I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I left Caratunk Friday after work. I was heading out alone to a place where I really didn't know anyone, to check out something I was thinking about maybe trying to do one day.
I had to cross Lake Champlain to get to Lake Placid. Once off the ferry, it didn't take me too long to figure out I was getting close because I saw droves of bikers heading in every direction. The closer I got to town, the more people I saw, and I started to see folks out running, along with a seemingly endless stream of bikers.
I cruised through town and checked out Mirror Lake and could see people out there swimming. There were literally active people everywhere - I was so excited. I couldn't wait to get out of my truck and onto my bike. I parked at the ski jump, got changed and hopped on my bike.
That tall thing is the ski jump.
It was an awesome 50 mile ride despite the flat I got on the way back. I talked to a whole lot of people and it was fun to be on the road with so many other bikers. I did an out and back on the course instead of the race loop because I had decided I DEFINITELY wasn't going to sign up for IMLP 2011, so I really didn't need to preview the course.
(Random thought #1). Every time I passed or was passed by a woman, she smelled really good (this happened more than once). It was like passing by a puff of perfume or something. After 50 miles, I don't smell good. I smell like a pigs armpit. These chicks smell like gardenias. What gives?
(Random thought #2) I am not against bib shorts, but I am against wearing bibs with no shirt. That is just wrong.
After the ride, I headed over to my campsite and took a shower (to get the pigs armpit smell off), then headed back to town.
My campsite was pretty cool.
I was pretty psyched to meet up with Jon from
SwiCycloRun and Wally from Beginner Triathlete at the
Lake Placid Brewery. Two super duper awesome guys, I am so happy I got to hang out with them. We grabbed dinner, beers, and ice cream, then we were all pretty wiped out so we all went our separate ways.
Wally and Jon at the Brew Pub
Before I went to bed I decided that I probably was going to sign up for next year.
Race Day
Since the roads were going to be closed most of the day, I rode my bike into town. The excitement was palpable. It got so crowded as I got to the race start area that I eventually had to walk my bike and park it (ehem...stash it in the woods behind some tri-club's tent until I bought a lock. We don't need locks in Caratunk, there are 60 of us. If someone steals my bike I am going to see them riding it.)
Before the start of the swim, I watched the divers going into the water. I knew they were there for safety, especially at the turn buoys where things could start to...pile up.
Huh. What are those guys for?
I talked to a bunch of folks who were also going to Timberman, which was pretty neat. For once, my lifestyle was the norm, not the exception.
The swim start was probably one of the most exciting things I have ever seen. The hair on my arms was standing on end, I was so excited. The gun went off and all of a sudden Mirror Lake became one churning mass of bodies.
The blender.
I decided right then and there that I definitely wasn't going to sign up for next year.
To be honest, the rest of the day was kind of a blur. I watched a good part of the swim, ran over to watch the pro's bike out (saw pro
Charisa Wernick bike out), and spent time running back and forth between the age groupers coming out of the water and hopping on the bike.
The bike out looked scary to me.
I was lucky enough to meet Joe from
Rock Star Tri in my running too and fro. He and his wife are wesome people, I am so happy we got to talk. I told him that I was on the fence about signing up for next year. As I look back on it now, I think he was pretty sure I was going to sign up.
I found Jon again and we decided to find Alexa from
Just Keep Swimming. I had seen her at the bike out and Jon had seen her on the first loop of the bike. It was fun looking for her, and we saw her come in on the bike from the second loop and hollered our heads off. We got to the run out as fast as we could and caught her again, hollering our heads off for her again.
I think we freaked her out a little.
Alexa if you are still reading my blog, I am not a weirdo stalker. It was just cool to have someone I recognized kicking butt at IMLP.
I headed off for my volunteer shift, and on the way took a seat to watch some of the runners go by. I saw Bryan from
Training Payne finishing out of his first run loop around 3:00-3:30 and hollered and cheered for him. I thought to myself, if he keeps this pace up, he is going to Kona.
Volunteering was a blast - I don't have much to say about it except it was an awesome experience and it was great fun helping folks out. I worked with some awesome people and met some more Timberman folks. I had ridden my bike there and was about mid-way between my campsite and town. I decided to head to the campsite even though I felt the pull of going the finish line to cheer people on one more time.
The Morning After
I got up and decided I was heading home, not signing up for next year.
I drove out of the campsite and got here:
Taking a right meant heading home. Taking a left meant I was signing up. I sat there for 10 minutes. Then I realized, I want this. I have wanted this for years. I have this in me, without question. Why put it off another year just because you are scared or intimidated or whatever. Scared isn't a reason not to so something, that is what I have always said - and I have to live by that.
I (as you know) took a left....and took the plunge....I stood in a mile long line for 4 hours with a bunch of awesome folks...And am psyched to say I will be jumping into Mirror Lake at IMLP 2011 with 2999 of my closest friends!
Congrats!!!
And I don't want to forget to congratulate the people I stalked!