My first impression the second time around

My first trip to Lake Placid was last summer when Vin and I decided to volunteer and sign up for 2010. My first impression was that I wanted in... I wanted to push myself and see what I could accomplish. While we watched the run I was both excited and nervous. Could I do this? Should I do this? The Ironman seems both insane and impressive and I still wanted in. My first impression was that if I trained properly I could do this, but thinking about this I had this impression based solely on seeing the run. I never saw the swim start and I never road the bike course. Hmmmm...

Fast forward to this past weekend in Lake Placid. I spent the weekend training with Coach cap, his brother Marc, Tom D., Art D. and my brother. I had a second chance
at a first impression. What I mean by this is that for the first time I was going to see the entire course. Let me say this loud and clear...this course is NO JOKE!

Vin and I headed up to LP On Friday morning and arrived around 2:30. After unpacking we headed out for a 13.1 run (1 loop of the two loop run course). Basically I'm the slowest runner of the group so I watched the guys pull away and I was left to run alone. The run course in LP is beautiful, but will be tough after the 112 mile bike ride. It will be easy to go out "fast" if the legs are there, but it will be punishing if that happens. The climbs back into Lake Placid will slap you in the face and then smerk at you as if to say "what are you doing to do about it?" It will be a fight.

Saturday consisted of riding the entire bike course (a two loop, 112 mile route) and a 4 mile run. Coach Cap gave each of us our prescribed wattage and outlined the race plan. On the first loop I followed my plan except for a few stretches where I pushed it. Big mistake. The loop contains some significant climbs, some screaming fast descents, followed by more climbing. The last 11 miles back to Lake Placid were uphill. Great...I get to do this again on the second loop. I heard the stories about the course, but they didn't do it justice. Living it, riding it, losing your legs on it, really made things clear.

Now keep in mind that we had a full training week under our belts and a half marathon in us from the day before. The second loop was going to suck and it did. Although I had energy, I didn't have any power at all. It's as if the legs wouldn't turn over. Long story short, I made it back but I was feeling it. I was feeling it every where. My legs, my neck, my mind, and let's just say the undercarriage isn't very happy.

When I got back to the condo to change for my run, Coach Cap was already there... bike finished, run finished. That boy can move! Anyway, he asked how I felt and I told him I was feeling it. I changed and headed out for the run. Surprisingly my legs were turning over. I had legs! Again, I'm not a fast runner. I just need to run without IT Band pain and the rest will take care of itself. As I ran alone, being the last one, I saw my brother heading back as I was heading out. He said that Coach Cap said that if we were feeling strong to run 6 miles instead of 4. Knowing I had legs I couldn't lie to myself. I had to run the 6 and I'm happy I did. I got through it and I accomplished
something I never had before.

On Sunday we finished with a loop of the swim course. Uneventful...but I know what's ahead. Imagine a fish tank full of Piranhas. Then drop a bloody piece of steak into it and watch what happens. Welcome to the start of Ironman Lake Placid. I'll be kicked, punched, and crawled over. I'll work hard to find a spot and get on the line.

Over all I'm very happy with the weekend. I know when race day comes I'll be rested, hydrated, and ready to go. I have 2 more weeks of hard work to get ready and then the taper begins.

My first impression the second time around can be summed up in one word: Respect
I have the utmost respect for this course, the challenge ahead, the athletes that have completed the event, the athletes that sacrificed to get to the line, but didn't make it.

Theodore Roosevelt said it best:

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

Respect!