Ironman #4 - Lake Placid!

Headed back to Lake Placid, NY for IM #4.  It was our 2nd time at LP.  It's a beautiful venue & relatively local for us (we can drive)

The days before the race are always the most difficult.  Workouts are short & simple, so there is too much time to dwell on the upcoming pain fest.  Ironman is 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run.  It starts at 7 am, and you must be done by midnight.  I'm usually just under or just over 13 hours.

Here is the Expo

Picture of the finish line - always nice to see that on race day!

My bike row - quite a few - there are around 3,000 competitors

Where we keep our transition bags (for the bike:  your helmet & shoes);  (For the run - your running shoes)

Town of Lake Placid - pictures don't do it justice - it's a great town!

The day after the race!  We finished!  This time we were over 13 hours.  It was a tough day.  I beat Chris out of the water (my swim was also faster than the top pro women finishers :) :))  Then Chris caught me at mile 80 of the bike.  Then I happened to catch him at mile 23 of the run.  We finished together - Good Times!  Couldn't plan it better than that!!

 Finish line at midnight.  It is a crazy party!  We had showered & headed back to watch the final finishers.  It is so much fun.  The later you finish - the bigger the party!

These next pictures are courtesy of QT2 Systems Vinu Malik.

Mike Reilly - the Voice of Ironman.  He is the most famous race announcer.  It's always an honor to have him at your IM.

 The swim start - scary.  Talk about nerves.

The swim .  It's as crazy as it looks.  Have to maintain your focus or you will get hit (well you will anyway).  Your nerves fade away fast though  - you are too busy fighting for your life!

 Awesome Coach Tim!