RACE DAY....THE LAKE PLACID IRONMAN TRIATHLON GO CHRIS GO 7/20/2008

The Ford Ironman USA Lake Placid is taking place for the 10th time this year with more than 2500 athletes taking part. It is the oldest Ironman event in the continental U.S. and is also one of the most popular triathlons in the world. Registration for this years event closed in just a few hours after opening. For those who don't know about triathlons they consist of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run, a true test of endurance. The athletes that do these triathlons are true athletes and have such endurance and fortitude that it is unbelievable to watch some of them. They continue to bike and run even though their muscles are cramped and they are in such unbelievable pain. If you ever get a chance to see one please do as it is remarkable how not only physically prepared these athletes are but how mentally ready they have to be. TRUE ATHLETES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


We got up at 5:00am and left the RV for Lake Placid about 5:45. We drove into Placid and parked in a lot and caught a shuttle to the center of town. We walked down to the waterfront where the chute was for the swim start and looked around for Chris but unfortunately we couldn't find him as he was already in the water warming up. We walked up the hill over looking the swim start and at 7:00 they were off in a cloud of smoke and a lot of splashing water. After the start of the swim we tried to get close to the point where they came out of the water after swimming the first lap of the race to start the second lap but really couldn't get anywhere near the area so we missed him as as came out and started his second lap. By this time it was pouring rain and we were absolutely drenched from head to toe. We walked down along the transition chute, which led over to the biking area, to find a spot to stand to see him after he finished the second lap of the swim. His time for the total swim was 1:19:54 which was right on what he had figured he would do it in. Along he came about 8:20 and said hi to us and Mom got a kiss and he was off to the transition area to get dressed for the 112 mile bike ride.
We walked back to grab a shuttle bus back to our car to drive back to the RV and get some dry clothes on as we were really wet and cold. We got to the car dried off a little and we were off back to the campgrounds to dry off and wait to see him bike past us. We changed clothes, had some breakfast and we were off back down to the main road at 11:15 to wait to see him on his first trip by us on his first lap of the bike ride. We waited along the road and this time we had an umbrella to see if we could stay a little drier than we were earlier. It really was amazing to see the men and women going by in the pouring rain with such good attitudes and thanking the people for standing out urging them on. We got lots of smiles and waves as they pedaled along in the rain. Along Chris came about 12:10 pm just about the time he told us to watch for him. He was in a good frame of mind and felt good and asked us to call Corinna to have her bring him a big garbage bag to wear during the second lap of the bike ride. We wished him good luck, off he went and we went back to the RV to have lunch, dry off again and wait to see him on his second loop of the bike ride past the campgrounds. It really was great being able to see him twice go past us without having to move the car as we really couldn't have gone to far as they had most of the roads closed. Out we went again to the front of the campgrounds about 2:15, again with our umbrella, as the rain hadn't let up one bit as it was still raining heavily. We enjoyed standing there again urging the riders on as they really appreciate people doing this and it does help them mentally. About 3:00 along rode Chris wearing his garbage bag and soaking wet. He still was in a good frame of mind and again gave Mom as kiss and said he still felt good. So off he went again into Placid to finish the bike ride. His times for the bike ride were 3:34:59 for the first lap and 3:52:40 for the second lap and again just about the times he was shooting for.
We went back to the RV and again dried off, as even with an umbrella it was raining so hard you couldn't possibly keep dry. We had dinner and waited for Corinna to call to give us an update on the run portion of the race. She called about 6:15 and said she had just seen him and he looked good and was just about finished with his first lap. So we gathered up our rain clothes and umbrella and jumped in the car to drive into Placid and see if we could find someplace to see him before he finished. We got into Placid and found that the area that was supposed to be opened at 6:00 was not opened so we had to find a new plan. We drove around back of Placid and found some streets that were closed to all but local traffic but you could get by the barricades so around them we drove and eventually found a place on Rt 73 about 2 miles from the finish. This was about 7:00 and we figured he would be by between 8:30-9:00 so we waited and cheered the athletes on. It got to be 9:00 and no Chris and we started to get a little worried as you never really know what might have happened out farther on the course. It was getting dark and oh yes it finally stopped raining. About 9:15 we saw that wonderful royal blue jersey come running down the hill and you know what he gave Mom a kiss again. He was still in good spirits and said he felt good except for being tired. He told us he would be finishing in about 30 minutes so off he went and so did we to drive to somewhere near the finish. Well that proved to be more challenging than we figured as we went up and down street but couldn't get close so we parked in a lot near the shuttle bus pick up and decided to take that to the finish line. Well we waited and waited and no bus so we walked up the hill to the high school track and the finish line not an easy task for me. We got to the school and walked down to the track and found a spot right at the finish line. About 15 minutes after we got there he he came along the track splashing through the water, as the track was flooded. He looked so so happy as he crossed the finish line in 14 hours 42 minutes and 08 seconds. He got his medal and had his pictures taken and then we got a chance to see him and he really looked good. He said other than being tired he felt good too. We left then as Chris and his family had to get his clothes and bike and head back to their motel and we drove back to the RV. We got back about 10:30 and I went to bed and Mom watched TV for about an hour or so. Well what a GREAT day it had been even with all the rain and we want to congratulate Chris on a SUPER SUPER job and on finishing his first triathlon. Time to say good night until tomorrow and we love you all.


Picture List:1-Swimmers warming up in Mirror Lake getting ready for the swim portion, 2,3-On your mark get set go and they are off, 4,5,6,7,8-This is the area in which the swim starts...there is a ramp leading from the transition area down to the lake and you can see a few swimmers making there way down it, 9-This is the area where they come out of the water from the first swim lap (on the left) and go thru the chute back into the water for the second lap (on the right), 10-Chris running from the end of the swim back to the transition area to change for the bike ride and he looks really good and we were as wet as he was, 11-Walking back up to the car we could see the riders getting their bikes and starting out on the 112 mile ride, 12,13,14-Chris coming by the campgrounds on the first lap of the bike ride, 15-An unfortunate rider who had a flat tire changing the tube in it, 16-Some of the other bikers on the first lap riding by the campgrounds, 17-Chris riding by the campgrounds in his fancy new outfit (a huge garbage bag), 18-Riders going by the campgrounds on the second lap, 19-One of the Energy and drink tents along the marathon course, 20,21,22,23-Some of the runners along the last 2 miles of the second lap of the run, 24-Chris with Mom where we saw him 2 miles from the finish...note the thermal blanket hanging from the back of his pants, 25-Chris coming down to the finish line, 26-Chris's finishing time 14:42:06, 27,28-The proud triathlete with his medal and tshirt after finishing, 29,30-Some pictures of the finishing line area...note the one finisher running across the line with his daughter, 31-This is one of the crazies who wore a speedo swim suit and was hanging around the race area all day dressed like this.