2013 Ironman Lake Placid Race Report

I get asked quite often why I choose to do Ironmans. My first response is usually, "why not"? The answer is obvious if you have ever watched one OR watched the last hour of one. For me, I view the entire day as a gift.  How can you not be happy when you get to do something like this!?! Sure, some of it sucks and makes you question your own sanity but it's worth every second of the training and suffering. I will never be able to convey in a race report how special the day is or how special the people I have trained with have become to me. Here's my go. Round #3

Pre-race
Jon and I left after work the Monday before the race. Much easier to split the trip up into two parts. We drove through some of the worst rain storms I've ever seen. I begged Jon to pull over and call it a night but of course, he didn't listen. #stubbornpoptart.

We arrived in Lake Placid on Tuesday and I immediately fell in love with our rental house AND the very low humidity and temps.

The owners don't realize they may be getting a new roommate when they get back:)

We took our time getting settled in and going through the normal pre-race rituals. We did several swims in Mirror Lake, which is everything it's cracked up to be and more.

Best water to have to get pummeled in for IM swim

The sandy part to left of dock was the swim start.

We also rode our bikes down the notorious Keene descent. This is THE descent that has been on my mind since I signed up for Lake Placid over a year ago. Most people I ride with know that descents of any size pretty much terrify me but I have improved quite a bit. The first day we went down the 5 mile descent it was raining and there was a nasty cross wind. My hands and upper traps were sore from how hard I was squeezing the brakes.

Yea, this was not how I rolled. 

The second time we went went down, I had Zipp 808 Race Wheels on which if you are not a tri or bike person then basically, they make you go faster and sound really cool too. The wind was marginally better as was my confidence. I only "feathered" the brakes 100 times instead of the whole time:)

Hey, did I mention that the road quality SUCKED. So many paved over pot holes. Pretty sure the whole way down I was singing the "shit, f*uck, shit, shit, oww, oww, oww" Song.  sorry mom:) I was super lucky to have Jon, Jim, Jill, MK and Cindy there for moral support.

I did make the decision to switch to a 404 wheel in the front, which probably wouldn't have made too much of a difference but mentally it made me feel better. I also decided that I was done "practicing" the descent.

This is the flatter section before the descent. So beautiful!

Some of the Richmond crew gathered and swam pretty much every morning. The water was perfect, no 7 foot waves or nasty salt water or thoughts of sea creatures were involved. Goofing off, yes, of course.

Going into race day, I felt pretty good about the swim, seeing as there was a nice cable that you could see at bottom. I knew I'd be ok on the bike after the Keene descent. As for the run, I felt it would be touch and go with the good old foot and hip.

The night before the race, Jon, pilot Mike and I had our traditional breakfast-for-dinner. I fell asleep pretty early and slept well.

So cool to be here

What I learned this year:
1. do not try to plan a wedding and train for an Ironman at the same time. Neither got 100% of my effort. For wedding planning, that was ok and made decision making pretty easy.

2. I am ready to do a triathlon on an actual Tri-bike. Let the fitting and shopping begin!!

3. The people around you are what make this sport so special. I will remember every single person that shared this experience with me for a lifetime.

4. Body Glide the Sh$t out of all seams on your tri shorts.

5. I will embrace my power meter and SOME data!



RACE DAY

Jim, Jon, Me Pre-Race. 

Got down to transition and loaded bruiser up with all my nutrition then lined up for swim start with the 1:10 group. I remember thinking that I was around way too many green caps (men) but just accepted where I was in line and what abuse/beating would come with it.

SWIM:  goal time - sub 1:10
              actual time - 1:10:33

Cannon went off and the line started moving pretty quickly. I ran into the water and started swimming. The Lake Placid swim is a two loop rectangle. Pretty straight forward and for a bonus there is a rope underneath the buoys that reduces the amount you have to sight (look up to see where you're going) significantly. I debated whether or not I should find the rope and stay on it or not but ended up landing right over top of it so I just stayed there and got into an easy groove. About 15 minutes into the swim, a foot made direct contact with my jaw and I popped my head out of the water screaming. It hurt but I felt to make sure all teeth were intact and that I could open and close my jaw without increase in pain. All systems go so I stuck my head back in the water and plugged along. The thought of quitting did actually cross my mind but I told myself to HTFU several times. I finally made it through one loop, made the short run on the beach, heard Mike Reilly actually say my name then jumped in for loop two. I stayed with the same 3 guys for the entire second loop and stayed on top of the rope without issue.

T1: 7:05
Very disoriented after getting out from swim but I managed to plop down in front of a wetsuit stripper. They almost pulled of my tri-shorts with my wetsuit but I grabbed onto them real quick then made the seemingly long long run into the change tent. I keep transitions as simple as possible, helmet, gloves, shoes on while shoving a Stinger waffle in my mouth and chasing with a chug of water. It had started raining during the second loop of the swim so running out to my bike in my shoes was interesting but not nearly as interesting as watching people attempt to do a flying mount on a slippery road.

BIKE: goal time: no goal, just not die or freak out too much on descent
            actual time: 6:52:35

Bruiser in Lake Placcid!

Got on bike without issue and avoided getting knocked over by two guys who wrecked at the mount line. SMH. My plan was to take it pretty easy for the first 13 miles or so until the descent into Keene. I let all the strong cyclists pass and tried not to worry too much about the upcoming descent. It was a steady rain, nothing too heavy but enough to be more cautious of the roads and my surroundings. As I approached the descent, I said a quick prayer and tried not to tense up, shift my weight to the back and relax my shoulders. Guys were flying by me IN AERO!! #goals. I made it though and didn't piss myself . I then settled into the nice out and back section that was pretty flat. The back half of the loop is known for the hills and are called the "three bears". I felt pretty confident in my climbing as I spent a lot of time in the Blue Ridge and Crabtree Falls suffering. Made it through the first loop without much issue and if I could survive another Keene descent I'd be in the home stretch. The second loop was much much less crowded which made me a lot less nervous and honestly, by that point I was just over being on my bike and let loose a little more on the descent. Loose enough that was actually able to pee while descending! I was pretty stoked about that. 

Coming in from bike! Dude behind me drafted off me for a good 12 miles.....that's just sad haha

Got to see friends cheering at the bike finish which was a huge pick up. I was so relieved to be off that bike but for the first time, was dreading the run because of the hills and my bum hip

T2: 5:10
Dismounted without issue and handed off bike to a lovely volunteer, grabbed my pretty T2 bag. Volunteer was again super helpful and I felt pretty efficient overall. Legs were tired but hip felt decent.

The ribbons help me find bags a little easier!

Run 5:01:44

Quite possibly the worst and slowest marathon I've ever done. I had no plan or expectation for this one. Just finish. Like every race, the next aid station is my goal and I try not to think of how many more miles I have left. 

Coming out of transition there is a steep down hill through the town of Lake Placid. That's about the only time I felt good. I knew I'd have to drag ass back up that hill four times and just cringed.  I saw plenty of Pros who were almost finished with their day. Crazy fast. The good thing about this run course is that is spectator friendly as you get to run through town 4 times since it's a two looper. There is a section through some woods that gets pretty lonely but on my second loop I got to see Jon, Holly and Patrick and Jill and Cindy who all gave high 5s.  At some point during second loop it started raining and that felt just fine. I again attacked all the oranges chips at the aid stations. I spotted Jim at special needs and knew he was catching up with me. Usually this would make me go faster but this year I had nothing! He had started after me so I knew he would likely beat me. Go Jim!!

Finish Line!

Coming into Olympic Circle. Actually running

 There is something about every IM finish line that is magical. This finish was super cool because you got to finish In the Olympic Speed Skating Track.  Nothing better. 

Pretty awesome finish line. Also, my hips look pretty level which is shocking!

Final time: 13:17:07 Pretty pleased overall. It was faster than CDA which I felt was a little less hard. Hands down the hardest race I've ever done but the beauty rivals CDA

After finishing, I found some chocolate milk and Lindsay and Trey who had finished and were just hanging out. I wasn't sure where Jon was at that point but got into some warm clothes, found some other RVA people and waited. After showers and some commiserating, we did make it back to the finish line for the final hour again. The walk back and forth to the house was hilly and just unfun but totally worth it.