Ironman USA Lake Placid - TriathlonFull Ironman

The swim was the craziest thing ever! Lots and lots of people! I managed to settle into a nice, steady pace early on. I focused on my bilateral breathing and it was nice to have the great draft and not have to worry about sighting. I was hit a few times with other's arms/hands, but nothing too bad. A few times I found myself right on top of the line in the water. I continued to try to stay on the side of it so I didn't run into the buoys. The turns were crazy as people piled up onto eachother as the group slowed down. I looked at my watch as I reached the end of the first loop and was pleased. I thought the second loop would be less physical, but was wrong. I guess the good part is that the draft was great! The time in the swim flew by and before I knew it, I was getting out of the water. I found a peeler, layed on the ground and was up in a split second with my wetsuit in my arms. I heard Brad's sister and mom along with a few others cheering as I ran towards T1.

Nothing at all! I was so pleased with my swim! I guess I could have picked up the pace just a little....I'm so competitive with Brad and it would have been nice to beat him in one of the three disciplines for the day. Ended up being 21 seconds slower, but still had a solid swim. =)

I am usually a walker for the first bit out of the water, but I managed to run to the transition area. I was handed my T1 bag and directed to the changing tent. After adjusting to how dark the tent was, I found a chair and took out my stuff. I felt like I was moving so slowly and by my time, I was, but I didn't want to forget anything for the bike. By this time, it stopped raining (we later heard it poured during the swim), I debated on whether or not to take arm warmers since it was a little chilly. I figured it would warm up as the day went on and they would annoy me so I decided to leave them. I restuffed by bag and was out of the tent where I saw and heard Brad's sister and mom again. A volunteer helped me get my bike off the rack and I was off to the bike.

Hustle just a bit more, but like I said, I didn't want to forget anything since it's a long day.

When our group made a trip to LP over Memorial weekend, I did one loop of the course and it kicked my ASS! I came home and worked very hard to get better, stronger and faster on hills.
I started out comfortable and spun up the first bunch of climbs before the big decent into Keene. Overall, the first loop was fairly uneventful. The crowds were great and it was awesome to see people out on their lawns cheering us on! I breifly saw Brad on the out and back in Haselton. I then saw Heidi and Craig and yelled some words of encouragement as we rode by eachother. I hit the turn around on the out and back and then saw Nate. I was anxious for the last 14 miles since this was a mental hurdle over Memorial weekend. I kept a steady pace and a positive attitude and before I knew it, I was climbing Little Cherry. Wow! The first loop was almost over! As I was climbing Papa Bear, the crowds were so freaking awesome! A guy was sitting in the road with a megaphone cheering people on as they climbed. I had a huge smile ear to ear because this hill killed me just two months earlier! I turned the corner and the crowds were still great! As a made the turn onto the road near the lake, I was anxious to see friends and family! I gave them two thumbs up as I rode on to my special needs bag. I grabbed a few things out and continued onto loop 2. I broke up the second loop into sections so the last 56 miles wouldn't seem so overwhelming. I had a few issues clipping in throughout the day, but it seemed to get better the second loop. By now, the sun was out and it was getting hotter. I hit the out and back and saw Craig again and then Nate after I did the turn around. I could feel myself slowing down on the last 14 miles. I finished the first loop with some time in the bank, but didn't want to just make the bike cutoff by seconds. Nate passed me around mile 100 and offered words of encouragement. It was so great to see a friendly face since the crowds had lessened by now. I saw Laura and Ron at around mile 107 and was so happy to see spectators I knew! They yelled and cheered as I pushed on for the last 5 climbs on Rt. 86. As I made the turn at the top of Papa Bear, I looked at my watch and knew I was going to make the bike cutoff. I held back the tears and pused on for the last few miles. I turned onto the road near the lake and couldn't wait to see my family and friends. They went wild as I rode by which was such a great feeling! I rounded behind the high school and gladly handed off my bike.

Train earlier and harder on hills.
My goal the entire day was just to finish so overall, I am thrilled, but would have liked a stronger bike. Just something to work on. =)

I ran down and was handed by T2 bag and then directed to the changing tent. It was less crowded and I had a volunteer help me. I dumped out my entire bag and sorted through all of the stuff I put in there. I changed into my tri shorts from my bike shorts, threw a fresh bag of meds into my back pocket along with some food and I was off....with my bike gloves still on. Damn it!

Take off my effing bike gloves!

I told myself (along with a few others) that as long as I made the bike cutoff, I was going to finish before midnight. The run was not a strength of mine and my longest run before IMLP was 14.5 miles. After realizing I left my bike gloves on, I took them off and stuffed them into the small of my back in my tri shorts. I saw my mom and sister as I cursed myself for leaving my gloves on. Right away, my stomach wasn't feeling great. I ran at a slow, but steady pace and tried to drink some flat coke to settle my stomach. Nate passed me at about mile 2 and he commented on my fast T2 time since he passed me on the bike. I knew I couldn't run his pace and I wished him luck as he kept going. I managed to continue running, not fast...but running. I ate a GU at around mile 4 and then saw Laura. She took my bike gloves (THANKS A MILLION, LAURA) and I asked where everyone was on the course. She walked/ran with me for a bit. I saw Craig and gave him a hug (yes, I know I owe you those 10 seconds). Laura dropped off at that point. Craig said Brad was coming up soon. I saw Brad who was on his 2nd loop. It was so awesome to see him. The look on his face when he realized I made the bike cutoff was priceless! We gave a quick hug and kiss and continued on. I did a walk and run combo for a lot of the first loop b/c of my stomach. I tried to eat a GU at mile 7 and had to spit it out or else it would have come back up anyway. I ate bananas, pretzels and chicken broth while continuing my ice water. After hitting the turn around on River Road, I saw Tim and Laura. I then saw Heidi who ended up catching me at her mile 21.
I made it to the 1/2 way point with my slow and steady run pace. Brad's mom ran with me for a minute or two and Brad's sister's boys ran along side me while blaring music, keeping that smile on my face. I started the second loop and had that mental hurdle to get over thinking I still had a half marathon in front of me. My stomach was doing OK so I continued with my half-assed nutrition plan. I saw Abbie and Dave in front of the Econolodge which was awesome! I ended up making friends during the first loop with a guy named Steve who kept me on a steady pace when I walked. We kept leap frogging each other during the second loop. I continued running the down hills and flats and walking the up hills. By the time I made the turn near the ski jumps for the long out and back, it was pretty dark. I new Craig and Nate were out here so I kept my mind off of pain by looking for them. I saw Craig on his way back in and yelled some encouragment. He said Nate was a few minutes in front of me. I finally caught up to Nate after the turn around. I wasn't sure it was him since he had on some random guy's jacket. We met up at mile 20 and continued together to the end. I could hear Mike Riley and the finish line this far away. It was so awesome!!! It was soon after I met up with Nate that it started raining...and then it started pouring! We passed the truck with the guy playing music. I saw my personalized message pop up on the screen from my family (pre race, family/friends could enter in a personalized message that would pop up onto the screen when the mat read your chip on the run). Nate and I said we'd start running once we got to the top of the hill near the ski jump. We then decided that wasn't happening. I continued walking at a brisk pace and Nate dropped back a bit. I kept yelling at him that we would finish this race together! I saw Abbie who walked with Nate for a bit. I then passed Nate's dad who ran about 20 miles earlier in the day. He and Nate ran up to meet me. Bill pursuaded Nate and I to run to the bottom of the big hill which we managed. I walked up the hill and the guy with the megaphone was still there (passed him on my first loop) and he was still yelling words of encouragement. I saw my mom and sister near the gas station before turning right to do the final out and back. I then passed my family in their tent and was so estatic! Laura walked with me for a bit while Nate caught up to me. He continued to make me laugh as we finished the short out and back. By this point, I was cold and hungry and in a decent amount of pain. We had enough time on our hands to figure out how we'd run down the chute and to make sure no one was near us. I started running down the hill and turned right at the gas station where I saw Brad's sister's husband and our friend Ron...I entered the speed skating circle where a guy directed me what way to go...I let him know I knew where to go. =) As I ran around the chute, all of the pain and aches went away. I heard my family cheering and crossed over the first mat. As I ran towards the finishing chute and the tape, the crowd was absolutely awesome! They were cheering so loudly and I ran across the finish line with a huge smile on my face. I hugged the volunteer who gave me my medal and was then greeted by Brad and Tim.

More run training and more bricks.

I was starving so I grabbed a piece of pizza and then headed to the massage tent. After a quick massage, I met up with my family and headed back to the house for a nice, warm bath.


More hill workouts and earlier in my training.
More longer runs.


This was my first Ironman and was absolutely amazing! I started this adventure many months ago with my husband and four close friends. I look back a few years and cannot believe I finished an Ironman! I wouldn't have ever guessed this! It made it even sweeter that I 1) finished before midnight and 2) finished with five of the most amazing people I know. I wouldn't have traded this experience for anything in the world! I just need to decide what to do about CdA '07!