Course very very similar to IM USA's marathon course. Gary and I talked with the IM USA's Race Director who was also working the Half Marathon packet pickup and we asked if it was the same course as the IM and he said it basically was, with just a slight alteration here and there. An irregular out and back with a couple of double-backs.

At one point right before the start, Max and Gary decided they had to do whatever - go to bathroom, get something in car, and they dispersed. The 3 of us never got back together before the start gun - I went to the porta potty and ended up being that Gary was nice enough to wait for me to get out of the stank box.

Since he wanted to try to see how well he could run without having to dodge people at the start, we waited at the very very back after the field left.

We were the last 2 to cross the timing mat at the Start Line, and of course he goes out kinda hard, and we end up dodging the slower people anyways. He's hauling ass and I couldn't keep up with him if I wanted to, regardless of how crowded it was. I fell back within 1/2 mile and settled into my own pace. (I hit the Mile 1 marker at 8:30 and thought.....yeah, it was GOOD to fall back!)

So I'm running and hook up with Max :) and I run with him for a while. We ended up running with a woman and her husband and talk about IM USA for a while. I decide that I'm getting jealous of all the attention that she's taking from Max, so I run off angry in the 3rd mile or so. :)

I finally find a pace that is comfortable to me under the hot and humid weather conditions & considering I am recovering from a big race a week ago, I am surprised that I'm running as well as I am for ME. At about mile 5, I am considering attempting another sub 2-hr half mary. After a long uphill climb between miles 10 and 11, I'm considering just finishing. Back on track by mile 12, I am back at thinking how about a 2:00 1/2 mary. By mile 13, I'm just considering not puking while battling a nice steep hill, only to look up again and see I have to ascend a steep ramp up to the Olympic Skating Oval, but Gary is up there (STILL yelling at me for getting us lost on the drive to Lake Placid), pointing to me that the finish is right around the corner. One hard push up the hill and ramp, and around the Oval..........UNDER 2:01 :)

On the drive in over some of the bike course, I think I talked myself out of this course as being a possiblity for an IM.




Fire my navigator.

Wading in Mirror Lake!


THIS RUN/RACE WAS MEANT TO BE A 2006 IM RECONNAISANCE TRIP - JUST TO GET A FEELING OF WHAT LAKE PLACID IS LIKE

I had no intent on setting a goal time, just to cover the distance and check out the place. It wasn't until much later into the run that I thought I'd try sub 2:00. Could have done sub 2:00 feeling as good as I did in the first 1/3 of the race, but probably would not have PR'd.


No free massages. Post race chow not so impressive. Got a headsweats cap instead of T-shirt in my goody bag. But did get a free pair of Pearl Izumi socks at their tent, and had great company!