Ironman Lake Placid : Official Thread (Page 107)

unless I missed something the map for this years course includes the 2 mile Haselton out and back... also, everyone on the course this past weekend was doing the out and back...

The old course was 7 miles out and 7 miles back on Haselton Rd. The new course has the Jay to Ausable Forks out and back (which was not on the old course) along with a 1 mile out and 1 mile back on Haselton Rd. Both courses have a Haselton Rd. out and back, but the old one did the entirety of Haselton Rd. Sorry for the confusion.

no need to apologize but thanks for the info... I knew the course changed but wasn't sure how it changed...

this is year 3 for the 70.3 here in Syracuse and EVERY year the run course has changed.

I'm so tired.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laq2rNiWDYQ

WHO'S READY TO ROCK IT OUT AT LAKE PLACID!????HUAHHHHH! OH YEA!!!! MAKE SOME NOIZZZZZZZZ! SO READY TO BRING IT ON AND FEEL THAT ADRENALINE RUSH THROUGH MY VEINS AND FEEL THE WIND WIZZ BY ME ON THE BIKE AND FEEL THE PAIN IN THE RUN!!!!!! 

Damn, just less than 5 weeks, not tmrw...booooo!

Now ....get back to work!

Yeah tell me about it.  I just got the map for it and will be trying it again for the second year now (I missed the first year).  I can't keep all the course changes straight anymore.  I almost forgot the out and back on Haselton.  I'm going to blame it on "training brain".... uhh wait did I train today..... hmmm better go train some more.

Looks like you are right and I am wrong.  I just checked TJ Tollakson's Race Data from Lake Placid last year, and he has the total course at 4,318 or 2,159 per loop.  My apologies to WTC for calling them liars.  I am actually shocked that the course is just over 2k per loop.  Shocked.  I'm not shocked that I'm wrong, cause that happens all the time.  I'm an idiot

Here's TJ's (who won LP year) data: 

https://www.trainingpeaks.com/sw/PZ2DRKJ4SQFXK7QZ5UUV46O6RE

http://blog.trainingpeaks.com/posts/2011/7/29/tj-tollaksons-ironman-lake-placid-winning-race-report-and-po.html

I know what you mean. I think it is the fact that the first hill out of town before Keene and that 86 is such a b@%#% and LONG that it feels like more.

All wound up indeed.  You know me too well, George.  Too too well

Doesn't change the fact that two loops on this course is a b*tch with the placement of the hills - mentally I'll still be thinking closer to 6k of climbing to make sure I take the hills conservatively enough.

haha I have quite a memory for things and y our bike isn't really hard to pick out.... I think I saw FatBastard on the bike loop Friday wearing his bulldog jersey but he was going the opposite direction as me.

What I learned this past weekend while riding the course.

I will soak every day in as this is more than likely my one and only full iron distance event.

It is VERY hard to UNDER bike this course. But ver yeasy to OVER bike it.

I can no doubt do this course with my 11/28, I used it all weekend long, but I will be using my 12/32 cassette.

If it is hot out, above 75,  I will be wearing my road helmet as opposed to my aero helmet. I wore both this past weekend and there was really no difference in time but a HUGE difference in comfort

I can bomb Keene in aero and hit 52mph and still be comfortable... but will I be with a ton of other cyclists/bikers (bikers scare me)? that remains to be seen.

I will park my ego and let people pass me during the first loop. I will not get caught up if/when someone who "shouldn't" be passing me passes me on the bike. I WILL see that person again. Besides, in my  tri suit I probably look like someone who shouldn't be passing someone. lol If I do not see that person again, they are simply faster than me.

I will not let the dude in the devil outfit get me to pump out 500 watts going up Northwood.... on my first lap... If I can muster it on my second I may oblige...

There was a young woman who was stopped, crouched over her aero bars crying on the side of the road and I asked her if she was ok and she said,"Yes, just need some time." I hope she really was ok.  

BooTri, what are the lines of sight like on the Keene descent?  Is there plenty of time to adjust your line as you bomb away at 50 mph or are their switchbacks and curves that are blind (and will likely cause unsuspecting cyclists to cross the double yellow line in the road)?

If you're bold, you can do the whole thing in the aero bars without sitting up and/or braking. There aren't any curves that can't take 45-50 mph, but I would make sure you're comfortable doing that first before you attempt it.

The nice thing about race day is that you're allowed to cross the double yellow line on the descent! There are two lanes for cars coming from Keene to LP on Rt 73, but on race day Ironman takes one of the lanes for the cars coming up the hill so we get two lanes for the majority of our descent. It's nice to have that extra space on race day for sure.

Had my first IMLP dream last night... As I lay in my bed with no AC on a 9X degree night I started to think about my race and next thing I knew I was...

at the start line, or whatever it is called when you are surrounded by hundreds of guys that look like they should all be playing professional football or rugby and you are treading water waiting for a loud bang. The cannon goes off and I am instantly jumped on by all those around me. As I sink to the bottom I realize that I forgot to start swimming and that there is no longer anyone above me. I swim to the top and start going. All of the sudden I am...

In transition walking my bike to the mount line which is packed! I get on my bike and am waiting for a couple minutes before I can start pedaling as I have to hold my brakes in order to allow the masses fly in front of me. I start out on the bike thinking that this will be a good day and it is for the most part. I hit the keene decent with great speed and am wizzing by everyone when I hear the hiss of a flat. Now in really life i have to say that I have been lucky enough to have never gotten a flat in my three years of competitive riding. Nothing in training or in racing, so naturally this flusters me. I start to change my tire and I break my tire wrench... great. Wait for the support vehicle and I am on my way, but now I am freaking out because apparently it took 2 hours for my tire to get changed so I need to book it to finish the course. As I am booking it I am all the sudden...

Running out of transistion and I feel great! I am hitting my 7:30 miles (even though in real life I just want to hit 8's to 8:30's) and I am flying past people as apparently I made the cut offs. Then the slow mo camera hits. I feel like my movements are exagerated and no matter how hard I push agaisnt the ground, I feel like I am running in quick sand. BooTri runs by me and I know I am in trouble(sorry boo but this really happened) He hands me a gel and I take it graciously as he pounds off going at his sub 6 minute pace. I take the gel and...

I wake up. Please tell me other people have been having dreams like this or that I should not be worried about any of this actually happening...

You can bomb the descent any you can get 2 lanes. BUT I warn you the problem is not the space or other cyclist its the roads. I am talking form experience. They laid me out when I wrecked at 30 mph I could not imagine what would have happened if i was going 40 or 50. I love to ride fast but you need to consider road conditiond the roads are choppy, wavy, and all beat up.

If that doesn't slow you down God Bless you. How much time are yoy u honsetly going to maake up slamming 50mph down the ddescent and risking huge injury and injury to others compared to 40 or 30? and rememebr if you crash out you never make the finish line.

ALL I AM SAYING IS BE SAFE. A 1 minute GAIN ON THE DESCENT IS NOT WORTH RISKING YOUR LIFE FOR. MAYBE FOR MORRIS  AS HE HAS A SHOT AT A KINA SPOT!!

Hey All!  First off, thanks so much to all of you who are providing us rookies with valuable information about the race, course, what to expect, etc!  I'm sitting here in St. Louis and will have no opportunity to be anywhere near Lake Placid before race weekend!  Seeing as though this is my first attempt at the 140.6 distance any and all of the information is so much appreciated.  So thank you!!!

As for something that I've been having trouble deciding - what bike will serve me best on the course?  I have a road bike that's fairly entry level but I've ridden quite a bit and I have a tri-bike that's a little nicer, race wheels, etc.  I'm having a tough time figuring out what will be the better set-up as I really can figure out what this course is.  Climbing is certainly easier in my road bike and it's a more comfortable ride overall - but I feel somewhat silly riding my "lesser" bike in what should amount to the biggest race (albeit I've only done a few tris) of my life?!

Does anyone have any advice here?  Will it be an overwhelming majority of tri-bikes on the course or is there a good mix of both?  Has anyone ridden the course in their road and tri-bike and have any feedback or learn anything? 

Any help is greatly appreciated and thanks again for letting me read through all of your thoughts about Lake Placid - sounds like an incredible setting and I can't wait to be a part of it all!

TRI-BIKE and just change your gearing to a 11-27 or 28 and you will be fine. There are no TDF climbs but they are long and not that steep. I have ridden both types of bike and i am using my Tri-Bike

Ahhh, yes, the Pre-IM dreams ~ LOVE it!!  

No worries, they usually don't come true ~ and I hope not, because mine always has me forgetting to take off my wet-suit in T1 and not realizing it until well into the bike!  LOL, can you imagine!?!

X2.  Aero trumps all.  Tri bike without a doubt.

A short article on skills for descents.  Not a bad refresher.  http://triathlon.competitor.com/2012/06/training/descending-tricks-...

Echo'ing the previous responses.... TRI BIKE!!!