Wow … what can I say it’s been 3 months since the big day and in in another 7 days this amazing season of racing will be over… but it’s time to finally reflect on that amazing day which was my first Ironman.
First let me say that I think the day could have not gone any better if I dreamt it.
We drove up to Placid the Thursday morning before the race which without knowing any better really ended up being the perfect time to get up there - we rented a house about 25 min out of town in Keene - a log cabin big enough to fit an army - since I rented it a year before I didn’t know how many people would be coming up to watch - when I spoke to the woman on the phone to make the arrangements she told me “ You are going to love the cabin. Everyone who has stayed here for the race has done really well - it’s magical.” I honestly didn’t think too much of it until there were sign’s all over that were almost spooky.
Really a Hamburg shipping poster in some random cabin in Keene... for those of you who don’t I was born and raised in Hamburg and my Uncle was a container ship captain - again I mentioned it was almost spooky...
After a quick stop at the house to unload all our groceries and the bike we drove into town for registration where the madness had already started and I was so happy we were staying where we were and the Ironman buzz was not going to be at our door step the days leading up to the race. Don’t get me wrong it’s an amazing buzz and for anyone looking for their first Ironman this is the place to be - it is breathtakingly beautiful and the crowds could have not been more supportive or amazing - sorry I digress.
So off to check-in we go. I knew coach Anne was working registration that day so I knew I had a calm and smiling face waiting for me - before I knew it I was weighed tagged and numbered and on my way again - a quick browse through the expo and a “Hello” at the PSBR tent.
On our way home we went to pick up the last couple things week needed for the rest of the week at the grocery store and back to our save heaven we went away from the madness for now. That night coach Anne and Mike her husband who was racing with me came over with their son for dinner and a pre-race briefing and going over our race plans in person - which was priceless - I don’t think I realized just how lucky I was to have my coach with me every step of the way.
Friday was a super relaxed day, I slept extremely well better than I had before any race then a yummy breakfast and off to do one loop of the swim course then drive the course and finished the afternoon off by riding the steep decent into Keene with Mike 3 times luckily we had a lift to the top after each one.Tthen home for another nap and then we were meeting some friends in Keene for an early bite before the athletes meeting, which we never made it to - but Claudia having races Placid more than once and Evelyn back for her second dance I got all the advise I needed.
Saturday was pre-race day after another good night of solid sleep - we were up for another good breakfast then off to do a quick pre-race brick, bike drop off and back home on the coach by 1 pm which was perfect timing with everyone arriving at the house from the city. The rest of the day I spent on the coach with my feet in my friends Colin’s face, him rubbing them and my calves - I think I need to make sure I get this treatment before every race. We had an early dinner and lot’s of laughs with the gang - honestly I could have not asked for a better support crew - I am truly blessed… now on to the actual race day
Lake Placid Ironman
Date: 7/22/12
Results: swim 1:07:17 T1 6:00 bike 6:05:16 T2 2:58 run 3:49:44 total 11:11:15
Age Group Finish 3/129
Pre-Race:
Oddly enough I think for the first time ever I actually slept before a race not much of course to bed at 9 and up at 3 but for those 6 hours I was out - not awake just waiting for the alarm to go off. I was super extremely calm - more calm that I had ever been - I think it was the combination of the unknown as well as knowing “Yes you can finish this and you have put in the hours - now just remember to have fun - this is your first Ironman”
I woke up first and made my oatmeal which I ate reading over my race plan just one more time. Then we headed off to the race site - it was dark very dark - we parked at Anne’s and Mike’s and walked up to transition together first body marking then one last check of our bikes and bags and off to swim start along the way I had another bonk breaker and right before swim start a peanut butter Gu.
Warm - Up:
There was no such thing - this is Ironman the swim is your warm up.
Swim: ( Wetsuit swim )
The Lake Placid Swim start has to be one of the most epic things you will ever experience - it’s an in the water start - in our case 2900 athletes all treading water just waiting in complete silence for that canon to go off at which point sheer chaos breaks out - it was a contact sport from start to finish - Mike and I decided to go for it and placed ourself in the third row back ⅔ to the right it was the perfect place to be.There were only a few moments where I was not touching someone else but for some reason I was oddly ok with it. I have started believing in my swim more - I blame my friend Patrick for this - he has really help me in the pool over just the last couple of months.
I have to honestly say that I can not believe just quickly the swim went by before I knew it I was grabbing my glasses, was on the ground getting stripped of my wet suite and was jogging into T1.
T1:
So T1 in an Ironman is a little different - you grab a bag of stuff then run into a tent where there are sweet women waiting for you and ready to help. Socks went on glasses, arm warmers ( which were a total waste - took them off with in 5 min of being on the bike ) Helmet and off I was. Now in some people get lucky and have volunteer waiting at the end of their bike rack with their bike waiting for them - I didn’t get so lucky.
Thank god I had counted rows and knew where I had to go - grabbed my bike and off I went.
Bike:
They say Lake Placid is one of the harder Ironman races out there but it also has to be one of the most beautiful - we had driven the course so I knew what I was in for and had also been warned that by the second loop the climbs would be just a little inflated.
The only thing I had in my head was stick to your plan - don’t do more than you can - it’s going to be a long day - heading out on the bike I had a couple guys pull up next to be asking if I was ok - I guess at least I looked faster than I was going - but I just smiled and said I’m fantastic and that I heard it was a long day this Ironman business and that maybe I would see them later - I’m pretty sure I saw some of them walking the run course.
The first section of the course is fun and fast - little climbing out of town then down the flying fast downhill into Keene and then the nice long straight away into Jay with some nice winds helping push us along the way.
I really have to say I loved every part of this bike course and can not wait to go back and ride it again next year.
I stuck to my plan by the second loop I had found the girls that I would be spending the rest of the day with first some back and fourth on the bike and then later on the run.
The crowds where amazing, it was great to see my amazing support crew as I came back through town and all the signs all over the course. Each sign reminded me that there were friends out there that believed in me and who were checking their phones and computer to make sure I was doing ok - this gave me amazing strength made me dig a little deeper and made me “Push that POWER” - thank you Andrew...
And yes the rumors were true that by the second part of the bike the hills were steeper and longer without question.
I had set my bike computer up to just give me the info I needed - never speed or time - I wanted to enjoy the day without any pressure.
I feel the bike was over before I knew it - all in all - I have to say this day was one of the fastest days of my life - so many times in the last couples months have I wished life had a rewind button and I could go back and do it again - I guess that explains why I signed up for Ironman # 2 with in weeks of the first.
T2
This went much quicker and better than T1 off the bike a volunteer was right there to take it - ran grabbed my bag and in the tent I went which was much less crowed - this time around I had 3 amazing volunteers - before I knew it my socks were off new ones on running shoes, visor, race belt and off I went.
Run:
I was a little surprised at just how good my legs felt right off the bat - it reminded me how they felt starting the run at Quassy - but I kept reminding myself it was a long day and I still had 26.2 miles to go - this is where it could all fall apart - I had no idea of how things were going but coming heading out on the run the “Crew” seemed extremely excited - especially coach Anne - I think they gave me my splits but I didn’t even hear them.
The first couple miles of the run are like one big party all the tents of different teams and the restaurants in town were blasting music is was just amazing.
Then the out and back on River Road is where things turned into quite the mine field - everyone was walking hardly anyone was running - I stayed focus and just kept telling myself you feel great just keep going. I kept my sights set on the ski jumps and in my head Anne’s voice “just keep moving forward” - coming back into town was great the energy was amazing and made those 4-5 miles just fly by. There is one steep clim into town which is where Anne was waiting for me to give me my splits - part of me didn’t want to hear it I just wanted to enjoy my day without any pressure but man was I shocked when she told me I was running in 5th in my AG. I could not believe my ears and it gave me that extra push to dig just a little deeper to keep up the pace - I just thought to myself don’t let anyone else pass you - just hold on.
It was a bit of a tease to hear the finish line so close knowing I still had another 13.1 to go but oddly enough part of me didn’t want the day to be over.
The second trip down River Road was worse than the first - now NO ONE was running the aid stations had turned into little socializing area’s - the EMT’s were pulling one person after the other off the course. “Just stay focused and just keep moving forward”. I gave myself the little goals - the next aid station, the ski jumps, the showers, the clowns at the top of the hill, the crazy woman in her cowboys boots dancing in the street and before I knew it all those little steps brought me back into town.
My perfect first Ironman day was about to come to and end the best way it could have. I entered the olympic oval all alone slowed down for a second to take it in and then I decided to just bring it home.
With one last jump to the finish 11:11:15 - I was an Ironman.
I could have not done any of this without the support of the most amazing friends and coach a girl could have ever asked for - I feel truly blessed and lucky.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed that 3rd in my AG was not enough to punch my ticket to the Big Island but it did give me the fire to get back to work even harder and tackle Ironman again next year.