Ironman USA Lake Placid - TriathlonFull Ironman

Started in the far back on the right. Me and two other guys watched in amazement as the crowd of people started swimming. I waited until the large group past the line and made my way in. I crossed the start line 1 min 48 seconds after the cannon went off. It was a great plan. There were people around me but I had plenty of space. 1st lap 43min. Second lap felt just as good, stayed about 10 yards off of the line. For someone who doesn't spend a lot of time swimming I was more than happy with my performance.

Nothing

Wet suit strippers did a great job, did a combo of walk jog to the changing tent. Took my time, I wore my biking shorts instead of my tri shorts, made sure feet dry, socks on, sunscreen, glasses and helmet. As I left the tent I said to myself where are all the bikes. LOL. The place was almost empty, they had no trouble finding my bike.

More sunscreen on my shoulder blades

Hoped on the bike and rolled out of town. Easy spin up to the start of Keene descent. Drank some Infinite and just got ready to ride. Fun riding down into Keene. As we were passing the lake on the right for some reason I looked up to the big rock face on the left and there were two people climbing, gave them a wave and they waved back. Stoped at the aid station in Jay, got some water and stretched the legs. Ausable forks seemed to be a never ending road. The climb into Wilmington went well, I road it at the beggining of the week so I knew what to expect. Stopped to see my family, which were sitting in front of the A&W restaurant in Wilmington with their bright tie dye shirts, took some photos, then it was time to climb into Lake Placid. Felt great the whole way into LP, got passed by the guy that won at the top of Papa Bear. Great feeling coming into town, didn't have any special needs so just started on the second lap. Never really road over 60 miles so I was in uncharted waters, miles 75-85 my a$$ was getting sore and I was thinking that biking sucks, but I fought those demons off. I knew staying positive was a big key. Felt good climbing the bears, saw some people leaving the race in an ambulance. The last climb into town was great, I was feeling on top of the world,and almost got wiped out turning onto Main St. by a racer not paying attention, she cut the corner and almost took me out. Passed her and headed into T2.

Nothing, maybe put in some longer bike rides, but I find it hard to ride longer than 3hrs at a time. Not due to fitness,just boredom.

Took off bike shorts and put on running shorts, slipped on my running shoes and hat and I was off.

nothing

Legs felt great. Spirits were good. First two miles I was at 10min pace, walked the aid station had some water and a cookie. I was feeling very hot and knew that I really had to watch myself. Saw my family they were at the corner of 73 & River Rd. still wearing their tie dye t-shirts. Took some pics, my wife was happy I was feeling good. Where the hell is mile 5 I kept asking myself, River rd. seemed endless. Made it back to the ski jumps, doing the walk/ run method. The hill back into town was killer, the guy with the PA system was funny and really kept the mood light getting the crowd going.
Turning onto Lake Placid Club drive, the smell of cooking sausage and hamburgers along with the sight of ice cold beer made me want to stop so I started to walk and was a like deer in the headlights looking over at all of the people at the LP Brew house. They started cheering like wild until I started running, then they got louder. That was funny.
Finally made it back to the start of River Rd. where my family was, I told them that "this is the stupidest thing I ever signed up to do!" Why would anyone want to do this race? I would never recommend it to anyone. I told my wife that I would never do it again. The State Trooper directing traffic started to laugh and said I was the first honest person in 10 years of working that race, and he took a family picture for us. Out and back on the Abyss, on River Rd. continued with the walk/run, met up with a guy in front of the horse grounds and we ran together until the hills comming into town. I was walking up the hill and I asked a random lady if I could use her phone to tell my wife I was 2 miles out. She was happy to do so, left message for my wife then ran the last two miles, I could almost taste the beer running by the brew house.
Running down the hill was quite euphoric, stopped and kissed my family at the entrance to the oval, my wife was crying, kids going crazy, music pumping, Mike Riely calling names, my head was spinning. What a rush entering the oval, and for a fraction of a second I remembered back to all of the miles running in the snow, Mike calls out Rick Vasile from Milford Ma: YOU are an IRONMAN!!!!

I had the legs to run faster, I was planning between 4:30-5 hours running. My calorie intake running was not good. I could not find anything that would sit well. I couldn't drink another sports drink, eat another bannana or powerbar. I was starving. If they had steak subs along the run I definetiy would have hit my time.

Pizza and coke. Changed into my cloths, found my family, which were wiped out from a long day. I looked better than them. LOL. Packed up and drove back to Wilmington.

Drank a beer, showered and fell into a deep sleep, woke up at 8am feeling great, my legs were not very sore, so I danced around the cabin with my medal waking everyone up!


I was conservative all day. This was My first Iron distance race. I kept my heart rate in low z2 all day. I didn't want to spend the time training, and money not to finish this race, I saw quite a few people leaving in ambulances. I figured on a 14hr day. 14:51 I can live with. I felt great finishing even though I was very hungry.




This is an epic event. It far exceeded my expectations. Great venue, great people, great race.