Ironman USA Lake Placid - TriathlonFull Ironman

started out too close to the inside of the swim. Second lap-swam the majority inside the buoy line and found my rhythm. Toward the end, it was almost as though I was being dragged along by the current as everyone was swimming in synch.

-would have either started further away from the center, or right on the buoy line and wound up inside the buoys.

very slow in transition.

would have spent less time putting on socks and shirt. would consider wearing a tri-suit next time. would take nutrition on the road next time.

Experienced a mechanical problem with the front deraileur on lap 1 and had to stop and borrow a screwdriver. 46+mph on descent through the cascades compared to 3mph on one of the ascents into town. Garmin crapped out with 10 miles to go in loop 2.
became gassy on loop 2, and became sick of sports drink. at times, experienced energy lows. not sure if it was due to insufficient fuel or fluids or both. Took 1 salt tab every 30 minutes.
stopped at the end of loop 1 to see my mom-wouldn't change a thing.

spend the money on a tune up. look into a three sprocket front set of geers and a rear cartridge with a greater selection of gears to allow me to crank harder during descents and spin faster during ascents.
Charge Garmin the night before or purchase a new one that is water resistant.
drink from bottle, not straw. Less sports drink, more water, and more gels throughout.

took my time in transition to apply sunblock. took time taking on fluids and seeing Kelly-wouldn't change a thing

wouldn't change a thing.

ran 1 mile at a time and took fluids at every stop. Cola and water and sports drink mixed together. Took chicken broth every 6th mile or so. so confused at the end that I missed the entry to the finishing oval and ended up running an extra 10th of a mile.

would have looked to run 2 miles at a time instead and have more consistent pacing. Pay better attention to race signs and instructions.

walked for a 1/2 hour while finding my family. drank 2 bottles of water.


-212 lbs!
-inability to shift to lower gears on uphills and higher gears on descent
-some gastric distress due to highly concentrated sports drink on bike
-took till the second half of marathon to recover from bike and hit my stride/pace


This was a great first IronMan experience. Lake Placid is a great venue. The event was well organized and the volunteers were awesome and enthusiastic. The swim was surreal ("argey bargey" as Phil Liggett would say!), the bike was filled with challenging descents and climbs, and it was very rewarding to survive my first marathon after having completed such a difficult bike. Will take a year off from full IronMan, and will consider doing one again in 2013.