Road Run race 4:36:55 [3] 42.2 km (6:34 / km)
I've always wanted to do an Ironman, so decided last summer that for my 40th birthday year, I would sign up! I decided to do Lake Placid for a couple of reasons, one it was in July and therefore the entire summer wouldn't be spent training. Secondly, having camped in the Adirondacks for 2 weeks every summer throughout my childhood, it was a place I've always wanted to go back to.
I bought the book Be Iron Fit and followed their 30-week training plan, and also started to see a sports nutritionist given what happened in Tremblant at the 70.3 last year.
Fast forward 7 long months full of training ups and downs, injuries and set-backs to race week! We arrived in Lake Placid on Thursday to an amazing cottage about 30-minutes outside of town. It was a busy first few days with race registration, the kids Iron Kids race and the bike and gear drop-off. The days leading up to the race I was very emotional and nervous, however Saturday night I went to bed at 8:00 pm and had one of the best sleeps. Alarm went off at 3:45 am and we were up and out the door by 4:30 am. The atmosphere was amazing, full of positive energy and tons of people out supporting. Of course I had to go to the bathroom so lined up for the porta potties. I didn't have much time to get nervous as by the time I managed to get through the line, it was 6:30 am and the age groupers were starting at 6:40 am. I quickly said goodbye to Ian and the kids as I dashed down to the water to do a quick warm-up swim. As it was a rolling start, I made my way to the projected swim time of 1:15 - 1:30 and waited for our turn to enter the water. While it was pretty chaotic with people kicking and punching, this was the most calm I've been for a swim that I can recall. I kept telling myself that this was going to be a long day, and to just take my time. As it was foggy, you couldn't see the buoys so I had to stop frequently to see if I was going in the right direction. Two laps came and went and before I knew it, I was out of the water and over to the wetsuit strippers, and off on the carpet to transition. I decided I would change into full bike shorts as to me it was worth the extra minute to change and have comfort for 180km. Out of the change tent and they have volunteers who grab your bike for you which was amazing. The first part of the bike course is like the Tour de France, it's so crowded. Everyone was going pretty slow and I felt like I could go faster, but remembered reading you need to stay slow for the first lap or you'll have nothing left for the run. There were a couple of good hills at the start and then the big Keene descent that I was terrified about - an 8 mile downhill section. As we were staying out of the town, we'd driven the hill a few times so was feeling ok about it, but was still nervous ... managed to make it down in one piece and topped out at 63km/h which is fast for me! The next part of the course was flat and beautiful!! I really tried to enjoy all the mountains and stunning landscape. As I started the hilly section, I came up to aid station 4 which was by the road our cottage was on, hoping to see Ian and the kids ... no such luck. After the swim, they had gone back to the cottage and fell asleep and by the time they had woken up, I'd already passed by. Back into Lake Placid and onto lap 2, another Keene descent survived but now it was getting hotter and the wind was picking up. This time at aid station 4, the family was there with their big signs cheering Go Mommy Go and it was just the boost I needed to get through the last 20 miles. At this point however, I was starting to get a stomach cramp and was trying to figure out what to do as I knew this would not be good while running.
Into the transition, volunteers take your bike and I grab my run gear back and head into the changing tent. I tell the volunteer I'm feeling dizzy and that I'm going to take my time. Stomach is still bothering me as I exit on to the run but I'm hopeful that it will go away once I get going ... not so. My plan was to walk every other aid station for water and food but because it was so hot, I quickly decide that I'm going to need to hit every station. My GI issues continue and I think I'm going to be sick, so I start walking and think to myself that I might need to walk this entire marathon. I start playing games, telling myself that when I get to the next sign, I'll start running again. This seems to work and helps the mental battle that is going on in my head. My knee issues from my IT band start hurting around 5 km's in so I know it's going to be a long marathon. I walk all the big hills back into town and make the turn-around - half-way though! Stomach still isn't great and I chat with a few people out on the course who are walking. I decide I'll start to experiment with what they have at the aid stations and the flat coke is the most appealing at this point. I begin alternating coke and water at each aid station (in addition to all the salt pills throughout the day). Miraculously with 15km to go, my stomach pains go away! I still decide to stop at each aid station because of the heat but getting started running again is more painful than actually running. Almost back into town and just before the last big hills, I stop at an aid station and as I start running again, I hear Ian call my name and there he is with the kids, cheering me on, and only 3km left to go! I have a burst of energy and actually manage to run up the last big climbs, into town along Mirror Drive with the huge crowds cheering and calling your name ... short out and back and next thing I know I'm turning the corner and running into the Olympic Oval!! The last 7 months of training flash before me and I realize I'm going to finish this thing! I'm on the red carpet and I see the finish line ... then I hear those famous words - Julie Parent, from Georgetown Ontario, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!
Final time: 12 hours 36 minutes for a placing of 25th in my age group. Going in I had no expectation of time given it was my first full and that really helped to just enjoy the day and not think about "racing" it. It was an amazing day and amazing experience and I still get chills thinking about running down the finishers chute and hearing my name being called. Something I will never forget.