I was really looking forward to this race as my training has really been coming along. I did have one slight problem race week and that was my job. It involved an all-nighter on Wednesday in preparation for a new business pitch and a last minute business trip to Chicago on Friday, which got me into New Hampshire at 3 AM on Saturday morning.  But that is the life of an age grouper. 

And then the race unfolded kinda like this.

It started with a solid 30 minute swim, although truth be told I was shooting for 28 or maybe a hair faster. And the bike wasn’t bad either. I’d been getting some good mileage in and some intense rides, too. The run was the tough part, as it usually is.

The run is set-up like many races. It’s a two loop out and back course with some rollers thrown in there. It’s great to keep an eye on anyone sneaking up on you. And to see who’s in front of you. Based on my training I was shooting to run 7 min miles for the run. For some reason, I just couldn’t get my splits much under 7:30. I didn’t crumble. And I didn’t take it too easy only to start running 6:30’s for the last 3 miles, but I just didn’t have the run I wanted.

Which is why a couple days later I signed up for the Toughman Half, a new half IM distance race in Westchester. That’s the great thing about racing. There really are no finish line. There’s just that place with the big digial clock where they take your picture and your chip off and feed you some food, so you can start training for the next race.

This is my first race report so a quick background might be in order.  A friend of mine Joel, in July of 2006, told me that it was really difficult to get into the Ironman Lake Placid race as it gets sold out right away.  I took it as a challenge and got up early in the morning on July 24, 2006 and was lucky enough to signup for it.   I didn’t have a background in triathlons.  I didn’t even know what they were.  After signing up for the race I went for my first outdoor run (I used to run on a treadmill).  I bought my first bike in August of 2006.  Joel took be on a hill and showed me how to use my gears.  On September 19 2006 I participated in my first triathlon. It was the Mighty Hampton.  Two weeks latter I participated in my second tri, which was a half-ironman distance race, the Epic and rainy mighty Montauk of 2006.   After this race Cliff took over and started coaching me.  My goal was to finish my first Ironman distance race and get the medal.  I finished my first IM LP in 12:13:31. 

Lake Placid race day: Small rain, big rain, thick rain, sideways rain. 

It was still dark when I woke up at 4:30 AM on Sunday July 20, 2008.  I woke up Cliff even though I was trying to be as quiet as possible .  He was amazing enough to be there for me and the other tristar athletes.  I ate my two cliff bars.  I wanted to eat the beef Jerky sitting on the side table but I remembered the wise words of Cliff, "no food with fiber before the race”.  That sucks I told myself – anyway – went to the rest room (very important), stretched (equally important), and got ready for the race.  I don’t know why but I was in an amazingly happy mood this morning.  I wasn’t scared or tensed about the race, which is very unusual.  I kept on telling myself that it’s going to be an adventures day.  Dam I couldn’t believe it, I was actually looking forward to the race. 

Well we got to the swim start (Joel, Janine, and me.  Thanks Bobby for driving and Cliff for dropping off the special needs bags). The sky was cloudy and I could feel some rain drops.  Athletes were getting in the water.  I waited until fifteen minutes before the start to get in the water and warm up.  The warm up was nothing more than running into people, after every few strokes, and stopping and turning around and starting again.  Before the start I got myself close to the front and waited for the cannon to go off.  Baaaaaaaaaaaang!  We were off.  Well the first thing I remember is a girl climbing on my back.  I thought, what the hell is going on.  We are seconds into the race and someone is already taking advantage of me.  Good my girlfriend wasn’t there or she might suspect something.  In all seriousness it was a painful swim.  Last year I was hit a few times, during the swim, but this year was the worst.  I think I was raped at least 5 to 6 times (As a lawyer I take these things seriously and I will be pressing charges against these violators).  I was hit on my goggles a couple of times.  Hit on my head and chest more than what I would like to remember.  My goal for the next year is to be the fastest swimmer at the IM (or take a taser gun in the water as a backup).  During the swim I felt I had a lot to give but it was hard to pass people. Most of them were in groups and crowed around the magic yellow line (which I was also trying to follow).  Came out of the water with a lot of energy.  Had a cramp in my left calf (when a volunteer was yanking off my wetsuit).  This is the second year I had a cramp after the swim, but this year I know why.  While getting my suit taken off I point my toes too much, which overstretches my calf.

Bike ride was fun.  I loved the weather.  It was nice and rainy.  The Keene Valley down hill was probably the scariest thing I have done in a while (well not as scary as when I went off the cliff in Lake Tahoe while skiing).  I have hit 54 MPH on this downhill but with today’s wet conditions I was taking it a bit slower – 47 MPH.  I nearly crashed twice but I guess someone up there doesn’t want me yet.  During the second loop of the bike course I was screaming with the spectators.  I lost my voice by the time I got to the run.  But it was a lot of FUN.  Got off the bike with a lot of energy and felt fresh (Thanks cliff again – great training).  I lost my gel flasks and my electrolyte pills during the bike ride but I was able to eat the gels from the aid stations and get my nutrition in.

Run was fun and comfortable (I know I can’t believe it myself).  I ran within my training limits.  Cliff told me to take it easy and that’s what I did.  Ate on the course said hello to other runners and spectators (my throat is still recovering).  Last year I remember having to walk through all the aid stations and the hills.  This year I was able to run the whole course and even pass a few people.  When I got to the oval stadium I sprinted the last 200 meters.  Cliff was on the other side of the line.  The first thing I told him was, I can do more.  AND that is what I hope I can do in the future.  Do more of these amazing races.  Other triathletes have told me that they compete in ironman to push their limits or to test themselves.  For me it’s a daylong adventure where anything can happen.  You can feel good or you can feel crappy.  You can have the fastest and the best race of your life or the slowest and still the best race of your life.  You can meet people who help motivate you or some real a—holes.  But who cares at the end.  YOU.  OR maybe another Ironman.  It’s all about creating a few memories for when we won’t be able to do this anymore (Right?). 

Thanks for putting up with my race report.   Time to recover and look forward to the next adventure. 

At the end of the day I know that I have managed to live more in one day than most people do in a lifetime, honestly Going down a steep hill with tight turns in your underwear – as they described it on the Tour de France – at over 47 MPH with pouring rain.  Whoooow!  Final race time 10:39:51.

Quick thanks to some important people in my life - 

Thanks a loooot Cliff for the incredible coaching.  You coached me amazingly well and most importantly got me to the start line healthy.  Thanks Cliff and Maha for motivating me during the tough training schedule (while I was working full time, attending college full time to complete my LLM, and attending weekly French cooking classes).  Thanks mom for helping me gain 20 1bs this year   Thanks Maha for making sure that I ate healthy and lost those 20 lbs in two months.  Thanks Nadim for pushing me to continue with my Ironman dreams, as I wouldn’t be able to continue without his help.  Thanks to Joel for being a great workout partner. 

PS.  Didn’t need to "relieve" myself while on the bike or while running.  I stopped and took my time to enjoy the scenery and take care of business.  My humble advice respect your bike and shorts