Ironman USA Lake Placid - TriathlonFull Ironman

hit my goal exactly!!! Lined up on right side about 30y behind start, and went VERY VERY easy. Kept to the outside, so kept the bumping and kicks to the rib to a minimum. Crowded at the turns though. Started to pour during the swim - no problem. At times I would just stop and look around and listen to the thrashing going on. Pretty surreal. I started to HATE swimming lately, but this became my most enjoyable part of the day simply because completing that distance was such an accomplishment for me.

Maybe just get in a little tighter towards the line/bouys on second loop. I'm not a swimmer and I have no desire to work my butt off endlessly in training just so I could save 10 minutes in an all-day race.

Had the wetsuit strippers do their job. (The volunteers are awesome!!) Then jogged the 1/4 mile to transition. Of course, I ran up the wrong aisle to get my bag, but didn't take much to go back. Just took my time getting my gear on. chose the arm warmers, but not the bike shirt.

nothing

My strategy was to hold back ALOT!!!!! Which I did. I felt like EVERYONE was in front of me. I took the downhill decently (roads still wet), pushed somewhat on the flats and took the inclines super slow. Didn't have it in the legs right from the start. But right on target on loop 1 - 6:15ish. Loop 2...ugghh...this was going to be tougher. Flew down the big descent - saw 48.5 on my cyclecomputer afterwards. It really was the winds that threw me - the long climb back up Whiteface with a headwind was very tough and discouraging. But, I wasn't going to hammer it. Have to say I was a little disappointed in my time - was aiming for below 6:30. Best part was the Papa Bear climb which felt like the Tour de France with all the spectators and chalk notes on the road. And the bit going through town was awesome too. The cheering, the crowds. I pushed a little here just because it felt fun.
Ate alot on loop 1. Again, feeling like overstuffing myself. Tried to pee on the bike (just to say i did) and man, that takes concentration. Finally i gave up and saw the portopotties and that must have relaxed me and I was able to let it fly. The second time though, I stopped...I had accomplished yet another goal. :-)
Pain in the butt guy on the second loop. I'd be doing a consistent pace, pass him on the uphill, then he'd have to jump up on the pedeals and pass me back, cut in front and slow down. What an idiot. I figured out he was my age which is why he was doing that. Whatever. He finished ahead of me on the bike, but then I checked his results and he dnf'd. ha!

umm...let's see...what would I do differently? How about not have kids and not get divorced so I could actually put in enough long rides????

Seriously, I was happy I held back. I wouldn't approach this any differently.

Again, just take things easy. The volunteer did everything for me...although I forgot to remove my arm warmers from my back pocket, so I had to drop them off later.

nothing

It got hot. I actually was ok with running off the bike, but my legs were beat. My plan was to go very easy at the start, which I did. Still, I was on 10:00 pace, and that included walking each aid station. Felt ok through 8 miles, then the walks started to get longer. Since I hadn't hit my goal in the bike, I had decided I was going to savor everything today and just take my time. I didn't care about my time anymore - ub 13hrs was a "perfect day" scenario goal, so I just had fun. Chatted with so many people. I was sick of gatorade and started to eat grapes and chicken broth. Imagine that - in the hot afternoon sun, and chicken broth was awesome!!! Mile 20, I started to feel some twinges in my left knee, so decided to walk it in from there. By mile 25 (and a lot of chatting), I finally looked at my watch and was coherent enough to extrapolate my time. I thought I had an outside chance of getting under 14 hrs, so I started to run, and I felt good. Actually ran up the IGA hill (stopping to have my pic taken though), and the little out and back in town was one of the most awesome feelings. the cheering was incredible. Almost took a beer at LP Brewery but figured a finish line pic of me puking wouldn't be good. Once I hit the speedskating oval, I just sprinted it in ("sprinting" is a relative term)

I know my goal was to finish, but in hindsight, I didn't realize how close I was to my 13 hr goal. Sounds odd to say that since I was an hour off, but I didn't push enough on the run. It's a tough call...enjoy the day? Or go for time? So I do feel some unfinished business on not "racing" it. honestly, it felt too easy to finish.

straight to the food tent. Disappointed in selection. Subway sandwiches and pizza. After I got my bike/bags, walked back to the hotel, cheering on others and grabbing a beer from one of the partyers.


I had good consistent training - no injuries at all (just a blister on race day). But I don't have time to commit fully to it. I think I actually peaked about a month ago. Next time, I'd cut my taper a little shorter - that seemed to make me lazy instead of energize me. I knew going in that the race itself tends to be anti-climactic. And it was. For me, it was whether or not I could handle the journey of getting to the starting line. Once my taper started, there really was no pressure on me. I knew I could finish. Was never a question. I knew I'd have 8-9 hrs to do a marathon and still make become an Ironman.
Every time I've done some type of big distance (half mary, full, HalfIM, etc), the first one is always about finishing. I got that in the bag, and even though I'm not signed up for 2010, I have a strong suspicion I'll be "racing" the IM in the future...maybe 2011.