Got it Done!

Lake Placid has come to a close. We just returned from one of the most exciting trips of my life.

Here is a recap from last week. We arrived on Thursday before the race. It was already buzzing with athletes. My first thought was I am not ready. I was pretty happy with the way my body transformed but when i got to LP there were all these people with about zero % body fat who ran like gazelles and quads like lions. It was very intimidating to see what kind of athletes were out there. Non the less I put on my shoes and did my 20 min zone 2 run. It felt good. Friday I went down to the lake after a nasty thunderstorm and did another 20 min zone 2 workout with an easy swim. The water was perfect. The problem was that I was totally in a cloud. I saw a bunch of people and forgot all their names. Sorry Kim and Vic. I was a huge space cadet. I started to come back to reality on Saturday when I did my brick workout in the AM. I was setting the pace on the bike for Bjorn Anderson. Crazy. He is about 6'02" and rides a 52 cm Cervelo? I don't get it? anyway. after my awestruck bike I went out on a run, It was good b/c I saw a bunch of people and remembered their names!

Lynn Jack and I brought all my gear down on Sat afternoon and took some pictures and had a great time. The buzz in the air is incredible I was totally gearing up for this or was I? I knew I had put in the time distance and pain for this but will it really all come together at once? My family arrived in the afternoon, (parents and brother and sister-in-law) We had a fantastic diner and I even enjoyed a glass of wine. I was never really nervous but there was that fear that still lurked in the back of my mind that I might not finish.

July 20, 0400

I wake without an issue, my brother Brendan joins me. He was in rare form. Maybe delirious from lack of sleep. He was the funniest he has been in a long time! It was perfect b/c it kept me relaxed. I toasted my 14 th piece of toast and lathered butter on it and down it went. along with a cup of coffee. My mother actually got up too. She was grilling me with questions like Jane Pauley. It was kind funny b/c it felt like I was getting ready for a little league game or something. Well, breakfast was a success and all systems were working. Off the drop off special needs bag and check on my bike. On the way I got bodymarked, this poor 12 year old girl was video taped by my brother, the next documentarist, while I drop my pants as she writes on my legs. He even made her laugh too. Things were going smoothly. Bike was good, run stuff set, just had to put on my wetsuit. that was when it started, no not the nerves, the rain. My only wish was that they would not shorten the swim or anything. I wanted a real IRONAMAN DAMN IT! It finally broke. I gave my brother a hug and headed down to the water. 2300 people cramping into this lake? It was tight. I was trying to pick my spot. Probably should have thought of this sooner. I decided to give the fast guys the head start so I went to the back line of the beach and waded about chest high. The music was pumping and I was rocked ready to go. I could feel my toes sweating! The national was sung and then boom, the cannon went off and so did I. I was waiting to get pummeled in the water but it never really happened. I was moving up the pack very easily. I stayed to the right until just over half way to the turn buoy then I was going to work my way to the inside. Things were happening way to easily. My strokes felt long. Breathing was in control and I hit the turn buoy without any trouble. In fact, it felt like there was a current pulling me around it. I heard it before but didn't believe it. As I was working my way back to shore is when I felt the little balls hitting me in the head. YUP rain. I was determined to get to through the swim without being pulled out b/c of weather. I reached shore and went through the chip scan and out for lap 2. I cleared my goggles and dove back in. This time it was a bit more open and I was able to stick to the buoys a bit more. This time I was feeling the violence of the swim. One fine gentleman decided to try and crawl over my back until he got a swift kick in the stomach. I did mean it and I did feel bad but seriously dude, move around me and pick a lane. We aren't pros and if you are swimming with me the likely hood of you getting a slot to KONA is out the window! I pressed on and got out of the water in great shape time. 1:08:43

T1 was pretty cool. I saw my family as soon as I got out of the water. Wetsuit strippers were huge. I forgot that I decided to wear a Speedo under my wetsuit but was quickly reminded when I was a bit chilled running the 350 yard to the changing tent. I had a good laugh with myself. Quick change and off on the bike. It was pouring. I was wondering how I was going to handle the 9 mile downhill in Keene. I was drinking and eating and right on pace. Got to the first aid station, Jay Curry thanks for the help, and onto the hills. This thing was massive. As I started the descent I was lightly tapping my breaks. then I was in a full on squeeze. at 45 mph and cramping triceps I was praying that I would not crash. I finally hit the bottom and tuned towards Jay. That is when I started to get stomach pain. I was like a bad cramp. I was trying to figure out what the hell it was. Thankfully we were in a flat part of the course b/c I just sat in my aerobars and plugged along. Finally got to mile 56 and ready to turn back out . I got my special needs bag and started eating. I was hoping that was my problem. Come to think of it I drank 4 Gatorade endurance bottles and 2 gu's on the first loop. I think I over ate. The funny thing was, the harder I went the better I felt. so after another arm cramping descent I started to pick it up. I slowly started to feel better. At mile 91 I saw the scariest crash in my life. First I know that drafting goes on and I hate. There were about 10 guys that I came up on and couldn't really get around them. Finally I switched gears and stood up and took off past them. As soon as I got in front of them , a guy in the middle went down causing a chain reaction. All I heard was the sound of Carbon being broke and air taken from their lungs. Man was I lucky. I then focused on just getting back to town. I did, in 5:51:9. I averaged 19.1 mph spot on!

T2 was uneventful. A quick change and off I went. It never crossed my mind how many people were out there cheering us on! It was awesome. the start of the marathon was all downhill, I had my first mile at about 7:40. I am not sure b/c I didn't lap my watch until mile 1. oh well. From there I wanted to keep with my plan and cover as much ground as comfortably as possible before breaking down. I wasn't really sure how well I would run but I felt great! So I just ran and focused on good form and hydration. I think I hit the half way at about 1:50. At that point I was just waiting to blow up! But I didn't I kept chugging along. The fact that I saw my family so much was inspiring b/c I knew that they were waiting in the pouring rain for me to finish this damn thing. I kept running. I could feel IT start to tighten up. I decided to stop and stretch for 15 seconds at mile 18. It felt better and I held what I thought was a moderate pace until mile 20. There is when I started to do the math to see what I would have to do to break 11 hours. I figured I could put it all on the line for 6.2 miles and finish under 11 hours. That was when i took the right back onto route 73. Climbing the hills couldn't have come at a better time because I wanted to fight. I was filled with emotion and drive and I just wanted to finish. As I got through the hills I saw Pat Cononica, (thank you for the kind words, I hope I can accomplish as much as you have) running like a trooper! I am thinking this guys had blood clots in lugs from climbing one of the biggest mts in the world! hell he is going to eat this up! I finally made it back to main st and the to the turn just after the 25 mile marker and that is where I saw a good friend Woody Freese, He has done all 9 LP's and did finish his 10th. He gave great words of encouragement and a pat on the back as headed into the oval and he went out for his second loop. Then I saw my family, I stopped to give hugs and kisses. Then I went in for the moment I had been waiting for. At 5:56 PM Ghram Fraser said it first, "Kevin Reen, you are an IRONMAN".

Finish time 10:56:06
260/2334=overall
51/238= M 30-34

Thank you to my wonderful wife Lynn, my ironmate, I couldn't have any of this without you!!!