Ford Ironman USA Lake Placid Official Website

The "Nitty Gritty" Details (User Opinions)

alan m.
Branford, CT

  (08-18-2009)

"I've done this race four times- including in 2006 and 2008. This is far and away my favourite race.

What you need to know:

Swim- the flattest water you will ever swim in, Mirror Lake is like glass. Yes, you can get a little chop if it's windy, and 2K plus people will turn it into a washing machine, but this is the best Ironman swim you can find.

Transition- transition and the expo are both in the speed skating oval in front of the high school. You'll think that they designed this for use as a race transition, although heavy rains do make for a muddy bike rack area some years. Changing is inside tents though, like most Ironmans.

Bike- Not for the faint of heart. This is a challenging bike course and you'd better get out and ride on it before race day or you will be sorry. The downhills are nerve-rattling and the climbs are epic.

Run- You'd better like hills. You'll go up them and you'll go down them. Nothing as bad as the bike, but taken on scale, well, yeah, they are as bad as the bike.

Review: While this is one of the tougher races that you'll ever do, it's also one of the most rewarding.

First, there's just the beauty of it all. If you can go to Lake Placid in July and not be struck by the beauty of the place, and not find a great meal, and not just be able to relax a little bit, then you really need to find a different way to spend your leisure time.

This is one of the most spectator friendly courses in the sport. The whole swim can be seen from beach/shore, the two loop bike course has a number of spots where you catch the cyclists (at low speed), and the two-loop run includes two out and backs, giving spectators plenty of chances to catch their athletes and get in a good workout as well.

You can get up in the morning and walk to the race at 5:30 or 5:45 AM. There's no worry about rushing to get there or traffic (although I'd walk not drive to the lake).

The only negative about the swim in Mirror Lake is that it's an Ironman swim, which is to say that there's about 400 too many people in the race, and in Mirror Lake this means an 'open water' start on the starting line, only there is no open water, just a mass of bodies.

Once the swim starts to open up though, you get the best treat in Ironman swims- there is a line under the water that marks the entire course. That's right, along with the most comprehensive set of buoys in the sport, there is a continuous line that you can sight on your left the entire course. This makes for great racing and allows you to practice the swim when it's not race week.

The exit of the swim- important because it's two loops- is flat, and you are back in the water quickly.

After the second loop, the wetsuit strippers have plenty of room to work on the beach. It's a long run to transition, so be ready. I've seen people hand off their wetsuits allow the barriers. Isn't that against the rules ?

The bike doesn't waste anytime reminding you what you're in for. You leave the school and head down a steep hill with hay bales at the bottom- more than one athlete is thankful for those bales.

Then it's out past the ski jumps.

A lot of people blow their race right here, in the first ten miles of the bike on the first loop. It's important to hold back as you hit that first bike hill, climb it, and then do some more rolling work before the big hills that take you down to Keene.

Get a practice ride in on that downhill. It's a lot less intimidating on race day when the road is basically closed. If the hills really freak you out, go in a group and have someone in a car follow you so you feel safe, and stay to the side of the road.

In the race you can really have a ton of fun descending the big hills. I did it in the pouring rain in 2008 and it was safe.

Once you get to Keene, the next section to Upper Jay is fast, with a sort of downhill overall profile, and you can fly here, but don't.

The whole first loop is about control.

Upper Jay to Jay starts the climbing, and when you get to Jay and turn onto 86, you get the first, and perhaps the second worst, big hill. It's long. Settle in, find a gear where you can keep your cadence up, and be amazed that even out here there are spectators.

You roll- long rollers- to the out and back. Don't fool yourself- the out and back is longer and harder than you think. Stay moderate. The out and back has very little flat road, you're usually climbing or descending.

Then after the out and back is the real fun. You get a little more downhill work, then the climbing really starts. The first unnamed hill that takes you past Whiteface is the longest hill on the course. It makes the cherries and bears look tame.

Get over it.

Then it's more rolling and this is where the worst wind will be, often whipping through the area that overlooks the falls.

You climb the Cherries and the Bears, with some flat work giving you time to prepare, and then it's downhill back into town, around the lake and past the ice rink, and out again.

Rinse (if it's raining) and repeat.

Even if it's rained, the sun usually comes out on the run. You will be tired and sore from the bike. You may be questioning your resolve.

The volunteers will encourage you in the tents and then you'll run out and be greeted by throngs of spectators lining both sides of the wide main street. And you get a great downhill, an awesome downhill.

The run is easy for the first six miles and you'll appreciate that. Once you get to the out and back be prepared- out is farther than you think it is, no matter how many times you've done the race.

These are the best aid stations in the sport. They will take good care of you.

The hardest part of the run is that awesome downhill you start the race with. Climb it nice and easy, because you are going to turn up onto (Mirror Drive ?) and run a second out and back which is much shorter. You head out towards the where you came in on the bike, giving your friends and family a chance to catch you twice in short order.

It's a two-loop run, so be prepared to head back out and do it all over again.

The finish is on the speed-skating oval and this is one of the great finishes in the sport. You come into the venue, Mike Reilly's voice echoing off the far walls, and you loop your way around the track, past the jumbotron and into the finish. There's a big crowd and great support here.

It's an awesome race with great volunteers, wonderful support from the towns, and it's the toughest, fairest course I've ever been on."

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2008

David C.
Durham, NH

  (08-03-2009)

"This was my 2nd time participating in this race and I continue to be impressed with the way World Triathlon Corporation can run an event. I've also volunteered several times for this event and they run a first class race. Yes, it's probably the most expensive race you'll ever enter, but for the quality of the event I think it is well worth it.

One of my favorite parts of this race is the spectator participation. Lake Placid is a sports town through and through. Besides being one of the most popular North American Ironman races, there is fantastic community support. These two things combine for a great race experience. I felt like I was climbing a stage in the Tour de France coming up a couple of the final hills!"

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2009

Kevin B.
West Boylston, MA

  (07-31-2009)

"Another review from the IronNutz Keith Kober & Kevin Brown. This is #4 of 6 in one year.

Ironman Lake Placid 2009 was an extraordinary week for Keith and I. I will try and give you the highlights and lowlights but suffice it to say we have completed the most difficult Ironman Race in North America and we did so in style as we crossed the finish together. We both agreed this was the most brutal of the Ironman races we have done up to this point in our journey. I feel we speak for many racers on that day that most left all their energy on the bike course and had no legs for the run left. Our mentor and coach Joe Turcotte gave us a great pep talk the night before and basically told us to suck it up and get it done and try to enjoy it as much as possible. I can't quote him on what he actually said as that may not be allowed on the blog. He is such a tender loving coach.
Before I go into to the race I wanted to share an important piece of what happens on these Ironmans leading up to the race. First I want to say thanks to some new supporters of the IronNutz. They are my CUZ ...(as she likes to say) Rebecca and her husband Bob and her daughter Jennifer and Jennifer's boyfriend Dominic. They are from Bangor Maine and have jumped on board with us and really shown great support to me and I want to thank them for being a part of my journey. I also want folks to know that as with my other 5 Ironman finishes I dedicate each race to someone and this race was dedicated to my kids. I love them and I am grateful they are a HUGE part of my life and I am very proud of all of them. I am a lucky man!


Also it never fails at each race we meet someone of some family that becomes a lifelong friend of the Nutz just due to the fellowship and spirit that surrounds these races. Lake Placid did not disappoint in that area either. Staying right next door to us in our motel were the Duncans, Bill & Lynn and their daughter. This was Bill's first Ironman and he rocked the Adirondacks as well. He is a stud. His wife and daughter were really cool and supported all three of us on race day by driving us down to the race in the early AM and giving us a pre-race hug to kick us off to the day. They are from Stiltsville, Ottawa Canada and they were all the nicest people you would ever want to meet. We shared our experience strength and hope as they did in return. Bill is an elite marathoner and has qualified for Boston several times. 2 days before the race they met Samantha McGlone (Pro Triathlete from Canada) who placed 3rd on race day. As Samantha was running down the finish chute she spotted Lynn and her daughter waving to her with a Canadian Flag and she ran to them and took their flag and crossed the finish waving it! What a memory. She then went into the crowd and found them to return it to them. WOW that was really cool for a 15 year old to be a part of! We also got to witness those family first moments when Bill's sister and 2 of her friends trekked down from Ottawa to surprise Bill the day before the race. They were very excited for him and were really cool as well. What a wonderful family they are!


The next story is the story of this Ironman and that is Matt Long. I won't go into detail but please check out his story at http://www.iwillfoundation.com/mattstory.html and I will tell you he finished with a little over 1 minute left at 11:58 PM. There was not a dry eye in the place. He is our HERO for this race and leads by example that nothing in this world happens without a reason and that the human spirit can overcome anything. Everything is possible! Thanks Matt for being a part of our day and our lives. He embodies what most Ironman and IronWomen are all about. All of us have a story to tell and if you take the time to really read them and listen to them they can change your life as well.


Okay to race day.......early on it appeared that the day would be very wet and that idea was not a pleasant one for me as it related to the bike. But first things first is the swim its a very racer friendly swim and with good positioning back right you can almost walk up to the start and stay out of the washing machine which is a great thing! Keith and I both posted our PR best on the Swim.

The bike course has severe elevation gains and drops and brakes and water don't mix really well. As a matter of fact brakes and dry conditions don't mix with this race either. If you like fast 40 mph rides even with your brakes on then this race is for you. f you like 50 mph downhills with no brakes then sign up today. Me (not so much) I was the 40 mph and still scared sh%&less. And the last 30 miles are pretty much uphill Mountains as indicated by the maps below. This was where most racers had to figure a way to suck it up and get r done! Keith finished in 7 hours 32 minutes 25 seconds and I finished in 7 hours 28 minutes 29 seconds.

The run was almost as tough as the bike with some pretty significant hills to deal with after that brutal bike ride. Keith's stress fracture from a previous race was acting up on him early on and he was forced to walk fast as opposed to running. I on the other hand thanks to my PT folks at All Access Jessica and John, Dennis (Massage Therapist) and Dr Khoury (Chiropractor) had a decent day with my nagging chronic calf strain and was able to run short strides for a significant part of the race to mile 22 and passed Keith at about mile 7 and made a decision at about mile 23 to wait for him so we could cross the finish together. We have done these together and to be this close to finishing at the same time felt important to me. It's always been a message for me to share with you that we are never alone in anything we do and its even more important to recognize that without YOU I will not be able to finish what I start nor be the best I can be. We all need each other to survive and we all need each other to compliment and feel the peace and serenity we all seek.

Final Results for Lake Placid IronNutz: Keith Kober and Kevin Brown 15 Hours 48 minutes 10 seconds. The voice of Mike Reilly didn't disappoint as he saw us running down the final finisher chute together he chuckled as he spotted our IronNutz shirt of Keith and our TriNutz shirt on me and announced us as ..."Keith Kober from Berkeley California and Kevin Brown from West Boylston You Are An Ironman again"......................4 down 2 more to go......

Please help us help others buy buying our gear at www.lifeisnutz.com and learn more about us there as well.

All the best

Kevin :) "

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2009

Shelby N.
Bedford, TX

  (06-10-2009)

"Ironman Lake Placid was my first Ironman. I couldn't have asked for a better Ironman race. The course is beautiful, even in a 15hr pouring rain. If you decide to do Ironman Lake Placid you might as well expect it to rain and if you are as lucky as the athletes in 2008 it will rain hard and long. : )

The swim course was great! Mirror lake is a small lake and I thought it might be a tough swim being so small. I'm not a strong swimmer but I jumped right to the front and I think this actually helped me stay clear of the big crowds that started on the beach.

The bike course is as hilly as advertised but it's not as bad as the profile makes it look. The rain made things a little tricky and at times, 50mph downhill, the rain did sting when it hit you. Overall the bike course was amazing and the crowds you encountered throughout the course made it that much better.

The run has some hills, some real quad killers at times. The aid stations were great and the volunteers were always ready when you came through an aid station. The crowds of people really helped keep you motivated and it seemed that during the run you were never alone.

I recommend Ironman Lake Placid and I plan on going back to race there again. It's a great race to take the family and spend some extra time after enjoying all that Lake Placid has to offer.

Shelby
Team Enduro Shark"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2008

David C.
Durham, NH

  (05-29-2009)

"This was my first Ironman and I had a great experience. I live in the northeast so it was the easiest IM to get to, however, it's also one of the most challenging races.

The swim is in mirror lake and actually has a guide wire under the water, if you want to get into the melee of swimming on the inside lane.

The bike is very challenging with lots of climbing. The one downer for this race is the road conditions. Some of them are very, very good but others suffer from the winters experienced in the Adirondaks.

The run is 2 loops with a long section in through town. It's a challenging course, mostly mentally. While there are some climbs, the more challenging part is out along Riverside Drive where there are very few spectators. Running along the river is nice but it's not the same as running through town.

Incredible race organization and a great locale for a race. Lake Placid is an athlete's town."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2006

Merrill F.
San Francisco, CA

  (05-15-2009)

"This is the only Ironman race I have ever done so I don't have much to compare it to but my feelings are mixed about it. The main concern I have with it is that the swim, bike and run course are double loop courses which is torture on the mind. The Lake was fine - good water temperatures, not too crowded and the bike and run courses are hilly but I didn't have a problem with that.

Other than my issues with double looping, this race was extremely well organized like most long triathlons. The volunteers along the course were amazing and there was plenty of food and drinks at every mile.

The best part of the race is that it is held in the town where the Winter Olympics took place twice (including the famous 1980 Miracle on Ice hockey tournament) so it gives you the magical feel that you are an elite athlete about to do something special even if 13 hours is your race goal. It has the pitfalls of a small town (mainly limited hotel space) but it was manageable.

Big bonus, and this will sound trivial, was the free Ironman hat that came in the goody bag. It doesn't take much to make me happy.

Overall, I am very glad I did this race but wouldn't do it again because of the monotonous experience.
"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2006

Philip C.
San Francisco, CA

  (04-25-2009)

"IMLP is a beast. Simply put, it's one of the hardest single day race in the United States outside of the Western States 100. Kona is hot, but very flat. Wildflower is hillier, but shorter.

The swim is two loops of the 1.2 mile course on mirror lake (you don't swim in lake placid), and moves quickly. The protected nature of the course and the masses of swimmers makes for some very fast water. There are buoys, the cables for which are underwater, and many swimmers want to sight off these. This creates quite a buildup, so stay to the outside somewhat - the water may be slightly slower, but you will end up saving energy from not having to fight dozens of other swimmers for position.

The bike course (like all IM bike courses) will make or break you. Take it easy out of town, enjoy the long descent into Keene, and the flats before Jay. That's the easy part. The rest of the bike course is broken into three main sections:

1) the ascent into Jay
2) the Haselton out and back
3) the Whiteface ascent into town

1) take Jay easy; it's shortish, and too steep to justify an overly aggressive ascent

2) Haselton is fun if your gearing is good. Be conservative, you'll need your legs for whiteface.

3) Whiteface: I recommend riding this section of the course as many times as you can before the race. (I did it about three times) A) it's just fun hill training, and B) the mental confidence will do you good during loop 2. The last three hills are named: cherry hill, mama bear, and papa bear. They're not bad, but be know they're coming

The run transition is nice: crowds lining the road cheer you out of town. You'll hit some downhill by the ski jumps, and then the real course begins out on Riverside road. Find your zone, and stay in it. Keep your cadence high on the rollers, and when you hit IGA hill, let the crowds fuel you up it. The last few miles of the course are flat - take it up a notch, hit the final half lap on the speed skating oval, and you're home! "

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2008