(Not) Just Like the First Time: The Ironman Lake Placid Bike Course

As we drove north to Lake Placid last weekend, and the one-dimensional terrain of southern New Jersey gave way to the peaks of the Adirondacks, I could feel the flapping of those butterfly wings in my belly. It was a mixture of both excitement and anxiety as we returned to what I consider to be my “home” Ironman course.

Whiteface Mountain, Lake Placie
This is the first glimpse you receive of Whiteface Mountain, which comes a few miles after you turn onto route 86 (a little more than halfway through the loop). First you see it, then you climb it.

We were heading to Lake Placid for a long training weekend. John would be running Mt. Marcy in preparation for the VT100 on July 20. I would be joining the Fireman Ironman training camp for a swim-bike-run of the course in anticipation of my third go-round at Ironman Lake Placid.

The source of the butterflies in my belly was the bike course.

It’s always the bike with me.

Since September, I’ve poured hours and hours of my training into improving my bike.

Just ask my ass. It concurs. Yup, hours and hours in the saddle.

#ouch

This would be my first time on the IMLP course since I started this bike-focused training.

Will I see progress? 

This would be my first time riding the course on Rooby-Roo.

Will it feel different from my old road bike? 

This would be my first training ride of this season on “real” hills. Since southern New Jersey is most certainly vertically challenged, I have to travel if I want to climb and descend.

Will I still be a scaredy cat on the descent? 

While there would be a few firsts on this trip, I realized the moment we took off on the ride that it was not like the first time that I rode the course.

As we left the Olympic Oval, which serves as the transition area on race day, I remembered my terror then, and happily realized that I was not terrified now.

My first experience was a training ride during the Fireman Ironman camp in June 2010. That day, the bike course humbled me. It shook my confidence. It made me question my sanity. It took me 7.5 hours to finish two loops, and if it weren’t for the help of my friend Charlotte (love you!), I may have been out there all night.

Sure, the climbing is hard, but that first time, the climbing wasn’t my problem. It never is. Give me a lung-burning long climb any day. I love it.

The problem was descending. That first time, it in-my-bones-rattling-terrifying–and slow going because I developed a touchy-feely love affair with my brakes.

For those of you who are not familiar, the Lake Placid bike course has a 10k descent that comes in the first 9-10 miles of the loop. Since there are two loops, you “get” to do it twice.

Yippee.

Riders have reported speeds in excess of 50 mph on that descent. These said riders also discuss the unbridled speed of the descent with much glee. I, on the other hand, was positively terrified at the thought of going any faster than 20mph without a clear way to slow myself down.

ulnar nerve damage from cyclingThe first time, I death gripped the handlebars and jammed my brakes so much I did some minor damage to my ulnar nerve, and I averaged about 17 mph on the descent. 

Yes, you read that correctly. Yes, I know what that makes me.

I can’t believe I didn’t blow my tires up from hitting the brakes so much.

I also can’t believe I didn’t kill myself.

For those who fear the descent: feather brakes, and keep it light on the front brake if you hit it at all. It’s much, much safer.

Now, it’s 2013. I’ve been on that course every year since that first time, making this my fourth season riding the IMLP course. I’ve been up and down those hills more times than I can count between training and racing.

While the route has stayed the same (with some new paving!), my ride this year was not like the first time.

I was NOT out there for 7.5 hours. Not even close! So, the bike focused training has worked.

I did not compress my ulnar nerve, and zoomed along the descent at a comfortable 30-35 mph. (On race day, I anticipate being around 40 mph as I will not have to tangle with motorists. I got my big girl pants on now!)

Chilling in my aerobars, I took moments to enjoy the scenery of the course, with the majestic mountains, the bluebird skies, the rambling rivers, and the whooshing waterfalls that can be found everywhere along the course. For at least the first 2 years of riding the course, I was so focused on the road that I was afraid to look around. Between the descending and the traffic, I didn’t understand how anyone could take their eyes off the road.

High Falls Gorge
This is a view of the High Falls Gorge, which comes in the final miles of the IMLP bike loop. The short descent into this area gives you a brief respite from the relentless climbing of the second half of the course.

Now, I don’t understand how I avoided taking in the beauty of Adirondacks in those earlier years.

This year’s Fireman Ironman camp had a lot of first timers, just like I was a few years ago. I recognized the look on some of their faces. I knew those butterflies were making a racket in their bellies.

The camp director, Larry, had asked me to say a few words about the bike course during the Friday night meeting of the camp in anticipation of our ride the following morning. Me – talking about the bike course. Who would have believed that 4 years ago?

I comforted my fellow campers in the fact that it won’t always be as hard or as scary as the first time, that it is possible to overcome the fears and anxiety that may hold us back. With experience and mindfulness, we can develop the strength and bravery that will allow us to achieve our goals and experience the extraordinary.

Experience can be an effective teacher if we recognize and reflect upon the lessons it teaches us. I’m grateful for the lessons I’ve learned on the high peaks of the Ironman Lake Placid bike course – from the first time until today.

Comments are closed.