training runs as coaches in a stroller and a few rides in a trailer.
Going in, Greg says he doesn’t expect he’ll like the distance. He says he is doing it so the other distances seem short. Greg’s plans are to take the sage advice and hold back and see if he can make it to mile 18 or 20. When asked about his “one thing”, Greg said “I guess I would have to say there are two things: 1.) Why I signed up? The simple answer is, “Life is short, let’s see what I can do while I can still do it.” I imagine it is odd to hear from a 33 year old but both my folks were in good health and died before they even reached retirement age from two unrelated but somewhat rare diseases within a couple of years and I have a sister that beat a similar disease at the age of 16. It is hard to argue with genetics, so I figure I’d try to put as many eggs in the lifestyle basket to try and tip the scale for as long as I can. Plus I tend to just enjoy training for something (it gives me a reason to take the girls for a ride), why not make it something cool. 2.) What will get me through the race? – The answer there is simple, to make my two little girls proud to see their dad along the course or hopefully cross the line.”
Jason Goyanko “jday 74” #592
This is IM number four for Jason, having previously raced Florida, Hawaii, Canada. Jason’s training has been very consistent this year. Having a pretty good taper, slight hamstring pull on left leg but managing it; should hold up on race day. He has had a fantastic year of training with an early season run focus, then bike focus. He felt he underachieved in his last Ironman because he went out so hard early on the bike and naturally blew up two miles into the marathon. Jason’s goal is to race a smarter race in his faster, stronger body. Jason feels quite capable of coming in between 10:15-10:30 at Louisville if he executes properly.
Jason’s one thing….. “Easy. Tour De Skyline in May on the first day. Two days of riding, 170 miles with 20,000 feet of climbing in two days. The first day the weather was 45-50 degrees, pouring rain. Thick fog, low visibility. My hands were so numb it took two hands to shift gears. I could no longer grab my water bottle to drink because I couldn’t feel my hands. I felt like I could ride through a hurricane after that day.”
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