By MIKE RUSSO
More than 4,000 miles of bike training, 1,400 miles of running, 40 hours of swimming, 50 hours of weights and miscellaneous other training is complete, and all that remains is in the hands of God. At the risk of sounding clichŽ, the only thing you can control during race week is your attitude, which has the greatest impact on the final result.
James Armata was yet another triathlete representing East Meadow at the Ironman U.S.A. competition in upstate Lake Placid on July 20. Armata, a resident since 1992, had been running marathons since 1997, and said he was looking for something more challenging when he first entered an Ironman in 2000. He was most interested in a cross-training type of event because he felt that he would be able to do that for a longer period of time. He has taken part in the Lake Placid Ironman every other year.
"I felt that cross-training would be less abuse on my body, but then I jumped to the Ironman and that just waived everything," Armata said.
"Abuse" may be an understatement when it comes to describing an Ironman triathlon. It comprises a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike leg and a 26.2-mile run, and it's a daunting challenge in the best of conditions. This year, 3 inches of steady, sometimes torrential rain soaked Armata and the 2,300 other
competitors from the beginning of the event to the end.
Race morning arrives, and in many ways it's a combination of relief and total terror. So many fantastic details of preparation are behind us, but the mountains look cold and dark before the race, the tension in the air is indescribable, and it takes every part of your being to release the paralyzing effects of the morning and get ready to toe the line. The march to the swim feels like I'm going to the gallows.
Armata described the swimming leg of the triathlon as a "nightmare," with 2,300 people slapping and pounding the water as they negotiated the Lake Placid course. Not long after the start, Armata had something of a panic attack, almost giving up before pulling himself together. He completed the swim in one hour, 18 minutes, just three minutes shy of his best time. He couldn't wait to get out of the water, but thanks to the heavy rain, he was dripping wet for the duration of the day.
"The ongoing theme in my mind is, at least I'm out of the water," Armata said. "But I had to have a chuckle because as the day progressed, I really wasn't out of the water because of the rain. It was a combination of being pelted with rain coming in sideways, trying to stay warm and trying not to crash. It took a lot of energy out of me."
Enduring first the bike leg and then the marathon run, Armata crossed the finish line in 13 hours, 17 minutes, not far off his best time - in much nicer weather - of 12:37.
Preparing for an Ironman requires constant training, he explained. He runs the 6-mile loop around Central Park, sometimes adding a mile, the distance to the park from the Dalton School, where he teaches phys. ed. Last year Armata did almost 50 of those loops to prepare for Lake Placid.
Above all, however, he credits his success to his wife, Karen and daughters, Casey, 12, and Amy, 9, who have supported him through all of his marathons and triathlons. Up until this year, Armata used to have his daughters cross the finish line with him, but this year the rules were changed, and they weren't allowed. So they cheered him from nearby.
Armata, who turned 45 this week, is significantly older than most Ironman competitors. In 2000, in his first attempt at the all-day ordeal, it took him much longer to finish. Nevertheless, his wife was waiting for him at the finish line at 11:30 p.m. - with the girls, who were ages 2 and 6 months at the time.
"[Karen's] been my strength," Armata said. "She is such a good woman. She carries me and takes care of the children in an unprecedented way. She is my Ironman."
The good karma that was with me throughout the trip never left me. Despite torrential downpours, there was a reason, which is never really understood. The path that was paved to get to the finish was clearly a blessing, and one in which I will forever be grateful.
Comments about this story? MRusso@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283
