Lake Placid Ironman is the ultimate test

This Sunday morning will bring the annual Ironman Lake Placid in Lake Placid, N.Y., as thousands of triathletes will tackle the 2.5-mile swim and 112-mile bike, and finish up with the 26.2-mile marathon. Ironman Lake Placid is the third-most recommended in the world, while also ranked second among the best runs in the North American region and the third-best overall race in the North American Region. My son Jake, who has a couple of half-ironman races on his resume, will race in the pro division, which will be his first full ironman. He goes in ranked 45th in the race.

The pro race will begin at 6:16 a.m., in Mirror Lake, a calm, pristine lake right in the heart of Lake Placid. It’s the best ironman swim in the world. The water temperature is typically in the high 60s to low 70s. Jake is no stranger to the swim, as he swam 14.6 miles from Cape May, N.J., to Cape Henlopen three years ago this week. Jake also swam a race in Fort Collins, Colo., in the Horsetooth Reservoir, which was a 10K distance, and he did it as an IM, with each stroke lasting 1.5 miles.

The 112-mile bike is named the best Global Bike in North America, as spectators and competitors are told to cheer, do not fear, the Keene descent. Great views of the Adirondacks abound on this tough bike course. Bikers will be able to check out the brand-new lodge at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, the ski jumps, Whiteface Mountain and the famed Olympic Center, home to the 1980 Miracle on Ice. I spoke to veteran triathlete Kevin Danahy recently and he said, “That’s a tough one – very hilly.” Jake arrived in Lake Placid this past Monday and rode one loop of the two-loop course on Tuesday. He agreed, it is hilly.

The marathon run of 26.2 miles is ranked as the second-best run in the North American Region and is a two-loop course with a double hilly 13.1 miles. The course will challenge athletes with a tour through the city center. They'll run past cheering crowds on Mill Hill and back to picturesque Mirror Lake before the culmination of their day at the Olympic Oval. Following the pro men’s start will be the pro women and the age-group starts.

Championship Series

The 41st Dam Mill 5K, set for Sunday, July 28, and the 16th Run for the Paws 5K, set for Saturday, Aug. 3, are the final two races in the Seashore Striders Summer Championship Series. Here are the leaders with two races left:   

10-13: Keiran Labarre and Deane Willis; 14-19: Olivia Montini and Aydan Vanderwende; 20-24: Leslie Hayes; 25-29: Kristin Schaen and Ben Bamforth; 30-34: Elizabeth Rivera and Michael Nellius; 35-39: Sarah Chuk and Beau Croll; 40-44: Eugenija King and Martin Rodriguez; 45-49: Susan Dunn and John Blackford; 50-54: Jen Ward and Bryan Bowles; 55-59: Kim Geyer and Chris Stanley; 60-64: Cindy Dominik and Tim Young; 65-69: Nancy Foschi and Shaun Serfass; 70-74: Karen Levin and Stephen Jessee; 75-79: Mary Kessler and Woody Disharoon; 80+: Jack Noel; 5K male walk: Donald Zalenski; 5K female walk: Marian Dowling.

To qualify for the championship series, an individual has to finish one five-miler and five 5Ks along with completing one Strider Good Deed sometime during the summer. The complete rules and examples of the good deeds can be found at seashorestriders.com.