STEVE SWANICK'S (pictured to the right) LAKE PLACID IRONMAN REPORT Choosing an Ironman can be tricky. You will want to look at the course: is it hilly or flat, the past weather conditions, traditionally hot and or cool, water conditions, salt water, wavy, jellyfish? Do you want to fly with your bike? Are you a strong swimmer, a good climber, better in the heat? These possibilities are all things you want to consider before you hit the REGISTER NOW button.
Ironman Lake Placid was Ironman number 3 for Steve. When he decides on which race he wants to do, he looks carefully at all of the items mentioned above, but sometimes a detail can get lost, like the elevation described on the bike course being only one loop of a 2 loop course...oops! They call it Ironman for a reason. Congrats Steve on crushing another Ironman! Here's Steve's quick report on Lake Placid in classic Steve style! : It was 35C+ all day but Ottawa valley heat training had me prepared  The swim was a 3800m knife fight... just ridiculous! 2200 idiots on a double loop course. Had feet in your face, and people pinned either side and behind you for the full 3800m. I had lots more in the tank at the end. Averaged 2:00/100m and wasn’t even breathing hard when I got out. The bike is funny. I was not happy with my split and couldn’t figure out why because I felt strong. I thought the bike course was 4100-foot gain but found out yesterday it was 4100 PER LOOP(!!), for a whopping 8200 feet total!! The last 30k of each loop is a relentless climb back into town. On the second loop, it was in the 30C’s and we had a 30k/hr headwind gusting 60k/hr. Did the first 90k in 3 hours. I'm actually super proud of that ride now. The run was mental. The course looked like Napoleon's retreat from Moscow! I'm telling you it was pushing 40C. All the young studs were walking and I'm pleased to report I ran the whole course albeit slowly! I walked the aid stations to pound water and the two ridiculous hills which were in the plan all along. Congrats Steve for preserving until the end and for passing all the young studs on the run for a 13/54 in your AG! | 
