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Race Reports for Ironman Lake Placid 2011

[1]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: We went out to a bar for a burger and beer afterward. TJ Tollakson came in and sat at a table right next to us by himself to grab some dinner. The next table invited him to eat with them and he moved his chair and sat with them. That is the kind of stuff that is so awesome about this sport. If you are reading this report and thinking of doing this race you NEED to volunteer. You have no idea how helpful and motivating the volunteers are until you are on the course. They are awesome! You should pay it forward and volunteer.
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[2]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Yes, it is EXPENSIVE. Yes it is CROWDED. Yes it is a corporation just trying to SQUEEZE its customers. But dammnit, it is awesome. If you haven't done it, you must! Just take a looke at this video if you need more convincing: http://youtu.be/NmaYrvpx8wg
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[3]
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User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: This was my first Ironman experience and I loved it from beginning to end. It was amazing.
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[4]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This was a great ironman for a first-time racer. The bike and run courses have defineable sections that help you mentally break the race into conceivable parts, and the crowd support is absolutely incredible. Plus, the swim is in a totally flat lake (it's not called Mirror Lake by accident) with a line under the water to keep you on course. The thing I'm most happy about regarding my race personally is that I kept a good attitude throughout and really let myself have fun. Even better, I raced as hard as I could, and that's what made it fun. One of my coaches advised me a day or two before the race to avoid letting bad moments or issues from having more of an effect on my day than they had to by thinking of them as problems to be solved, and then focusing on finding solutions, and that was really helpful advice to me.
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[5]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I loved this course, the crowd support, the beauty and the challenge it offered, and finishing on the Olympic Oval. I love that I pushed myself to do things I was afraid of to prepare for the race. I love that I felt ready on race day. I love crossing the line and becoming IRON again. I love that I finished only 23 minutes behind my IMFL time on a much tougher course. I love that while I didn't meet all my process goals, I exceeded some and am happy with my race and all it taught me. I love that I got to share the experience with some great friends..Ranger, Steve, Marie, Paul and Joe. I love that my family supports me in my nutty pursuit of long distance triathlon! I love that so many friends and family took time to send me love, FB messages, texts and mojo on the day!!! Blessed...that's what I am! :)
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[6]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This is an epic event. It far exceeded my expectations. Great venue, great people, great race.
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[7]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Absolutely amazing support. Nothing beats coming back into town on the bike or run with the amount of people cheering everybody on. Made me feel like a pro without having any of the skill to be one. Also the Tour de France -esque crowd on the final climb is amazing, you can't help smile while gritting it out.
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[8]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I actually finished 50th in my age group since I did not wear a wesuit. That means that 20 people in front of me wore a wetsuit. I am glad that I bought the swimskin. The fact that I didn't wear a wetsuit really validates this for me. I have arrived in this sport. I may not be the fastest, but I have been improving and feel great about my Triathlon achievements. This was one of the best experiences of my life. I went sub 11 hours, got some great photos of me, and Lisa qualified for Kona. I'd say that's a great day for Team Albrecht. My Dad was also at this race. That was nice. So was my Mother in Law - she's an Ironman fanatic at this point, and I can always hear her screaming for me. We've worked so hard for this, and for both of us to have amazing races and hit our goals is just incredible. I don't think that I would do Placid again, just for the reason that it would be tough to match this experience. Just like Louisville. I loved that race and that city, but I can't match
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[9]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: All I can say is WOW, what a great race and great location for my first Ironman! I still can’t believe I was able to achieve this goal based on where I was last year and am so hooked right now on the endurance races. The location is awesome with so much to do for the family, beautiful scenery, supportive locals, and just outstanding volunteer support. Everything was organized perfectly and I’m glad we stayed downtown within walking distance, as it made it so much easier for the kids to get back and forth from the race during the day. I read an article in the Lake Placid paper about the future of Ironman there being in jeopardy, so I really hope that they come to an arrangement since this is a magical place. We’re
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[10]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Best race ever!
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[11]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Great course, crowd support is amazing and the course it truly challenging and beautiful.
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[12]
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  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: Many thanks to all of the well wishers over the past five weeks, to Dr. Gelfand for his skills in putting Humpty Dumpty back together again, to my beloved wife Nanci (my IronMate!) for her support, and to the Great Physician for healing me in such a rapid manner. In retrospect, I view the accident as a blessing and correction I certainly needed. And, though I fell short of my pre-accident time goal the fact that I made it to the starting line and actually finished was a far more satisfying achievement. I don't know how many IM races I will do in my life but I'm certain that this journey and race will never be forgotten.
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[13]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Beautiful course. Attempting this with husband and 2 of my sons, and doing it while worshiping and talking with God made it one of life's highlight experiences.
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[14]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: This was an awesome venue for an IM race, although the course personally kicked my (deserving) butt. It feels really odd and kind of lonely to train for something for so long and not be able to discuss it with family except in the most general of terms (aka "The race was okay."). My husband hasn't even looked at the race pictures, maybe a good thing as I look like a fat cow (although that may actually add to the accomplishment and has made me re-commit to getting back to race weight). Recovery has gone very well and a week later I feel 100% again.
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[15]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: 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.
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[16]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I will admit that I think my first IM was a little bit more special than this one. Nonetheless, I improved by over 6 minutes from IMAZ 2010 on a much more challenging course and also didn't wear my wetsuit. However, at the same time, this may have been an even more special day because I got to watch Adam and Nancy, two of the athletes I coach, become Ironmen. I honestly think I get more joy out of seeing my athletes do well than when I do something well. Overall, it was a great race and I really enjoyed this challenging course.
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[17]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Best. Day. Ever. Fantastic race.
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[18]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: I crossed the finish line hands in the air at 8:38 PM finishing in 13:38:01. They have volunteers in the finishing area stopping you because many just keep going and going. After giving me my finishers medal he talked to me for a minute to make sure I was OK and wasn't going to faint. Many end up in the medical tent to recover. The guy behind me collapsed at the finished line. Another guy I was talking to afterwards lost 10 pounds during the race and needed 3 IVs. I was on cloud 9. After posing for a finishers photo and my ESPN interview (I wish) it was off to find my support crew to celebrate. We were out till 11 and then came back to the finish line to see the last minute finishers trying to make the midnight cutoff time. It was great to see several 50 and 60 year olds crossing the line. Stephanie got her Ironman shirt autographed by the male and female winners TJ Tollakson and Heather Wurtele. They were great sports taking part in the excitement of the finishing party and welcoming in
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[19]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: race org. was great. no hitches, plenty of volunteers. commercial and big however kept it personal and not over the top commercial. could have done without lots of the FORD stuff. Oh and also PERFORM liquid is AWFUL! they need to ditch this stuff. I needed stuff on the run but this crap I couldnt stand and I heard it from everyone. HEED is worse tho. Interesting that 167 people DNF'd I didnt sign up for next year. Gotta let it settle before decide on what is next. I hope this experience allows me to be stronger for shorter course. Great to get a way for a week, great venue. Great to visit with Jen and have time with isis, tos and my brother dennis. Super support crew!!
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[20]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Course was beautiful, volunteers were great, atmosphere is like nothing else. Some do complain about the post race food but I was in no mood to eat, so I didn't mind.
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[21]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: Overall it was a great trip with some great friends. I had a blast. When I signed up last year I had know knowledge that I would have a new baby May 23rd and then be laid off from work on May 27th. It was tough keeping my head in the game during the big months of April, May, June and July but I feel like I persevered and am proud to get it done. I don't think I will go long again for awhile. I'd like to get faster. I have some benchmarks I want to hit running before heading back to 140.6. I think I'd want to get to the point where I had a legit shot at going under 10 which may never happen depending on life circumstances. For a first effort I'm satisfied and glad I did it because not sure if life will let me put in the training time to ever really do one again. I think I need to be going <4:40 on some 70.3 races in the northeast before I try again. While it's cool to do one, I've done it and just wouldn't bother again unless I thought I could chop about an hour off my time. It's
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[22]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: Ironman Lake Placid is Magical. The scenery, the town, the locals, the volunteers. The course is also very manageable with consistent training. I'm very happy to have IMUSA be my first Ironman and I will be returning next year, and likely many years to come. I do hope they don't increase the field size anymore though.
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[23]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: Great race!
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[24]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: There really is nothing more to say about the entire experience. I think of it as I would any great thing or great event. You simply cannot describe it to people who have never been to, or raced in an IronMan. The entire event is simply amazing. I don't know if it has even sunk in yet that I finished an Iron Man. The entire thing is just so difficult to put into words. The truth is this isn't about one event or one year leading up to an event. This has been a 6 year journey for me. 6 years ago, I was 60 pounds heavier than I am now and I would have never even thought I could do something like this. When I first started training, I couldn't swim 100 yards or run 1.5 miles without stopping. And now here I am... a finisher of the most difficult one-day endurance event in the world. As much as I am trying to remind myself to cherish this, I am thinking about what's next. I don't think another IronMan is in the near future... maybe 3-5 years from now, I'll do another. The hardest
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[25]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: There is nothing like the excitement of an Ironman race. They really do try to put on a good show. Comparing this years race to the last two years I volunteered/spectated. It just felt like it was lacking in some areas. They didn't have the signs people could make for the motivational mile, which always seems to be a staple of the one section on River Rd. That and they moved where the Motivational Mile was setup.
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