I made it to Lake Placid...

I didn't want to leave to Lake Placid until after I picked the kids up from the Airport and spent some time with them. We took them for dinner and they told us about their Winnipeg adventures, and that they were ready to come home. Turns out a couple nights before, there was all sort of action and they got kicked out of my brothers house and had to walk to my parents house at 3:30 am. I wonder if my brother was drinking? Hum, let me think, duh, I'd mortgage my house on it. Then in the morning, the nanny sheriff took over, shooting first and asking questions later and everyone got in trouble. Reid said he liked the yelling, he said he never hears yelling at home and it was fun.

After we laughed like hell at all the kids stories, I got in my truck and started driving to Lake Placid around 8:30 pm . About 15 minute into the drive I saw I'd arrive at 2:30 am according to the GPS. I then turned around and went back home. I figured that I'd be really tired by the time I got there, I'd have to find a hotel and drive the entire way in the dark, which could be dangerous. I ended up sleeping in my own bed and leaving at 7:30 am, I figured so long as I was there in enough time to do my long run, I'd be fine.

The drive was easy. I actually got there in about 6 hours and that included a lunch stop at the Lumber Jack restaurant, they have an excellent all day breakfast special. My rule of thumb is to always stop at the restaurant where the parking lot is full. The drive was beautiful, lots of hills, turns and forest. I think Lake Placid is one of the best places for a triathlon, I can see why it sells out on-site. It is a quaint village, kinda like Aspen, and the community is into it. The entire bike and run course is even closed to traffic. The amount of spectators is amazing. I love Ironman Canada, but think Lake Placid my be as good if not a better location. I'm not going to compare it to Hawaii because that's unfair. The Hawaiian Ironman is ground zero and legend, it's not to be compared.

I did my long run alongside the actual run course. It is a two loop course, I did one of the loops and it worked out perfectly. I couldn't get over the size of the crowds and the amount of volunteers, I had to do a lot of running around them. It seemed like people were lined up for miles on the run. I brought my camera and took a LOT of pictures along the way. My plan is to make a motivational video for my training for next years race. Providing I get in and they don't sell out before they get to my spot in line.

I wasn't running a fast pace, but it was much faster than the athletes. I must have passed at least 300 - 400. I was just imagining the incredible feeling I'd have if I could run that strong in the Ironman after the bike. It was supposed to be raining all day in Lake Placid but it didn't. It was sunny and was even warm on the run. I was sweating like crazy, it's a good thing there was some aid stations. I actually felt guilty taking a in some water and Gatorade along the way. All the volunteers thought I was in the race, even though I was running on the side walk or the shoulder of the road. Wherever I could I ran somewhere along side the course and not directly on it. I'm so glad I got to see the entire course. It's a really nice run, rolling hills and there is at least some shade, not like Louisville. I'll know what to expect for next year.

Most of the hotels are on the Main drive and so is the start, finish and transition. It is really easy to walk to the site from the hotels and the walk is really enjoyable, there is lots of little shops. I didn't feel that good after the run, my shorts, shoes and shirt were dripping wet with sweat and my legs felt tired. For the last three days my body has been in full sweat mode, even resting. I decided to stop taking the anti inflammatories the doctor gave me. They're making me retain water and I feel so bloated. Even Reid thought my face looked fatter when I picked him up at the Airport. Then I found out that I if I'm drinking, or if I have liver problems, I shouldn't be taking them. I stopped yesterday and all I've been doing since is going pee pee. I was going every 45 minutes on the drive to Lake Placid, it was a hassle. Even after my run, I had to take a shower right away, it was unusual in that my sweat was very stinky. I couldn't even stand it.

I went for dinner to a restaurant, on the top of a hill, above the finish area. I couldn't see the finish line but I could hear the announcer and the crowds cheering. I also saw all the finishers walking there bikes back to their hotels. Most looked dead. That is the toughest part of the Ironman, having to pick up your bike and belongings and walk them home. Especially if you don't have a hotel close to the finish line. After I ate, and I must say I had the best duck I've ever tasted, I started feeling better and I walked down the hill to the finish area to watch some of the 14 hour plus athletes come in. After a while my legs started to feel back to normal.

As I walked back to my hotel, there was a 37 year old girl walking in front of me and she was walking as good as me. I commented on how strong she looked. She told me "she's never going to do another Ironman in her life". It was too hard and it turns out she's a pretty good athlete. She's a strong swimmer and a 3:09 marathon runner. As we walked, I shared some of the popcorn I picked up a few minutes earlier and told her I felt the same way after Louisville, but that feeling goes away. I tried to tell her my analogy of a woman who just gives birth and says she never wants to go through that pain again, and then as time goes by she forgets about the pain and has another baby. She didn't seem interested and insisted, and I believe her, that she's never going to another Ironman. Her Dad had told her not to do an Ironman, then she said "she should have listened to her Dad". She was dead serious and mad at herself.

Long Run - 1:57:00 / 13.93 miles / 8:24 pace / 136 avg hr

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