IMLakePlacid RACE WEEK! 2017
RACE WEEK!
Everyone started this journey for different reasons, at different times and here we are, coming together to execute and CRUSH the Ironman LP course. It may be your first or another one of many but each time we have to dig into ourselves and find out "WHY DO WE DO THIS CRAZY THING?"
You're welcome to share your "One Thing" or keep it to yourself but remember, practice this now. Look yourself in the mirror and say it out loud. Your body hears what your mind says. Tell yourself WHY however many reasons and one things it takes.
Remember to focus on the mental game. Do not underestimate this 5th Ironman discipline, it might be one of the most important ones.
When you are in doubt remember this….YOU HAVE ALL THE TOOLS YOU NEED! You've put in the hard work, the learning, the training, the tank is full, you have all the tools. Put it all together on race day and be proud with whatever outcome you see. Smile and enjoy this day. Remember to be kind to your family, friends, volunteers. Represent EN well. Take time to thank the ones that have gotten you here. Love on those friends, spouses.
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Doing everything right for 20 weeks, executing perfectly on the swim and bike is only going to get you to the The Line as discussed previously, but make no mistake, it will come and when it does, have those One Things ready at the forefront!
Summary: During the course of your race day, expect your body to have a very convincing conversation with your mind: "Look, Mind, you've had me out here slogging away for 132 miles. This is really starting to get old and very painful. If I see another Strawberry Banana Gel I might throw up. You need to give me a good reason to keep going forward. If you can't give me a good one, I'm gonna slow down and you can't stop me!" If you don't have an answer ready, your day could be over right here.
Advice: Before the race, you need to be able to answer the question: "Why am I doing this race?" In other words, you need to determine what is the One Thing that put you in this race? To finish in the daylight with a smile on your face? To run a 4:10? .
Whatever your One Thing is, be absolutely clear and rehearse your mind/body debate beforehand. Practice makes perfect and this is a critical thing to have ready for when your body starts to push back.
Be warned: your body can be a helluva good negotiator at mile 18, especially if your mind hasn't prepared its rebuttal arguments beforehand.
Now team, do me a favor, take a deep breathe.... yes I mean it.... in through the nose, out through the mouth and SMILE. Are you doing it? Still not joking, DO IT!!!
It has been an honor to be your Race Captain. I am here all week if you need to vent, have any questions etc.
EN SCHEDULE:
Thursday: Team Dinner - Crowne Plaza
Friday: Team Swim - Mirror Lake
Four Keys ... Mandatory - Movie Theater
GroupME will start Wednesday and we will remind you of all the above times etc. MAKE SURE YOURE ON THE GROUP.... Its easier to download the APP then you can mute it and return when you wish.
Please TEXT me if you need me instead of asking here, as I may not see it traveling!
Mushy part over.... GO CRUSH THIS COURSE!
**** Go over the admin notes from race captain thread and the random thoughts from race captain thread to make sure you've done all your admin duties, social media stuff etc*****
Comments
My daughter will be attending Siena College this fall where she will be swimming for the Saints.
Once again I was texting my friend for a ride to practice. My parents were both exercising, probably on their bikes, leaving me to find a ride. Again.
In July 2014 my parents signed up for their first Ironman triathlon. I was so excited to go to Lake Placid and cheer them on. Little did I know, that year would include many hours of my brother and I being home alone while my parents were training. After a long year, on July 23, 2015, we packed the car and headed to Lake Placid.
Like most athletes, my parents were concerned with their pre-race meals. The first three days we were there consisted of chicken and rice for dinner. Every night. We were sick of chicken and rice by race day! At 3:30 am on Ironman morning my mom came into my room extremely nervous. I just wanted to go back to bed, so I said “you’ll be fine, good luck” and went back to sleep. Two hours later I walked down to where the swim would start. I’ve been a swimmer for nearly 10 years. The swim is my favorite part so I got there early to find a good spot to watch. By 6 am AC/DC was booming from the speakers and everyone was getting ready to start. Before I knew it they were off. As the first few people emerged from the water, I noted their times to compare them to mine. I thought to myself “when I do an Ironman, I want to be one of the first persons out of the water.”
The house we rented was right on the bike and run course, so we set up a spot with signs, cow bells, and noise makers. My favorite memory of the bike course was when my mom came around for the first loop. She stopped, got off her bike, and gave me a huge hug. At that moment I was so proud to call her my mom. I am who I am today because of the many accomplishments that she has achieved and shared with me. She has taught me how to work hard and how to set goals, but most importantly, she has taught me not to take anything for granted and to cherish both the big and the small moments in life.
When my dad finished it was filled with many emotions. All of his hard work and determination had paid off. “You are an Ironman!”, the words many athletes dream of hearing from the famous Ironman announcer Mike Reilly, rang over the PA system. Hearing those words is something I will always remember. It is the day that inspired me to someday do an Ironman. Watching my parents set a huge goal, work hard all year, and then being there to see them accomplish it has showed me how to not be afraid to think big!
The official cut-off for the race is midnight and as that time nears thousands of people line the Olympic Oval cheering on every finisher. The atmosphere is filled with amazing energy as everyone comes out to celebrate the race and the day. Ironman isn’t about winning, it’s about achieving. Every athlete regardless of when they finish has their name called out with “You are an Ironman”, it’s the moment they achieved their goal. It’s inspiring.
This approach to life that my parents have taken; setting challenging goals and working hard to achieve them, is now part of who I am. Whether it’s during a swim workout trying to make a difficult time interval or setting goals in school, I know that hard work and perseverance will always pay off.
In late July, the 2017 Ironman Lake Placid registration opened. Guess what? Mom and Dad signed up. Good thing I like chicken.
Thinking of all of my amazing EN teammates getting ready.
Listen to this song. :-)
You WILL be a champion. The world WILL know your name.
@PL- great essay thanks for sharing
All packed up, bike is clean , new tires/tubes installed, new PM battery, Di2 is charged, fast haircut, nails clipped, shaved, dropped the dogs off at summer camp... Lil swim in the am and then drive to LP tomorrow!
Bike is being dropped off by LBS after doing my 2nd full on drive train cleaning in 2 weeks, new car hitch & rack installed, hair cut, new tires & tubes in the last two weeks. Run this evening, short run in the AM and you can find me in mirror lake tomorrow afternoon if all goes well
even though I was misdiagnosed with a cardiac ailment when i went for a screening and upturned my life for a year, ^^This^^ stresses why we all should get screened for such things.