Gearing Up in Lake Placid

IRONMAN Lake Placid is finally here.

The longest-continual running IRONMAN event in North America, Lake Placid is celebrating its 24th running this year. More than 2500 athletes are signed up for the sold out event.

In a throwback to prior times, IRONMAN is also offering on-site registration for the 25th anniversary event in the expo. In speaking with some members of the team on site, offering on-site registration prior to race day is proving to be incredibly popular with both current year athletes as well as spectators. The registration tent is also offering ROKA sunglasses to anybody who signs up for a select set of 2023 IRONMAN 70.3 events.

As is custom on Friday, the beach at Mirror Lake proves popular early in the morning. A steady-stream of age-group athletes headed out for a loop of the swim course. Water temperatures here, as of this writing, will prove to be a swimskin swim for professionals, and a wetsuit legal one for all age group athletes. As you can probably tell, like with most of this summer in the northeast, another line of storms rolled through this morning. It should be the last of them prior to race day, and wind directions look favorable so as to not result in any wildfire smoke issues.

This race is also the last-chance qualifier for male age groupers and professional athletes trying to get to Nice. The men's field looks incredibly competitive, with a mix of Lake Placid veterans including Cody Beals, Michael Weiss, and Joe Skipper mixing it up with the likes of Andreas Dreitz, Matt Hanson, Josh Amberger, and Ben Hoffman. Expect plenty of fireworks from that field.

On the women's side, Rach McBride, Jodie Robertson, Jen Annett, Joanna Ryter, and Jennie Hansen lead the top names searching for qualifying slots — which although not a final qualifier, are one of the final season races before the Kona cycle closes.

Athletes aren't the only ones to enjoy Mirror Lake. The beach proves ever popular with families all weekend long, including immediately after the swim closes for athletes on Sunday. With the higher water temperatures, it was comfortable for a morning swim — even with air temperatures in the mid 50s.

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