By Steve Tappa, stappa@qconline.com
Sportswriter for The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus

Laurel Darren, running columnist for The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus, was among three local products completing the Louisville Ironman race Sunday night.

The grueling event mixed a 2.4-mile open-water swim with a 112-mile bike ride and a full 26.2-mile marathon as a chaser.

Darren’s training buddy, Moline’s A.J. Perisho, also completed his first Ironman. Alleman grad Anne (Adlfinger) Thilges, an Ironman veteran, finished in the top sixth of the field of 2,435 competitors.

Darren finished her first Ironman attempt in 14 hours, 26 minutes and 46 seconds — well under the alloted 17-hour window. Darren’s individual event breakdown, not factoring in transition time, was 1:54.22 in the swim, 6:47.44 on the bike and 5:29.22 on the run.

Perisho’s overall time of 13:41.37 included 1:27.55 in the water, 6:27.35 on the bike and 5:23.13 on the run.

Thilges, now a California resident, placed 392nd overall in 11:16.44. Her finishing time included 1:13.48 in the Ohio River, 5:55.59 on the bike and an amazingly quick 3:57.22 marathon.

– Editor’s note: Following QCO running columnist Laurel Darren throughout today’s Ironman Louisville race is her cheering squad of William Huntsberger, Danelle Kvapil and Kathy Laska

The 2.4-mile swim is over. The 112-mile bike ride is done, too. Now, Laurel is on to her strong point — running a 26.2-mile marathon.

Laurel was met by 3 greyhounds at mile #1. Excited to see the doggies, she made time to stop and do some petting.

She could afford to. Looking strong this far into Ironman Louisville only leaves the question when she can celebrate her first Ironman finish. But it’s tough out there! So we’ll see. But she’s doing awesome!

– Editor’s note: Following QCO running columnist Laurel Darren throughout today’s Ironman Louisville race is her cheering squad of William Huntsberger, Danelle Kvapil and Kathy Laska

Laurel just passed us for the second time at our spectating spot in LaGrange. That means she’s 67 miles into her 112-mile bike ride. The 2.4-mile swim in the Ohio River also is in her rearview mirror here at Ironman Louisville.

Laurel is scheduled to be back in Louisville to start the 26.2-mile marathon run in about 3 hrs or about 3:30 p.m. QC time.

Luckily she didn’t see the two Italian greyhound puppies or she would have stopped for petting.

Temperatures are mild but the sun is out causing sunburn problems for the athletes.

We’re headed back to Louisville now to cheer her on for the run.

– Editor’s note: Following QCO running columnist Laurel Darren throughout today’s Ironman Louisville race is her cheering squad of William Huntsberger, Danelle Kvapil and Kathy Laska

Laurel has just ridden thru the small town of LaGrange. Still looking strong and enthusiastic. The riders will loop back thru again before heading back for a (mostly downhill) to downtown Louisville. After the 112-mile bike ride, there’s only a 26.2-mile marathon run remaining!

– Editor’s note: Following QCO running columnist Laurel Darren throughout today’s Ironman Louisville race is her cheering squad of William Huntsberger, Danelle Kvapil and Kathy Laska

After a 2.4-mile swim, Laurel’s out of the Ohio River in 1:54:00. After a 0:6:00 transition, she’s on the bike now for 112 miles of scenic fun. There’s a lot more foilage than back in the Quad Cities. Laurel’s cheering squad is now in La Grange where we’ll be able to watch her bike by our position twice.

By Laurel Darren, QCO running columnist

Okay, in a LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG line for the swim start!! This is wild!! Go bib # 940!!!

A reminder, besides following me on this blog, you can track the progress of local athletes at www.ironmanlouisville.com. Bib numbers: Laurel Darren (940), Moline’s A.J. Perisho (1654) and Alleman grad Anne (Adlfinger) Thilges (2118).

Now, I’ll be turning over my blogging duties to my “support crew” of DICE cyclist William Huntsberger, local runner Danelle Kvapil and recent Ironman Lake Placid finisher Kathy Laska.

Local cyclist William Huntsberger, in Louisville, Ky., to support QCO running columnist Laurel Darren, makes some last-minute adjustments to her bike for Sunday’s Ironman Louisville.

By Laurel Darren, QCO running columnist

Good morning! All is quiet here in Louisville, Ky.!! Up and ready to head down to the body marking area for Ironman!! Feel good; ready to go!! Got all my corporate punk stuff on and am ready!! More later !!

Laurel Darren, running columnist for The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus, shows off the nutrition reminders masking taped to her arm, the night before the Sunday morning start of Ironman Louisville.

By Laurel Darren, QCO running columnist

Okay so the plain pasta and chicken breast is in, and my bike has enough nutrition on it to feed the Quad Cities. If you like mango, vanilla, orange gummy candy or jelly beans then we can be friends. On my bike…well put it this way, at 2 a.m. I will be up eating 2 cups of unsweetened apple sauce, a banana and a protein shake. Oh yah and a bottle of gatorade endurance. Back to sleep until 4 15 am. Up again and then head to the bike transition to get body marked!! On my bike right now there is a flask of 6 clif vanilla gus, 2 gu vanilla beans, 2 accel gels chocolate, a package of chomps orange, a package of orange clif shots all that must be gone before the run starts. I will chase with 3 to 7 bottles of fluids. Yummy!! Once on the run..its gummy and beans all the way!! All about keeping stomach calm!! I will eat every half hour on bike and maybe mile 6. 14 and 22 on run.

I am thinking my cold beer at the finish will taste like crap but, oh well.

Swam in the Ohio River today … it is a LOOOOOOOOOONNNNGGGGG way to the transition. Met a blind athlete and had a great time at dinner with the Louisville chapter of Greyhound Pets of America!! So cool to talk greyhound people!! Now Kathy and Danelle are coming over and we are gonna figure out some logistics and bed time for me!!!

Here is how I feel … go get ‘em girl. I have trained, I do not give up and damn it, I feel invincible!!!

Reminder: Besides following here on the blog, there’s a live athlete tracker at www.ironmanlouisville.com

Bib 940: Laurel Darren
Bib 1654: Moline’s AJ Perisho

Go ironmans!!
WooOoooooooo!!!
More tomorrow from louisville!!

Laurel Darren (left), running columnist for The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus, poses with a blind athlete and his guide at Ironman Louisville in Kentucky.

By Laurel Darren, QCO running columnist

Here I am after a long day retiring for the night after a fun day of IRONMAN stuff.  To start we had to be weighed and fill out pretty detailed medical forms.  We then had to sit with volunteers and they have to do a run through everything with you regarding where to put bib numbers and bike numbers and helmet numbers.  WHOA!! So now that I  am here at my hotel with a nice couple also using the business center from Bowling Green, KY., I must get this blog done and retire to bed.

We ate dinner at a place called the Bluegrass Brewing Company and I had Macaroni and Cheese with bacon and Chicken mixed in.  IT WAS AWESOME!!

We then hung out by the finish area …and now are ready for bed. I will get up and ride the bike for a few miles before heading down to the OHIO RIVER..for a practice swim. 

So until we meet again…more tomorrow!!

LOVE GOOD OL LOUISVILLE!!!!

IRONMAN less than 48 hours away. 

Laurel Darren, running columnist for The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus, poses at her bike station in front of the rows and rows of bikes ready for Ironman Louisville in Kentucky.

By Laurel Darren, QCO running columnist

Got the number….got the bags….currently in motion to the glass house brewery. Danelle to my right Kathy front and right and William to my left. We are a crew!! I typed to myself a motivational message that will come up at mile 20. There are triathletes everywhere!!!! We are at the bluegrass brewery. And it is busy!!!!! Eat is the name of the game:). More later from louisville