Ironman Lake Placid showcases elite competitors

The annual Ironman Lake Placid Triathlon in Lake Placid, N.Y., was held July 20, as thousands of triathletes tackled the 2.5-mile swim, the 112-mile bike and a 26.2-mile marathon. Ironman Lake Placid is the third-most recommended in the world, while also ranked second among the best run in the North American Region and the third-best overall race in the North American Region. My son, Jake, raced in the pro division in 2024, finishing in the top 30 in 9:03:00, and I was lucky enough to experience the whole event from start to finish.

It’s interesting to see how the time for the top overall male performance has dropped each year since 2019. In 2019, it was Matthew Russell winning in 8:27:57, while 2021 was Rasmus Svenningsson take the title in 8:13:24. Cody Beals won in 2022 in 8:15:10, then Joe Skipper won in 2013 in 8:03:45. Trevor Foley won in 2024, becoming the first to break the eight-hour mark in 7:55:23, while this year it was Matthew Marquardt winning the title in a time of 7:50:08. That’s a 37-minute improvement in six years, which is very unusual in an event of this caliber.

On the female side, Solveig Loevseth shattered the course record and became the first female under nine hours with a winning time of 8:43:29. The next-fastest winning time was back in 2022 when Sarah True won in 9:00:21. The 112-mile bike ride 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 are 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.

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 Dam Mill 5K

The Dam Mill 5K, one of the oldest events in the state at 42 years, is nicknamed The Best Little Race in Delaware. It will take place at 7:30 a.m., Sunday, July 27. The race will start and finish at Cupola Park in Millsboro. This is the ninth event in the popular Seashore Striders Summer Racing Series. The Striders will also add to the popular Dam Mill Hall of Fame and ask that any and all hall of famers attend the event to be recognized.            

Two races to go

There are just two races to go in the Seashore Striders Summer Racing Series. The male 70-74 age group is the largest set of qualifiers so far with 10 qualified, while the female 35-39 group leads the way with eight. The series has 67 runners who have qualified this season, while 27 need just one more 5K and 32 need two more 5Ks. The record is 136 for the series, and we have the potential to have 126 qualify. The series race numbers are up 30%, a trend over the past three years. Here is a look at the leaders with two races to go.  

Overall leaders – Matt Sparacino and Lisa Sherman; masters leaders – Martin Rodriguez and Jamie Hicks; 10-13 – Mackenzie Bean and Jacob Moffitt;  14-19:  Keiran Labarre and Quade Cummings; 20-24 – CJ Carroll; 25-29 – Amberlie Rice and Eric Bartow; 30-34 – Elizabeth Rivera and Steven Eshelman; 35-39 – Angela Messick and Beau Croll; 40-44 – Natalie Tyre and Matthew Whalen; 45-49 – Tabitha Palkewicz and Robert Hicks; 50-54 – Tanya Karaman and Bryan Bowles; 55-59 – Mardiny Ung and Paul Timmons; 60-64 – Sheila Young and Sam Piazza; 65-69 – Cathy Haut and Tim Young; 70-74 – Teri Moore and Richard Tikiob; 75-79 – Mary Kessler and Woody Disharoon; 80+ –  Jamie Wollard and Bernie Gallagher; 5K male walk – Rick Day; 5K female walk – Laurie Yanacek.

To qualify for the series, one had to complete one five-miler and five 5Ks along with completing one Strider good deed sometime throughout the summer. The complete rules and examples of the good deeds can be found at seashorestriders.com.