By Sheila AshThe Ford Ironman Louisville Triathlon is set for Sunday morning. Nearly 3,000 professional and age group athletes from all 50 states and more than 30 countries will compete for a chance to participate in the Ford Ironman World Championship later this year in Hawaii.Beth Atnip is the race director. She says safety will be a top priority."We’re going to have medical personnel in the transition area. We have a small medical tent that will handle any issues of athletes coming out of the swim or the bike. And then we have our other medical staff at the center sign as well as in the Kentucky International Convention Center," she said.Competition begins at 7:00 a.m. Sunday with a 2.4 mile swim in the Ohio River near Tumbleweed restaurant then it’s on to a 112 mile bike race and a 26.2 mile marathon.Race officials say there will be road closings along the bike and run courses.Athletes range in age from 18 to 79.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.