i had the BEST day of my life as an athlete!!! I smiled so much my cheeks hurt : )
I achieved my PLAN A+ goal of sub 13 hours which as you can see from my blog post I felt was unlikely.
Ironman Lake Placid official time for me is 12:10. It doesn't include my 2nd swim lap nor T1 as we were pulled due to continuous lightening forks, claps of thunder and a deluge until 50k into the bike + two more storms, one with hail stones as I ascended "the bears" on my 2nd lap. All done by the run except rumbling thunder in the distance. Lap 1 time doubled - 12:52. My Garmin computer total time is 12:58 includes a 3.7!k 1:16 swim + a 15:05 T1 that includes waiting on the shore for 3 min til we were told to go to transition. I was with 50 swimmers in a backyard and includes a steeplechase and a 1k barefoot wetsuit run + more unusual events. It was an untraditional Ironman - typical Moka... Read on
Pre Race
Up at 3:30am. Left my room at 4:45am. Prep onsite was perfectly timed 5:00 until I started at 6:43. The sky had a few clouds but you could tell something was changing as the hours passed - the sky became on solid grey mass that was darker over the mountains.
Only three wrinkles to my pre-race morning 1. pump was in the car at the family's hotel too far too late be delivered the night before - no prob, I borrowed one of the 1000s in transition (made the wise decision to inflate to 110 psi not the max as I knew we'd have to deal with wet pavement. 2. Could not find family at rendezvous point until Kristin found me 20 min later just as I was looking to beg a stranger to take the items i was passing off. i was desperately and painfully in need of the porta potty but there was a huge lineup and they were a good 5 min away. This meant no warmup swim which was ok as I didn't get one for EPIC either. In the 15 min lineup for the washroom I discovered my gel was gone - that freaked me out. Good thing Tin had snuck in the athlete only area with me - it dawned on me that someone would have a GU gel amongst the thousands of athletes and spectators but I couldn't leave the lineup - she found one in 2 min max - and a favourite flavour! (Bird had also snuck past security the day before - both got some great photos and provided me with such comfort, the thrill of a shared memory and support b/c of it)
Team IronBird have been amazing throughout my journey to IMLP but yesterday they were amazing!!! I couldn't have done this without my core team of Birdie, Kristin and Barry. Other family and friends contributed directly to my successful journey and yesterday - THANK YOU ALL - separate post to follow but a description of the day would be incomplete without including this:
Yesterday Diana Birdie Case and Kristin Kent joined forces and were EVERYWERE despite road closures, in thunderstorms, they got to the perfect spots to witness and boost my fabulous achievement by car ago. They climbed a long steep hill twice to be there for me. I couldn't have done this without them.
exaggeration!) and they both travelled here at their expense (resort towns are not cheap) and at a time when both of their lives are in a state of transition to quasi chaotic.
The Swim
The entire swim was crowded. body contact of all kinds, even had my finger bitten by accident I'm sure. Lap 1 was uncomfortable.
I finally relaxed by lap 2 and felt I definitely going have a faster split. The rain was intense entering lap 2.
At 3.1k frantic support crew on paddle boards, in kayaks and boats hollered "swim to shore" - swimmers tugged on those who didn't hear to alert them. I've never swam a faster 300m! Lightening forks on the far shore. If I double lap 1, my time is 12:52.
My Garmin total time is 12:58 and includes a 3.7!k 1:16 swim + a 15:05 T1 that includes waiting on the shore for 3 min til we were told to go to transition. I was with 50 swimmers in a backyard
T1 & Bike
Transition was slippery and muddy. Change tents were standing room only - volunteers were awesome! Then imagine everyone leaving T1 on bikes through a narrow downhill shoot - very dangerous.
The thunderstorm and heavy rain followed us for 50k including the biggest descent. Frankly I felt right at home - it was typical Maritime weather and I am more experienced cycling in those wet conditions than most out there as I passed a ton of people - women and men - all ages - uphill, flats and downhill I had to holler "on your left, move to the right" "keep right unless you're passing" and when they didn't budge I screamed "Move #xyz you are blocking!" "Gimme some room"!
Now I didn't let loose completely and was pissed that I was being robed of strength - aggressive descents but it was dry on lap 2 in that section and Pitoune and managed to reach 82kph!!! I was in heaven.
Hot sun, then 2 more thunderstorms, one where the rain turned to hail on my 2nd ascent of "the bears".
Once It was hot I had the pleasure to remove my mittens (Raynauds) and admire my nails - well the thumbs facing up while I gripped the bar end shifters.
Run
I have to begin by thanking Stacy who shared her run plan with me and I adopted 100%. This was strongest, most enjoyable and satisfying marathon EVER! And was at the end of a very eventful day. I was so focused on my form and I only fast walked every aid station to hydrate and/or eat a gel or grab ice to shove down my top & short front and back to keep my core cool. My splits tell the story I race against the clock attain my dream time! I tear up most when I think about it. I practically sprinted the entire last 2k. No - I floated effortlessly.
Crowds throughout the day cheer me on by calling me Canada or EPIC girl! I've never been so proud and I think I did as well because I wanted to look like a proud solid competitor from the best nation in the world!
The crowds and volunteers went above and beyond given the weather. Lake Placid was a special place to Diana Birdie and I as girls when we came and visited Santa's Village - my adoration was renewed when Barry & I were here in 2008 and now it will forever be one of my favourite places on earth!
Tons more details and photos to add - in addition to the pro photos, I had my own professional photographer in Kristin (Toronto Star freelance journalist & photographer)
I'll likely update this post for my own memory recall and add new posts with photos when I get them.
Here's a selfie taken just before midnight at the finish line.
Barry, Sealey and I were there with thousands to cheer those who became an Ironman as well a some after the midnight cutoff. It was so moving and almost the perfect end to the day ...
The perfect end to my 22hr day. We had arrived back to the hotel after checking again to see if my run gear bag had been located (drag)... I see a gal with a volunteer shirt and backpack trying to transport a tri bike with helmet, cleats and bike gear bag - she had a hard walking cast on her foot and was struggling. I told Barry I'd be back soon. Took the bike and bag - walked her 1 mile home and then back to the hotel at 1am. She was bringing home for her roomie who raced and was exhausted. I got to end my day helping someone who had helped countless others like me all day.
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