ALOHA FROM LAKE PLACID

The lake is all ready for the athletes

Always welcoming - the Village of Lake Placid

One of the many beautiful landscapes incorporated into the race venue

Greetings from Lake Placid, New York, a beautiful village in the Adirondacks, site of the last weekend’s Ironman Lake Placid triathlon. The village, nestled in the heart of Upstate New York, had hosted two winter Olympiads (’32 and ’80) and is one of the most sought after destinations for recreation, as well as summer and winter sports.

The Olympic ski jumps

Standing-in for Eric Heiden winner of 5 gold medals at the 1980 Olympiad in speed-skating

Last weekend, I have returned here for the fifth time to compete in the 14^th Ironman Lake Placid triathlon along the side of almost 3,000 other athletes. Yes, this year WTC has hosted the largest field of athletes with over nine hundred of them racing the 140.6 miles (226km) course for the first time. I am not sure when the organizers will finally realize that there are certain limitations to how many athletes can comfortably and safely swim in a tight lake and ride their bikes on dangerous, heaved, cracked, and pot-hole ridden roads. Those who have raced there, or are just familiar with the course, know what I am referring to. However, despite athletes’ feedback and judging by how long it took again to fill out the 2013 race (only a few hours), WTC has very few incentives to think about it too hard, yet.

One can never predict the weather in Lake Placid. It could be sunny in the village, rainy in Keene, cold in Jay, and extremely windy in Wilmington. Actually, it is always windy in Wilmington and especially during the last 12-mile ascent on each of the two bike loops. This year however, we all locked-in on a great weather. It was a picture-perfect weekend with some clouds and the temperature reaching the lower 90’s. The 10% or 20% chance of rain has never materialized.

A perfect race-day weather

Just as last year, I stayed at the outskirts of Lake Placid, about 4 miles away from the Ironman Village. On the race morning the alarm clock went off at 3AM. I woke up and wondered what I am doing up so early. Fortunately, the wondering did not last too long. By 4AM I was done with the shower and my 1200-calorie breakfast, and was ready to rock-and roll on a somewhat chilly morning. Having been there a few times before and knowing my way around I was able to park the car within a 3-minute walk to T1 transition. As always, the atmosphere was electrifying. Some athletes were getting their bodies marked, others double-checking their transition bags, others still, pumping up their tires. Arriving in the transition about 5AM gave me ample time to go through my routines, including a 20-minute warm up run around the lake.

In the sea of transition bags .....

..... and bicycles

The gun went off at 6:50AM for the professionals and 7AM for the age-groupers. Within several hundred yards I was able to find enough open water, relax, and focus on measured strokes. I exited the first loop in 32 minutes and although I knew the second loop will be somewhat slower things looked very promising. In the end, it turned out to be one of my best swims – 1 hour and 7 minutes.

1.2 miles behind me - things are looking good

Next, a quick wetsuit strip and a relaxing run to T1 among screaming spectators. This is always an unforgettable sight. I did not like my transition time there, especially, when I realized it took over 7 minutes, which was about 2-3 minutes longer than it should have taken. Once on the bike I started pushing hard and got to a comfortable pace rather quickly. I liked the way I felt. After the first 40 miles I was averaging over 23 mph before beginning to climb up back to Lake Placid. And what a climb it was, cutting through the head wind straight in the face for over 10 miles. Seeing my speedometer recording 9 mph was demoralizing, but fortunately, everyone else had to go through the same experience.  After riding the 112 miles I arrived at T2 in 5 hours and 40 minutes.

Somewhere on the bike course

Back in the village

Only a few turns left before dismount. I should be smiling. It must have been the ZIPP

So far, so good, and after a much faster transition I was leaving the Olympic Oval for my 26.2 mile journey. Running while surrounded by large crowds was, again, incredibly exhilarating, which probably caused me to go a little too fast in the first two miles (14:15). I was soaking it all in knowing that in a couple of miles all athletes will be alone, again. I was running in “the zone” before having to make my first pit stop. There were two in total and they added about 4 minutes to my run time. I felt really good with each passing mile-marker and was able to maintain a steady pace. Nevertheless, I have expected the proverbial “wall” to surface somewhere between miles 15 and 20. In the end, the wall had never come, although, the fatigue started to set in with about 5 miles to go. With about 2 miles to go I found out I was running third or fourth in my age group as Tom gave me the heads up. Unfortunately, in the end, I lost that position with about 800 meters to go and finished 6^th in M50-54 in the time of 10:43:43, about twenty seconds slower than my finish time in 2010. My marathon time got clocked-in at 3 hours 45 minutes and I lost the podium finish by 32 seconds to two guys whose steps I heard behind me for at least a mile and who sprinted to the finish at the last moment. I have not had that last kick in me - a bitter-sweet moment, indeed.

Running out of T2. 

With the ski jumps behind me ......

In the Olympic Oval

I must be really close

Yes, I am

The 2012 IM Lake Placid hardware

Now, its my turn to cheer the finishing athletes

All athletes had until midnight to officially cross the finish line

And the volunteers were there waiting for them. BTW, you can never have too many sunglasses

But, I could have not been happier on Monday, the day after the race. And although, I have not stepped up on the podium at this year’s Ironman Lake Placid, my work has paid off with getting a qualifying slot to the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in October. It is going to be an absolutely awesome experience to race with the best Ironman triathletes in the world. Those who have been already there have told me that this would be an incredible experience and that I am about to find that out.

This moment was well worth the effort

"I Am True" for the second time in that many weeks. This time for the Ironman Championship in Hawaii

This day would not have been possible without the support of the family and friends in Lake Placid and on the Internet. Although, Kasia and our kids could not be there, their thoughts were with me in the race. Huge thanks go to Robin, Casey, Erin, Tom with his family, Terry, and Ray for their support and to Robin, Casey, and Erin for waiting for me at the finish line – a special moment, indeed. I am glad I did not have them wait too long. Words of support go to Tom and Dave, great competitors, who had a difficult day, but who are determined to turn the tables around at their next races. And congratulations to my friend Josh who had finished his first Ironman in a very strong fashion - welcome to the Ironman family.

With Josh and JK

Finding out my body composition

With Andy Potts at the Olympic Oval. Andy is a former US Olympian in triathlon and the pro winner of IM Lake Placid. He asked me hold his trophy for him ;o)

In three weeks, the Age Group Nationals in Burlington, and a week later, Ironman Louisville. This week I should enjoy a deserved rest.

Pictures courtesy of FinisherPix, Casey A, Tomasz