Ironman USA Lake Placid : Official Thread (Page 168)

Hi everyone!

IMLP will be my 7th Ironman and I'm really looking forward to it. My family and I are doing this as a road trip from Seattle to Lake Placid via Chicago (my 16 year old has a school thing at Northwestern) and Washington DC (2 day whistlestop tour). Then we're coming home via Memphis and Denver. It will be a 3 week, 7000 mile trip (plus the bonus 140.6 for me). We have a house rented a mile or so out of town, and my 20 year old daughter will be flying in for that part of the trip.

I'm a BOP swimmer, MOP biker, and stronger runner (usually top 25%). I've been focused on swim and bike training the last few months after recovering from an injury over the winter. My time will probably be in the 12:45 to 13:45 range. I did 13 hours at IMC last year and again in Cozumel.

I have some questions for the group. Obviously I haven't read every page of this thread, so my apologies if these are covered previously. I've just been lurking on this thread on and off for the last six months.

First, I assume there's some BT meetup in the works and I'd like to visit and say hi. Are there details on that yet?

Second, as I said I'm flying my daughter in and we'll drive to pick her up. Is it better to fly to Albany or Montreal or are they about the same?

Third - wind? I understand IMLP has unpredictable weather, but is wind common? In fact, in general what's the current thinking on race day weather?

Fourth - water temperature on race day?

Thanks much!
Bruce

Bruce,
  I'm kind of local for Placid so I can help with a few of your questions.  I have no idea if there is a BT meeting prior to LP as I have been lurking too!  Montreal is a little closer than Albany and has alot more options for flight times but sometimes the border can take a while; both are very easy to get out of and on the interstate.   Make sure your daughter has a passport if she goes the Montreal route.  The water temperature will prolly be in the mid to high 60s.  I have swam in it a handful of times so far, most recently Friday when it was 63ish.  There will be wind.  It can be as little as 5mph or up to 20mph, but usually averages 8-10.  Bad news is that it is often a headwind during the climb back into Placid.  I have ridden the loop five times in the past two months and this has been the case each time.  Enjoy the road trip and good luck at IMLP!

Those who are about to taper, I salute you! In your honor I crushed myself with nearly 20 hours this week.

Thanks for your answers. That all sounds good. My daughter has a passport and now that I think of it she speaks French so she's probably going to want to visit Montreal (duh!)

The wind sounds bearable. 8 to 10 mph won't be bad, hopefully it won't be 20. I've survived a lot worse - Boise, IM Arizona, and IM Cozumel each had 25 mph+ winds - but it kills my bike time.

And I'm supposed to finish fast. July 25th is my middle daughter's 17th birthday, so she says I can't take "all day" because she's waiting on me to finish before we have her birthday cake. Talk about pressure...

Yeah...picks up on the second loop. Not that it's strong, but combined with the climbing and after 100+ miles. Just saps your energy.

Hi Bruce:   Sounds like you have quite a trip planned. I, too, am another local to LP area. I see you have daughters airport decided on. It a pretty close call either way because you never know what's going on at the border. Unpredictable weather is the norm for LP. Two years ago forecast was scattered showers -- we had a monsoon all day long. Last year they were making plans in case they had to shorten or cancel swim because of forecast and after a quick shower at start of swim it got hot and humid. Long story short, prepare for anything. Wind does generally blow in your face climbing back into LP, but if no storms, its not that bad. I've done many rides on course and would get wind in my face on everyone of them and then the day of the IM it would be calm . Water temp will be high 60's - low 70's. not bad at all and very little if any waves. (unless storm of course). Let me know if you have any other questions or anything I can help out with. I'll see you at the back of the swim pack, but we'll run them down on the bike!

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Anyone still looking for a room or know someone who is? I would like to get rid of mine but am past the cancellation date. It's at the Crowne Plaza, a very short walk to transition. PM me if you know anyone.

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We are almost at the point of being able to peek at the extended weather forecast! This week it ranges from a high of 90 one day to a high of only 75 another. Be prepared for anything! Will be up there Thurs - Sat. Can't wait.

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Yep

For sure. 

Nice avatar pic.  Is that on Black Mo?

I am going to buy you a ice cream after the race.  You up for that?

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I was thinking of a case of Dog Fish. 

Can someone puh-leez guarantee that the swim will be high 60s/low 70s (preferably more towards the 60s side of things)????


I was abso-freaking-lutely ROASTING in my full sleeved wetsuit and have been debating on renting a sleeveless for the race.  Our water temp today was 78 and I made it through 2 miles of the swim, but I'm actually legitimately concerned that I wouldn't be able to cool off enough between the swim exit to T1/mount line for the bike.   

IF the weather happened to be in the 90s on race day I am toast!

 

Sorry if I missed this, but does anyone know if the Powerbar drink is going to be in the bottles they sent us or sport bottles like the old GE was? Thanks for all the taper info, now I'm doing another 18-20 hour week. Good luck everyone.

I was discussing the bike loop and the new drink with my wife the other night in the car.  Between that and the weather, she figures that WTC has given us all just enough to obsess over for teh next 18 days that we should be whipped up into a frenzy during our taper.  She is glad it's not going to mean I retype my bars and do stupid things to my bike over the next few days  

I think her quote was "it's nice that they gave you all some unusual things to obsess over, besides the weather."  

PS, anyone know what type of cap they will have on the drink