Ironman at 18: Conquering Lake Placid
August 19, 2025Brave New World: IRONMAN California
I can sum up it up in three words: So. Much. Fun. This race was a celebration of ten months of work rebuilding myself as an athlete. I wanted to do something big—something just for me—to remind myself that I can do hard things. It was time to cross an IRONMAN off my list!
This reflection captures my experience in Sacremento along with course info and general tips for an athlete considering a 140.6 distance race at this venue.
Calming the Nerves: Unexpected Obstacles
Race morning started a bit chaotic, and I felt like I was behind the clock before I even started. Traffic was crazy, so we were feeling rushed, but I had a plan – drop bags, bottles and computer on bike, pump tires, get on the shuttle.
It did not go quite that smooth.
When I got to my bike, I discovered that my bike computer was missing. I KNOW I had packed it! So, I searched through my run T2 bag, (you keep it by the bike for this event) and my morning clothes bag – no luck. I ran over to the personal needs bags that I had just dropped off (not at the same location, but thankfully not too far apart) – no dice. I ran to bike T2 bags and searched there – not there either. So I found an IRONMAN staff person, used their phone to call Ben and told him if he found bike computer, to give it to a volunteer to put it in my bike bag.
Pro-tip: a spectator can not hand you anything during an event, but a volunteer can!
The computer situation put me way behind schedule, but I did all I could, and resolved to just put it behind me. I needed a quick potty break, and I was heading to the shuttle to the swim start. The potty break did not turn out to be so quick. Hello to my period. Though a few days early, I had anticipated the possibility and stashed a menstrual cup in one of my bags. Again, I had to run across transition to my bags, but that situation resolved as well. I found Erika in line, and we jumped on the bus together. I sat down with a sigh of relief.
Lesson: anticipate and prepare for everything!
Pro-tip: ladies, the saalt menstrual cup is a game changer.
Once I got to the swim start, I put the morning behind me and locked in. I seeded myself around 1:20 (even though you anticipate a faster swim time, you should self-seed based on projected non-current swim time). Bundled up with my thermal cap and full sleeve wetsuit, I poured water down my suit and I was ready for the cold American River temps! I entered the 62-degree water, took a deep breath and my first Ironman adventure began. Brave New World.
Pro-tip: pre-filling your wetsuit with water can help warm the body in anticipation of cold temps. The thin layer of pre-warmed water acts at a bit of a thermal barrier to the cold water doesn’t shock the body as quickly.
The Swim: From Calm Waters to Chaos in the American River
The first river was fairly shallow, and the sand and reeds on the bottom were interesting to watch. The sun was rising, the shore was wooded, and there was good bird action. It was really peaceful.
Then, all hell broke loose.
We converged with the Sacramento River, where you felt the water temps drop quickly into the high 50s. The water was murky, the current strong, swimmers panicking all around me. The turn buoy had swimmers clinging to it. I had to fight the current to get to it, but I gave myself a moment, got my bearings, and eventually relaxed.
I would see the occasional dark shadow deep in the water and wonder if that was a sea lion planning to surprise me! Thankfully, no creature encounters.
Navigating to the exit was a little tricky with the current pulling you away quickly. There was only a small gap between a long buoy and the area where they were merging all the swimmers. I had to position myself almost perpendicular to the shore at one point to get myself lined up with the tall pillars leading to the swim exit.
I finished the 2.4 miles in just over an hour. I went in knowing that the current would give me an assist, but with constantly changing river conditions, it was never certain how much. Ben had joked that I “better not beat his best IM swim time.” That little nugget was in my head the whole time, pushing me a long. I did best his fastest IM swim time with several minutes to spare. Thank you for the little win, current! This was a great start of an unforgettable IRONMAN debut.
Coach thoughts on the swim: I have never been a fast swimmer, but 15 years of open water swimming has taught me how to stay calm and in control. I saw several athletes frozen with fear – from the cold, the current, the chaos of tight quarters, and murky water. IRONMAN California is sometimes called “beginner-friendly” because of the current, but as a coach I’m cautious with that label. This swim is unique. It demands specific preparation. Beginners certainly can do it, but they need to be well-trained for those conditions.
The Bike: Headwinds, Gratitude, and Lessons from My First Ironman
It was a long barefoot run to transition on brick pavers. First the cold water, then the pavers… my feet did not know they were in for a tortuous day!
I spent a few minutes in transition trying to find my missing bike computer, but it was still not there (I found it the next day under a blanket on the bed where I had laid out my race things). I eventually gave up, reminded myself that I can just use my Garmin watch, grabbed my steed and off I went.
The bike course was a two-loop out-and-back that started in the city but quickly flowed into the farmlands and wineries south of Sacramento. The roads were mostly flat and decent; that’s relative to being a Michigan native, of course. Many other athletes thought they were awful. There was a five-mile stretch of bumpy chip seal, no shoulders to speak of and a few narrow technical sections that we hit four times.
The computer situation meant my old eyes struggled to read my Garmin watch, so I only had power visible. I never knew my speed, heart rate, time, or other data, but I was able to maintain my target watts and made adjustments by feel when needed.
The miles were clipping along uneventfully until around mile 45. I was admiring a patch of wildflowers when a kamikaze bee buried itself into my hip… My second race day bee sting of the season!
I took my only restroom break at mile 50. If I could do it over again, I’d stop sooner. I felt the urge at the turnaround but convinced myself it would be “more efficient” to wait until personal needs. Sure, one stop might be faster… but riding bumpy chip seal with a full bladder and a fresh bee sting? Do not recommend.
Lesson learned: You spend months making the bike comfortable — honor that on race day. Stop. Pee. Be happy.
Aside from the bee sting, I felt great, but couldn’t let my guard down. My last two long rides before the race were disasters – three flat tires and a broken spoke. I trusted my fitness, but the fear of a mechanical or a risky move from another cyclist was on my mind.
The cyclist threat on this course was real. Two loops, narrow roads, two-way traffic – the first loop was packed with cyclists of different speeds all over the road. I found myself riding defensively far more than I expected.
After grabbing fresh bottles at personal needs, I headed out for loop two. The course was spreading out a little bit so I was looking forward to a smooth nice ride, and then—smack—the headwind came in like a wrecking ball. I tucked in tight and told myself not to fight it. Mother Nature would return the favor on my way back home… and she sure did.
Pro-tip: when riding in a headwind, tuck your arms and legs to optimize aerodynamics. Try to stay relaxed and ride with a higher cadence to conserve energy. Always ignore speed – rely on heart rate and power to gauge intensity.
The tight hairpin turn to head back to town was a major cluster on both loops. It is hard to make a tight turn on a tri bike, but many athletes were stopping completely and getting off their bikes, which was creating a dangerous bottleneck.
Once I got through the turn, it was smooth sailing and the final 28 miles were pure fun. The course opened up and the tail wind was glorious. I smiled the whole time and felt like I was flying.
I had been nervous that a flat course would be boring and uncomfortable without the position changes that come with hills. So not true, yes it was flat, but not at all boring, and the hours on my trainer in aero had me well prepared to ride in one position. I enjoyed it so much! I made the 112 miles in just under six hours and thirty minutes. I was so elated that I didn’t even notice the rising temps.
Training Tips for the Bike: This course is flat, but it does have a few challenges. The wind seems to be a given, and not everyone realizes the toll that it can take on your body – making aerodynamics and solid fueling critical. This course is best suited for a tt bike and power meter is a lifesaver in the wind.
IRONMAN California is attractive for first timers – including some absolute beginners. It’s a tight course with some inexperienced cyclists, so make sure you are confident on your bike. Training in a group can help you gain confidence – it not only teaches riding etiquette, but how to hold a line, ride safely around others and to anticipate others moves.
The Run: Beating the Heat and Celebrating the Day
I spotted my family right outside of T2 and finally got my hands on my beautiful girls for a big hug before I started the 26.2-mile run journey.
Though I was a little stiff off the bike, I quickly realized that my weariness wasn’t from being 114 miles into a race. It was blazing hot out there! 80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.
The first six-mile run loop offered no shade with undulating rocky gravel sections, and I’ll be honest: it sucked. Heat is my nemesis. I had trained for a strategy of run nine minutes, walk one minute. That quickly shifted to survival mode. My dry, tingly skin told me dehydration might be setting in, so my main objective was to rehydrate.
I took in the nutrition and fluids I could tolerate, and I did what I had to do to feel better. As I finished that loop I saw Ben and the girls again. Ben was holding up his phone and there I saw Luke and Mom cheering me on from home. Exactly what I needed to perk up! I headed to the next section in much better spirits.
The run course was like a spider with four legs, with a golden bridge as the body. We did Leg 1 only once (thankfully), but the other three legs were done twice. All were dark trails along both sides of the river.
Pro-tip: sunset was 6pm in Sacramento – unless you are elite, put a headlamp in your personal needs bag just in case!
Most of the trails were narrow two-way traffic, and the course was packed, which made it challenging to get a steady rhythm. I passed by Cherie, Erika, and Courtney: three athletes I coach who were also doing the race. I was relieved to know they safely made it off the bike. They were all doing amazing, all finished, and Courtney and Cherie were both first-timers as well!
A few hours into the run, the sun went down and temps dropped into the mid 60s. It felt great. I started playing a little game with my run/walk: walk through aid stations, tap the mile marker sign, walk 50 steps, then run again – the things you do when you’re out there for 12+ hours! The miles ticked along, and aside from achy feet, I felt great. I was happy to hold a relatively steady pace.
The run course terrain was more challenging than I expected. Never pavement for long, it was a mix of cobblestone, rocky gravel, dirt trail, cracked pavement, concrete pavers, deck planking, and even grated metal on the bridge. I was so grateful for my Superfeet insoles – in the past changing terrain like this would do a number on my whole body. My body was holding up really well, but by mile 16 my dogs were barking!
With our names printed on our bibs, I heard my name everywhere! The fans were electric and volunteers were so kind and helpful. Ben tracked me down like a true IRONMAN expert, and my sweet family was cheering for me at every turn.
The Final Miles and Finish Line Emotions
I made the final turn toward downtown around mile 25 and I was, for once, alone. It was dark and quiet (almost surreal) and I could feel the emotions setting in. Eventually, I heard the finish line sounds and felt a lump in my throat knowing it would soon be my turn.
The ugly cry face was on full display as I ran down the chute. Ben and the girls gave me one final cheer and I heard my name called: “You are an Ironman!”
It was the perfect ending to my first Ironman race experience.
Gratitude for Family, Friends, and Team
I couldn’t have asked for a better day. I felt all the love and support being sent my way. And I also feel really, really proud of myself.
From keeping my rig in good shape, riding by my side, keeping my mind strong and my weekend schedule open, I have to thank my amazing supportive husband, Ben. Having much more experience than me at this distance, he was always willing to help or answer questions but never offered unsolicited advice or questioned my approach.
He knew I’d do best by figuring things out on my own. That kind of quiet support is rare and invaluable; it helped me build confidence and trust in myself. That’s exactly what a good partner does, and I truly have the best.
I couldn’t have done this without the support of my kids as well. They were always encouraging, understanding, and patient; and inspire me to never give up.
I am also grateful for the friends who trained with me. This wouldn’t be nearly as special if I had done it alone.