LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Thousands of people are taking the ultimate endurance test during Louisville's IRONMAN triathlon.
"It's not just a physical. It's not just a mental," said Dr. Ryan Modlinski with Norton Sports Health. "It's riding that fine line of being able to push yourself harder and to the limit without exceeding the limit."
With true grit and determination, thousands of tri-athletes battle through 140 miles of swimming, biking and running to become an IRONMAN. Norton provides medical care to those athletes injured during the race.
"You've got to have a lot of support from the medical community because you're talking 3 or 4,000 participants participating in a 12 to 15 hour endurance race," said Dr. Modlinski.
The 2016 Louisville Ironman is Elise Hawkins fourth time participating in the competition.
"I wanted to do an Ironman before I turned 30," she said.
Hawkins spends months training, pounding the pavement and using her years as a competitive swimmer as her foundation. Fifteen years ago this test of endurance never seemed possible.
"I had spine surgery at 15," she said.
The operation to fix her scoliosis threatened to keep her on the sidelines.
"He was like 'You'll never swim competitively again. You'll never run, You'll never do this'," said Hawkins, referring to the doctor who performed her surgery.
Instead, she made it her mission to not only get back in shape, but to take the ultimate endurance test.
"For me to do the IRONMAN was kind of an "in your face" to my surgeon, because he said I'd never be able to run," said Hawkins.
That became her mantra as she completed the 2.4 mile swim, the 112 mile bike ride and the full marathon. Even when exhaustion and muscle fatigue threatened to derail her race, she was determined to keep going.
"The only reason I finished that race was mentally, because I was not going to give up," she said.
Two years later she's battling Louisville's IRONMAN once again. She's not only competing, but making it a way of life.
"I thought I would be a one and done, but it becomes a habit and I just can't imagine not doing it," she said.
The 2016 Louisville race marks Hawkins second marathon in two weeks. She completed the Chattanooga IRONMAN in less than 12 hours.
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