Lake Placid Ironman 2014 - Race Weekend Recap

First, I apologize for not posting this update sooner but the last week has been crazy!  I left for Lake Placid Thursday, came home Monday night and left for Chicago on Tuesday morning; less than 10 hours after getting home.  I’m currently writing this at 41,000 feet in the air on a Southwest Boeing 737-700 on Wednesday morning at 6:20am heading east.  As mentioned, crazy!

The photo that best describes Ironman
Lake Placid 2014 weekend; wet

Last week I arrived in Lake Placid for Ironman as an official race finishing triathlete but also not really knowing what to expect.  If local sprint triathlons are rookie ball then an Ironman event is the Major Leagues.  The enormity of the Ironman event is intimidating to me.  I’m glad I decided to go watch an event before actually competing in a full Ironman.  The huge field, the hype, the transition area, the course, the mass of spectators and the fanfare made me think, “this is what fighting in the Roman Coliseum must have been like.”   The experience was awesome and I’ll try to do the event justice in my recount.

I arrived in Lake Placid after a night of work, being awake for almost 35 hours and having driven for 9 hours.  Dunkin Donuts coffee and bathroom stops (4 XL coffee and 3 bathrooms stops - the final tally) were the prevailing theme of my drive.  The first thing I saw driving into Lake Placid were the ski jumps and a lot of people out training on the Ironman course.  Bikes and runners were abundant.  

I checked into my hotel and lucky for me, my hotel was within walking distance of downtown.  As soon as I dropped my luggage off in the room I hoofed the mile-ish walk to the transition, finish, Ironman area that would serve as home base for the event all weekend.  My goal was to see transition at the Olympic Speed Skating Oval and look at the coveted Ironman Finish line!  After seeing the line, and being so excited and overcome with happiness I may have peed a little,  I walked over to see Mirror Lake.  My first impression, “Wow, that swim course is long as hell!”  Honestly, I got a little intimidated.  I’m definitely going to need to go to Lake Placid to practice and train on this course to ease my nerves.  Confidence goes a long way in triathlon and I need to know I’m ready!

Lake Placid Swim Course

After seeing the finish line and the lake I called it a day, or a few days!  Like the rockstar I am I was in bed before 8pm and slept until my alarm went off at 4:30am.

Me and the Finish Line!

The second day I planned to head out early and run on the course so I’d have an idea what I am getting myself into with the plan to race Ironman Lake Placid in 2015.  At 5:15am I was dressed and heading out the door for my run.  First impression, wow its cold in Lake Placid!  I was severely underdressed for temperatures where I could see my breath.  After a few minutes run I was warm and enjoying the views.  Mirror Lake at sunrise might be the most beautiful place I’ve ever watched the sun rise.  Its spectacular!  For being in a town full of endurance and endorphin junkies I was surprised to find I was the only person out running at this hour!  (truth be told I’m wearing the fact I was the first one on the roads as a badge of honor!  I think I made the fraternity with that one)  My time was nothing spectacular for all the pictures I stopped to take along the way but I covered nearly 8 miles of the course - most of the first loop out to the ski jumps.  

Mirror Lake morning run

Mirror Lake at sun rise

After my run I changed, showered and had some awful coffee.  Lake Placid does not know how to make coffee, anywhere, at all.  Every establishment made the worst coffee I’ve ever drank.  Note to self: take coffee maker next year!  I spent the day taking photos, shopping and absorbing my environment!  We had our Mid-Maryland Triathlon Club group picture (which I stole from someone I don’t know on Facebook) and then had lunch with a few club members at the Lake Placid Brew Pub.  I feel I have a grasp of what to do at Ironman events just by watching, talking to racers and experiencing the happenings surrounding this event.  Again, this rockstar was in bed early and ready for race day!

Race day I was up at “way too early still dark outside-thirty,” and got ready for what I expected to be a long day of spectating, cheering, volunteering and photo taking.  I left my hotel at 4:45am and joined the already in progress, lycra clad, procession of black toe-nails down Main Street on our way to transition area.  The morning air was crisp and cool on race day but the prevailing theme was an eery calm quiet  as racers made their way to the oval.  I found a nigh vantage point and watched the participants prepare before making my way to Mirror Lake Drive for a good vantage point of the swim.  

Transition: race morning

As the swim began very menacing clouds began to roll across the mountains.  As I moved down toward the transition area to watch the swimmers exit it started raining.  Then it started raining harder.  Soon, it was pouring buckets of huge rain drops!  I was soaked to my underwear in seconds.  Next came the sideways, blowing, stinging yours skin hard rain accompanied by thunder and lightening.  My friends were on their bike rides by this point and I was concerned for their safety.  If you’ve never seen it, the decent into Keene is no joke, downhill, technical and fast.  Not a good combination for wet roads and speeding triathletes on bikes.  Oh, did I mention sections of the road are in dreadful states of disrepair?!  (thankfully all my friends made it through safely!)

Literally the calm before the storm

The storm signaled my time for breakfast and a much deserved nap before my volunteer shift.  When I got up I packed my gear and packed the Jeep.  I wouldn’t be taking any photos in these conditions so I may as well prepare for an early exit the next day.  

I headed back to transition for my volunteer meeting.  I had my meeting, received my shirt and watched the first group of racers across the finish line!  I saw both of my friends cross the line!  congrats to Ginny and Dan, you guys did awesome!  Your awesome races in such horrible conditions are incredibly inspiring to me!  Great job!!!

My volunteer shift began in bike checkout and before I could blink the race was over!  The last finisher crossed the line.  The lights went out, Mike Reiley went home and the crowd dispersed.  But the night wasn’t over.  At about 12:26ish while we were finishing our volunteer duties one lady, driven by determination and her support group, came around the oval toward the finish line.  This lady was not to be denied her finish!  The remaining spectators and volunteers gathered and welcomed her back with applause!  She may not be an official Ironman finisher but she is the most inspiring person I’ve ever seen!  I’m so glad I got to stay to see her, I’m getting chills just typing.  She is the person I respect.  When you start something, you finish!  I hope I can have half her courage and determination when I race my Ironman next year at Lake Placid.  

Overall Ironman Lake Placid is an amazing event!  Lake Placid itself is an incredible destination.  I hope I get to spend some time there over the course of the next year while I train.  I did register for next year’s race but I’d like to discuss that in a post all to itself.  I’d like to elaborate on the registration process and expand my personal thoughts as they apply to my race in one specific post later this week.  Thanks for reading!!!  

Mid Maryland Triathlon Club
representing and supporting 

Watching my friends finish