2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run. For a while now I’ve wanted to see it in person, and as it turns out, this was the year! A good friend of ours participated, and it was incredible to see his commitment and sacrifice over the past 12 months pay off on race day as he crossed the finish line to complete his very first Ironman.

When I started doing triathlons a few years ago, I never thought I’d have any interest in going beyond the standard sprint race – .5 mile swim, 15 mile bike, 3.1 mile run. This year, I completed my first Half Iron – 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run. Somewhere in between, I realized that I liked running more than the once-around-the-track I did in high school. And that a few hours on the bike was in fact how I wanted to spend my Me-time. Not to mention if your training partners are training for marathons, century rides and voyages across the sea, you tend to lean in that direction yourself.

Still, an Ironman is nothing to kid about! Being there the full 12+ hours it took many to complete the event made me realize just what an undertaking it is. But it also reminded me of the many reasons why I’m so attracted to this sport. I’ll skip the list, but highlight a key point. Triathletes represent a variety of ages and abilities, and I like the idea that anyone who sets personal goals and puts in the required training to reach those goals – whatever the distance – can be successful.

Six hours of snowshoeing to the top of Mount Marcy… then a whole lot of fun sledding back down! Talk about feeling like a kid again.

A few months ago, I started hearing some chatter about a “High Peaks Challenge” in the Adirondack Region of Northern New York State. Something about a 24-hour hike up a handful of the highest peaks… looking for a select few who were willing to push themselves to the edge, and maybe over a little. The group would begin in daylight hours, push through the night by headlamp, and count on a majestic sunrise for an energized finish.

Those causing the chatter (my husband and a few crazy friends) had tackled a similar feat last year, mastering 5 peaks in just under 18 hours. “Count me in!” I thought. I’m an athlete for goodness sake, how tough could it be. I was mostly concerned about the 15,000+ calories we were expected to burn (I really don’t like an empty stomach) and protecting myself against the mosquitoes and black flies we were bound to encounter. I sort of forgot about my fear of heights – never mind extreme altitudes, sheer cliffs and scrambling along near vertical rock ledges. Oops.

Day pack, check. Hydration packs, water purification, check. Gaiters, dry socks, rain gear, electrolytes, food and fuel, check. Don’t Bite Me patch – big check. (Worked like a charm!) 5 hour energy, just in case, check. Point and shoot camera, batteries, extra memory card, check.

I’ve never hiked the Adirondack Mountains before. It’s a long way up! Rocky stream beds and long stretches of bare rock to climb. Then it’s a long way back down again. But what a view from above. Night hiking was strange, a little scary at times, but really cool. We didn’t really see anyone else all night long, nor did we hear any signs of life in fact. It was silent aside from our own breathing and boots brushing against the rock and sticking in the gushy bogs.

In the end, it was an incredible adventure that included 4 of the highest peaks. Mud covered, quads tight and spirits high, we climbed the final 5,344 feet to the top of the highest, Mount Marcy, at 1pm Saturday for a grand total of 8 peaks in 24 hours. Make that 29 continuous hours of hiking in and out of the park, 22.5 miles and 11,800 ft of gain and loss when all was said and done.

I never imagined a bed at a Comfort Inn could feel so good.

MULTIMEDIA Adirondack Hike 2009:

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