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Friday, August 30, 2013

Ironman Louisville 2013

The big news for me is that last Sunday, August 25, I completed the Ironman Louisville.     It took me 16 hours and 13 minutes to complete it.     Three quarters of an hour to spare. (smile)

That was one of the great thrills of my life.   People ask me how it was and my immediate response is to say "great" but really a one word response does not do it justice.    It was a tremendous thrill to cross that finish line but it was not an easy journey.  

The Ironman competition, if you do not know, is a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run.    (hence the car stickers of 140.6)    In Louisville, the swim is in the Ohio River.  

The journey is different for every athlete.  One of the things I am most proud of is the swim.   The swim was the part that scared me the most.   I ended up having my best time ever for a swim that distance BUT just the fact that I jumped in that river and swam the distance, even though I was scared, is what means the most.

Normally, I would expect the bike to be the easiest part for me.  I expected to finish the bike in about 6.5 hours.   But that ended up being the hardest part instead.   I started having abdomenal cramps almost immediately when I mounted my bike, which lasted the entire 112 miles.    I really felt terrible the entire time and because I couldn't eat or drink nearly as much as I needed, I am sure that I was dehydrated and undernourished.  

When I went into the bike to run transition, one of the volunteers told me that they thought I needed to go to the medical tent and withdraw from the race.  Honestly, I felt so terrible that I wondered if that wouldn't be best.   But I really did not want to quit.  I asked them for some water.  I dumped 2 cups over my head and drank 2 cups.   Then I asked if I could have a coke.   After drinking some of the coke, I began to feel a little better for the first time in 8 hours.  I didnt feel great but I felt like I could continue.

Then I made 2 decisions.  I would walk the marathon and I would not try to take any more solid food.  I stopped at every aid station and got coke, chicken broth and water.    At every aid station, I felt better and better.

At mile 6, I realized that the bottoms of my feet were badly blistered.    I resolved not to stop to rest because I wasn't sure I would be able to continue if I ever stopped.  At mile 17, roughly 2/3 of the way through the marathon, I looked at my watch and knew that I was going to make it.    The last 3 miles was pure joy. 

When I could see the finish line, I jogged in that last block and across the finish line. The spectators cheered wildly high fiving me all the way down the line.  When I crossed the line and they proclaimed me an Ironman, my friends and family were there cheering.   It was an unbeleivable thrill.

One of the amazing things about the experience is the other athletes, the volunteers and the spectators.   The other athletes are so inspirational.  While there are definitely athletes there with some bravado, more often I heard stories of people competing for a cause.   Some had survived cancer.  Some had survived a heart attack.   Some had lost huge amounts of weight.  Some competed for a friend who was ill.  Everyone wants everyone out there to finish.  Athletes are constantly encouraging each other and helping each other whenever possible.   I would have to say that the most impressive thing about this group is that it is a group with big hearts.

Also the people of Louisville are some of the finest people there are.   More than 3,000 people volunteered to help with the race.   Countless spectators lined the routes.     All of them cheering the athletes on and offering words of encouragement.   I've heard story after story from athletes about how someone offered them encouragement at just the right moment.    It is a very emotional journey.

I didn't finish because I am great athlete. In all honesty, I was just lucky. There were competitors who were much better athletes than me, who did not make it.    But I am very proud to be a part of this group of Ironmen.

Anyway, that's what I did last week.   

Hope everyone has a great Labor Day holiday weekend!

David

David W. McCoy
Associate Broker
Commonwealth Commercial Real Estate
10444 Bluegrass Pkwy
Louisvile, KY  40299

ofc: (502) 379-6005
cel: (502) 905-5274
e-mail: DMcCoy@ccre.biz

BTW - when I am not doing triathlons or marathons (smile), I am working with Commercial Real Estate and International properties.   I handle Office, Industrial, Land, Investment and Retail properties.  I work with Buyers, Sellers, Tenants, Landlords and Investors.   I can even hook you up with Residential realtors.   Give me a call if I can help.


Thursday, August 22, 2013

Brazilian Dreaming

I got my tourist visa to go to Brazil!  

The end of next month, I will be traveling to Brazil with a group from GLI  (Greater Louisville Inc - our local Chamber of Commerce)   for a 9 day trip to Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro.     This is a cultural exchange trip for members of the Louisville community.    

I am looking forward to meeting the people going on the trip as well as those we will meet while we are in Brazil.    I have been surprised to learn we have a small Brazilian community in Louisville.  I have discovered this quite by chance when several Brazilians have introduced themselves after hearing me casually mention my upcoming trip. 

Admittedly, I am primarily going because of GLI's trip offering BUT here is why I want to go -

In recent years, Brazil's economy has been booming while at the same time the US dollar has been devaluing.   The combination of these factors has caused US goods and real estate to be very inexpensive for Brazilians.  Brazilians have responded by investing heavily in the US.     A buddy of mine from the Miami area told me that in one year, Brazilians pretty much absorbed the entire vacant inventory of condos that were left from the housing crisis.   In fact, he tells me that there are now billboards all over Miami in Portuguese.  

It may be a small chance that someone in Brazil will want to do something in Louisville, KY but perhaps a bigger chance that someone in Brazil will want to do something in the US.   Also, with Brazil's economy booming, if someone in the US wants to invest there, I think it would be nice to have met a few contacts.    I have some referral networks that would allow me to find people to help with Real Estate all over the world and those are very useful.   But I have found that when possible, meeting people face to face makes those connections stronger.

In any event, for me, I get to see first hand the land, people, culture (and real estate) in Brazil and hopefully, I get to build my network of friends and business connections.  

SO, with that said, if you happen to know someone interested in real estate in Brazil OR someone in Brazil interested in finding real estate in the US, let me know.

Wish me luck!  It's going to be a great trip!

David

David W. McCoy
Associate Broker
Commonwealth Commercial Real Estate
10444 Bluegrass Pkwy
Louisville, KY  40299

office: (502) 379-6005
cell: (502) 905-5274
e-mail: DMcCoy@ccre.biz

BTW - Call me if you need help with real estate! I am a licensed real estate broker in Kentucky and Indiana.  I specialize in Commercial Real Estate and Global property.   I work with Buyers, Sellers, Landlords, Tenants and Investors.     I handle Office, Industrial, Land, Investment and Retail properties.  Heck I can even set you up with help on Residential Real Estate.   Give me a call.  I would love to help.   You can reach me by my contact information above.  

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

August Big Event

This has been an extraordinary year for me.   It seems as though I am having an extraordinary event nearly every month.    This year, I went to Costa Rica for an International Real Estate Conference (which was really cool but not today's topic.)   I sold my house, which I have lived in for 22 years.   I have moved to a temporary situation and am still looking for a new place.  I participated in my first Half Ironman competition in Muncie Indiana.    I welcomed a new grandson into the family with my daughter and her husband.   I have been learning Russian and started learning Portuguese.    On the agenda I will be traveling to Brazil in September and plan on going to San Francisco in November.   BUT the big event for me this month is the Ironman competition.

On Sunday August 25th, Louisville will be hosting what I believe is our 7th full Ironman competition and I will be participating.  The competition involves a 2.4 mile swim in the Ohio River, a 112 mile bike throughout Louisville and adjoining counties and finishes with a full marathon (26.2 miles).   I will have 17 hours to complete it.  

This is one of the great unknown events in Louisville.   People are aware of it but I would say that most people are not aware that it is a really big deal.  We have participants come from all over the country and really all over the world.    Approximately 3,000 people will be competing including a number of professional athletes and it is a qualifying event for the Kona Ironman.    I am told the event pumps approximately $5,000,000 into our local economy.

I understand that doing an Ironman is not everyone's cup of tea BUT if you want to see something really cool and inspiring, come down to Fourth Street Live Sunday night and watch some of the participants cross the finish line.   Watch their expressions as it is announced as they cross the line, "You're an Ironman!"    

Afterwards, probably sometime Monday afternoon, I will be having a follow-up ceremony.   I will be putting my 140.6 sticker on the back of my car, drinking my favorite adult beverage with some friends and family and singing the National Anthem.  And then I might just download an "ironman" ring tone to my phone.

Have a great day everyone!    

David

David W. McCoy
Associate Broker
Commonwealth Commercial Real Estate
10444 Bluegrass Pkwy
Louisville, KY 40299

cell: 502-905-5274
ofc: 502-379-6005
e-mail: DMcCoy@ccre.biz

BTW - I am a licensed real estate broker in the States of Kentucky and Indiana.  I specialize in Commercial and International Real Estate.  I handle Office, Industrial, Investment, Land and Retail properties.  I work with Sellers, Buyers, Landlords, Tenants and Investors.  Heck I can even set you up with Residential real estate help.     Give me a call if you need any help with real estate.