Lake Placid Training

Its been a while since I posted. I'm just coming out of my coma now from Rev3. A weekend away of golf, then a weekend away of training. My training had suffered the couple of weeks surrounding Rev3 and felt a bit behind in my prep for IM Canada. I took the opportunity to escape up to Lake Placid with a few friends. Unfortunately, Sue couldn't make it as she had to work.

I drove up alone early Friday morning, getting up there before noon. I was surprised to see some fresh new pavement on rt. 73, a welcome site. It was a beautiful day so I got out and ran a loop around Mirror Lake to loosen up my legs. The town was full of triathletes as it was a peak training weekend for those athletes preparing for IMLP and the Tupper Lake Tinman was also going on. After the run, I got my wetsuit out and swam 2 loops of the lake or roughly 2.5 miles. My shoulders were tight but it felt good to get in a long swim. I needed it. I checked into my hotel and prepared for a long ride. My plan was to ride 12 miles to the base of Whiteface mountain (the site of the 80 Olympics skiing venue), then climb the 8 miles up the mountain (average 6% grade), then 12 miles back to the hotel. I loaded everything up, water bottles filled, helmet on, etc., then I look out the window. The sky turned black and the wind felt like it was going to blow the trees over. Rain came down so fast and so hard, it knocked the power out in the hotel, fire engines were in full emergency mode, but I was lucky I hadn't left. It took a few hours to blow over so my plans had to change. I didn't have enough daylight to make it up and down the mountain in time. I ended up riding around the run course and then some, but only got out for an hour or so.

Saturday's forecast was ominous....scattered rain and thunderstorms all day. I ended up swimming one loop of the course or 1.3 miles or so, then after some debate headed out on the bike. I knew it was going to be a wet one so I prepared the best I could. I felt decent for the first 30 miles or so (and it was raining), then my legs just felt dead. I tried to kick start them my shoving down an energy drink and two candy bars but that only worked for 5 miles or so. I finished one loop of the bike course (riding alone most of the day) or 56 miles and headed out for a second loop just hoping and waiting for my legs to get a second wind. It never happened. I rode for another 10 miles to the top of the long downhill and the clouds ahead were dark and my energy was dwindling. I decided to turn around and save myself for the next day. I ended up riding another 15 miles or so and called it a day.

Sunday was beautiful. I swam another 1.3 miles or so, then headed out for a long run. I was running well and ran the first 7.5 miles in an hour, then I became so dehydrated. It was hot and humid. I ended up salvaging the run with 1:30 run and 10.5 miles. The last few miles were up the cherries and the bears....tough to ride and run. After soaking my legs in the lake for a bit, I re-fueled and got ready for a ride. Mark and I were directed on a nice 2 hour ride on a nice route away from the IM course. My legs were tired but decent until the last 30 minutes and then I nothing left. I was spent. I guess I maxed out my legs for the weekend. They just didn't give me what I thought they would give me but mission accomplished.

Totals: Swim approx. 5 miles, bike approx. 130 miles, run 13 miles