Race Day at Lake George: Timeline, Common Mistakes, and Backup Plans

The Week Before: Eliminate the Unknowns

This is a first edition: many operational details (cutoff times, aid stations, parking) haven't been published yet. In the weeks before the race, check the Pre Race Info section of the official website and read the athlete guide the moment it drops, line by line. Your last swims should be in cold open water: with an average of 18°C the wetsuit is almost a given, and managing the first 200 meters in cold water is something you learn beforehand, not on race day.

Two Days Out: Arrival and Recon

Arrive with a buffer, ideally Thursday or Friday. Priorities in order:

1. Packet pickup and briefing: with an organization that hasn't been battle-tested, expect lines and budget more time than usual. 2. Recon the climb out of town: according to unofficial estimates, that's where the bike course's elevation gain is concentrated, and it's the section athlete chatter points to as key. Drive it or ride it. 3. Short swim in the lake, in your wetsuit: check the actual temperature and the visibility, described as good in one of the cleanest lakes in the US.

The Day Before: Check-In and a Written Plan

T1 and T2 are on the same field near the lake: a single check-in, simple logistics. Rack your bike, memorize the flows (swim exit, bike out, run out), and write down your race plan: a power cap for the opening climb, pace for the first run lap, hydration plan. Early dinner, no experiments.

Race Morning: Manage the Cold

In June the low is 9°C. The morning in transition will be cold, with temps swinging up to 25°C in the afternoon. Bring a throwaway extra layer or one to drop in your street wear bag: shivering for an hour before the start costs energy. In 18°C water, ease in: controlled breathing for the first 200 meters—that's where the cold does the most damage to your rhythm. It's a single lap, with a beach start and finish.

The Three Classic Mistakes at This Race

1. Going all-out in the cold swim. The initial vasoconstriction at 18°C punishes anyone who sprints off the beach. First 200 meters under control, then build. 2. Attacking the climb out of T1. Cold legs, adrenaline, gradient: the perfect mix to torch your race in the first 30 minutes. Power cap and patience: the plateau and descent give the time back. 3. Running the first lap of the half as if it were flat. Sources disagree: the organizer says 'Flat,' unofficial estimates show 172 meters of gain over two laps. First lap under control, second lap managed.

Backup Plans

• Run course different from expected: prepare two pacing plans (flat/rolling) and pick one after recon.
• Colder-than-normal day: vest or arm warmers for the bike, ready in T1. Decide in the morning, not the night before.
• Cutoff times: not yet published. If you're aiming for a comfortable finish (rough estimate 6:50 overall), check the cut-offs as soon as they're released and build margins on the swim and bike.
• Last-minute organizational changes: they happen at a first edition. Check email and official channels the night before and on race morning.

Bottom Line

Three levers control this race: cold-water experience, discipline in the first 30 minutes on the bike, caution on the first run lap. Everything else is logistical margin: arrive early, verify official info, don't improvise.