Ironman USA Lake Placid - TriathlonFull Ironman

This swim was so crazy and so fun all at the same time. A mass start with 2200+ of your closest craziest friends may be quite a site to see, but it is crazy fun to be in the middle of. I lined up about 50 yards outside and about 10 people back. I did not want to be too far behind because I had alot of confidence in my swim. For the most part I think I lined up right on!!

First 1000 was really good. It took until the last buoy to get to the rope, then I had to round the 2 turn buoys. Turning was like a WWE cage match, but I just swam over people. Once I was turned I got above the rope and just cruised. Latched onto a pair of feet and just focused on long strokes, breathing and cadence. Swam strong, but not hard. Before I knew it, I was passing the FORD emblem floating in the water at the end...

Up the beach, through the arch, over the mat and back in the water...

Lap 2 was almost as congested as lap 1. I was able to stick right on the rope the entire 1000 back out. The turn was once again a cage match, then I swam about 5 feet right of the rope on the way back, but I could still see it.

All in all this was the best swim I have ever had. The new HELIX wetsuit was awesome, my stroke and breathing were consistent. I think becuse I was not sprinting I actually swam faster. Could not have asked for more, never expected to come in under 1:10

Nothing, phenominal swim!

Long run (about 1/3 - 1/2 mile) from the water to the transition. 1000's of people screaming and cheering, so freaking cool! By the time I got out of the water it was P-O-U-R-I-N-G!!!! Got my transition bag and ran into the tent, NO SEATS, anywhere!! Ran to the end of the tent and just sat on the ground. It was really dark in the tent because of the overcast and rain. Fiddled through, got my stuff out, changed my clothes (I wore my tri singlet under the wetsuit, but changed from swim trunks to bike shorts). Did remember the Chamois Butter. Put on shoes, helmet, sunglasses (big mistake) stuffed my wetsuit, goggles and cap in the bag, tied it and tossed it into a pile and was out the door. Yelled my number to a volunteer who was yelling to bike handlers...

Sure enough, bike was at the end of the rack in the hands of a volunteer waiting for me. Grabbed the bike, THANKED THE VOLUNTEER!!! and away I went sloshing through the mud to the bike mount area. At this point I realized there was NO way I was going to wear the glasses, it was raining too hard and was too dark out, so I stuffed them in my singlet and hoped for 112 miles that I would not knock them out. Would hate to lose the $150 Rudy's!

Nothing, it was a hell of a learning experience!

STILL RAINING!

Wow, what a ride. First mile is treacherous downhill out of transition and town, then you basically climb for 10 - 12 miles, which is brutal... Then, WHOOP, downhill for 4+ miles YEEEEHAAAWWWWWWW!!!!! Pouring rain, no glasses, cars coming up the hill in the other lane, 40+ MPH and several turns!!!! YAAAAHHHOOOOOOOOOO...... For the most part I was in control. About 1/2 mile from the bottom it takes a hard left, then right, then left. Entered the first left aroun 35MPH and drifted from inside to outside of lane, just feathered the brakes (carbon pads on carbon wheels do not perform optimally in water, BTW...) and just held on. Bike was floating. Somehow kept it rubber side down and finished the hill. The some rolling hills and a flat area where I opened it up to about 25-26, felt good. Left turn at jay and the climbing begain. Jay to the out and back was mostly climbing, very challenging. The out and back is like a big U. So the profile looks like UU. Down, up, turn around, down, up. The back was a little tougher than the start, but actually increased my average speed .1MPH throgh this section. Once back in Wilmington where the OAB started, it is all climbing back to transition. Some really long tough hills with almost no relief. Then, to add insult to injury, 5 climbs (Cherry Little, Cherry Big, Bear Momma, Bear Baby and Bear Papa (Bear Papa is like a slightly shorter version of Sugarloaf)) end the run on rt 86. Right turn, climb again, left turn onto Mirror Lake Drive to where run course will be in 3 hours, grab special needs bag, eat a 3Bar, grab my twix and away I go. Through town 1000's of screaming people, around the back of the oval, and it starts again!!!!

RAINING HARDER...

Lap 2 was pretty similiar. Biggest difference, after the keene hill and the beginning of the rollers, my FIRST RACE FLAT!!! It had to happen sometime. Remained amazingly calm given I had never changed a tubular tire on the side of the road. Took around 10-12 minutes and I was rolling again. Had to pee most of lap 2, but decided not to stop because of the delay the flat had caused. This was probably a mistake, because I do not think I drank enough on lap 2 because I had to pee for 40 miles.

Finished just over 6 hours, which I would have broke if not for the flat. Given the terrain and conditions, I though 6 hours was possibloe, but a pipe dream.

I needed to drink a little more, and eat a little more. Had a banana, 6-7 3Bars, 5 Gu's, Gatorade and water. Did not get hungry, but dehydrated a little.

Carry 2 tires. Spent 40 miles thinking that the day was over if I flatted again. Not worth the worry.

Do more hills. I had a great ride, but was humbled by alot of these guys on the hills. Felt I did well on the hills given that I live in FL, but I only went and rode hills 2 times, I should have done more.

Rain just let up... a little

This was a good transition also. They had bike catchers, which is a nice touch. Tossed bike, THANKED THE VOLUNTEER, ran to the transition bag and into the tent.

Got a seat this time. Took all my stuff out and laid it on a chair next to me. Changed from bike shorts to tri shorts. Changed from tri singlet to run singlet. Changed socks and put shoes and knee straps on. Forgot to body glide the friction points (this would come back to haunt me fter the race). Took a 5 hour energy shot, grabbed my 3 bars, put my hat on (left the glasses in the bag this time). Stuck everything back in the bag, tossed it in a pile and out I went.

{ut body glide on the nether regions. Did not notice during the race, but the post race shower and subsequent days walking were a challenge. OUCH!!!

Started down hill and flat, had to control myself and keep it around 9:30's, my body wanted to run 8's after the bike and down the hill, but I learned in Orlando that this is a bad long term strategy for me. Around mile 2.5 you start climbing this rolling section that ultimitelly climbs most of the way. Out to the turn around and back. Coming back did not feel down hill because it was rolling, but it was more downhill than going out. Started raining again. Was a little dehydrated from the bike, so I felt like I needed to pee, but could not. Remember this from the marathon, so I started drinking water/gatorade mix as much as I could. Ate bananas and soup (first time I took soup I thought it was water - YUCKKKKKK!!!!! when you think it is water and it is hot chicken broth. Learned to like it, but not as much as others. I actually learned to LOVE pretzels and the Chocolate Chip Cookies that I got at the aid station by the special needs. Around mile 6 I started walking aid stations on purpose. When I got back to the ski jumps there is a 1/4 mile hill that is like 12 degrees, so I walked it. Ran into town, walked another super steep hill (these are the ones my body wanted to sprint down) then ran past 1000's of screaming people, past the start and up another out and back (the 2.7 mile part). Got to special need so much faster than I thought I would (not that I was fast, I just still felt oddly good). Ate my TWIX, god that was good, grabbed a few 3Bars and away. By mile 12, I was peeing again, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, back over the 13.1 Mile mat, past the sign that says SECOND LOOP LEFT/FINISH RIGHT. Though about going right for a nano second (OK, I didn't, but it always crosses your mind) and back out on loop #2. DID I MENTION IT WAS STILL RAINING, Pouring actually... The second loop was a whole lot like loop 1, but a touch slower with a touch more walking. By mile 21 I was running 7.5 mins, walking 2 mins. I played little games with myself, If I ran 10 mins I could walk 3 mins. I never actually walked 3, but felt like I could if I wanted to. Walked up the ski jump hill again. Then I decided I was running the full distance from aid station to aid station the rest of the rac, only walk aid stations. back through town, past the start/finish (here I was at mile 23.5 and Mike Reilly was 200 yards away saying "XXXX XXXX, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!!" Took my right turn, and just put it in overdrive. One foot in front of the other, so many people, still pouring as it had all day. Nobody left, in fact there were more there as the day progressed. This time I approached the SECOND LOOP LEFT/FINISH RIGHT sign and veered right. The people along the road by the sign went NUTS when they saw me go right, 300 yards to go!!!!

I entered the oval with 1 guy just in front, another guy next to me. I looked back and saw nobody behind us for as far as I could see, so... I slowed, let them run in together, I as enjoying this moment ALONE!!!! Went around the oval, under the arch and over the sensor that I knew gave them my name... wait for it... wait for it... wait for it.... GARY COURTNEY... YOU ARE AN I-R-O-N-M-A-N!!!!!! WooHoo, yay me!!!! Jumped up and down, tossed my arms in the air and ran accross the line. WOW!!!!!!


Be a better runner... maybe in my next life.

Got my medal and my tinfoil blanket (should have held onto that). Got some pics taken, found Aaron's parents, called Courtney. Got Pizza, and a massage. Came out of the massage tent... HOLY CRAP IT's COLD OUT HERE!!!! Appearently it is much colder in the rain when you are not running. Started shivering (see, told you I should have kept that blanket).

Got my bike and transition bags, found Aaron's parents and told them I was going back. Went back, showered (now I realized the missing body glide) changed and made it back with 6 nminutes to spare to see Aaron finish.


Being old, fat, slow... No, It was awesome!


Most unbelievable day ever. The volunteers were amazing, the course was just unreal, hard to describe how beautiful and brutally challenging the course was. The pre and post race events were a blast, I felt like royalty. Such a different experience from Orlando it is hard to beleive the same organization put them both on. Disney really does suck!!! (Had to get that in.

I reccomend if you ever want to do an Ironman and can get into this race, do it. one for the ages!!

PS - It sold out onsite the next morning for 2009. This race will probably never be available online again.