Training in Lake Placid

July 21st - July 26th

7-21-10 - Day off - Travel day - Feeling very lucky to - my longest fatigue today hit today - right on schedule. Thankful for the opportunity to rest and sit for the duration of the day. (PHOTO LEFT: All of our bikes getting ready for their journey to Lake Placid)

7-22-10 - Run/Swim 1.2 - After arriving in Lake Placid, we decided to go for a shrot run and swim one loop of Ironman Swim course. First, seeing the Ironman setup is amazing - Lake Placid is amazing. Seeing other athletes training for Sunday is scary - It's almost like you don't feel elite anymore - you are no longer the stand-alone in a community, but one of 3,000 other athletes who do what you do, every day. It is scary and amazing at the same time. (PHOTO UP: Me, having just arrived at the North Pole Inn (or something) in Lake Placid).

Swam the 1.2 in 30 minutes - that was my estimate, the job through the village and around mirror lake was really fun - looking forward to tomorrow.

7-23-10-Ride 56 miles/Run 12 miles/Ride 18 miles - First real day of training in placid. the ride was super hilly with hills that create 6 mile decents and on our bikes we cruised to over 45 mph. The run here was difficult. I wasn't feeling it and the 18 mile extra ride felt good too. On teh 565 mile ride, there was a 10 mile stretch that was one angle - continually up - one, constant, 10-mile incline and I felt amazing. LOVE THE INCLINE!!!! Thank you Lake Placid for such a marvelous strech of road. (PHOTO LEFT: part of the Lake Placid race course).

7-24-10 - Ride 45 miles - Went out for day #2 of real hills. my gears changed - that's the only way I knew I was a little tired from day #1. We stopped periodically to take amazing photos of this piteresque place. My legs feel strong and I honestly feel as though I am defeating hills - for the first time. Its an amazing feeling! So far, so good - glad to be training somewhere else so close to race day!

7-25-10 - Ride - mileage unknown) - RACE DAY! Lake Placid race day. Got up early - we were dropped off near the start, rode into town to watch the Ironman start - very cool - After watching everyone come through the transition, we headed back to the hotel on hte bike - BRRRR - pretty cool biking down hill on the same course as the pros - coming upon the leaders as they pushed their way up hill. (PHOTO RIGHT: Swim start in mirror lake).

After biking, we ate the biggest breakfast ever - SO HAPPY! Then, off for another ride where we pretty much headed to the top of yet another mountain - unknowingly. I am, needless to say, very confident in hills by now. (PHOTO LEFT: my breakfast - YUMMY).

Next up: 8 miles straight to the top of the whiteface mountain (Please see seperate blog for Whiteface Mountain).

LAKE PLACID TRIP RECAP: Coming out to Lake Placid, I had no expectations - I just knew I would be training and that there would be LOTS OF HILLS to train on. Of course the trip turned out better than I imagined.

First, after riding the Louisville course - even after completing 85 miles of the hills on course, I came home feeling doubtful of my ability to complete the course and then run - no reason why - I just felt scared. Note: I am not confidient of my "hill ability" and feel ready for the Louisville Bike course.

That being said, arriving in placid, we immediatly went out to ride and in placid, you start out climbing . . . and climbing. . .and what goes up, must go down. The placid course almost rewards the rider for climbing with amazing decents where we hit amazing speeds and along the way, you are enthralled by the mezmorizing scenery and the excitment of being around so many others who are just like you.
It was amazing upon arrival and course, this was Ironman weekend. My eyes were flooded with thousands of people just like me. Its a comforting feeling knowing there are so many others who have dedicated themselves to something so seemingly obscure. It was amazing to go out on a long ride and midway through to come across a natual swimming hole, take off your shoes, park your bike and coll your body temperature down and relax for a second. what a priveledge to train in such a beautifully challenging place. (PHOTO RIGHT: me, relaxing in the natural waterslide).
Overall, Placid gave me the confidence in hills that I needed (If I walk away with any one specific thing). Around every corner was some new piece of spectacular scenery. I didnt' even care how far i had to bike because I knew there would something else amazing to see if i just kept riding. I experienced the rush of fierce speeds coming off big decents, and the thrill of climbing 8 miles up to the top of whiteface mountain. Lake Placid Training - a great success.