Ironman Lake Placid is a unique and iconic triathlon event that stands out for its historic and scenic location. The race takes place in Lake Placid, a small village in New York State’s Adirondack Mountains, famous for hosting the Winter Olympics twice.
Set for July 2024, Ironman Lake Placid is one of the most difficult courses, offering athletes varied terrain and substantial elevation gain. It’s become a favorite among Ironman competitors and one of the sport’s most popular courses.
Ironman Chattanooga at a Glance
| When | July 21, 2024 |
| Swim | 2.4-Mile Lake Swim; 2 Laps |
| Bike | 112-Mile Hilly Bike; 2 Laps |
| Run | 26.2-Mile Hilly Run; 2 Laps |
| Qualifying Slots | IRONMAN World Championship |
| More Info | IRONMAN.com | Facebook |
Ironman Lake Placid Course Recon
The Ironman Lake Placid course showcases the stunning backdrop of the Adirondacks, starting with a 2.4-mile swim in the pristine Mirror Lake, a testing 112-mile bike ride through the beautiful Adirondack Mountains, and a full marathon (26.2 miles) through the town of Lake Placid.
Swim
Ironman Lake Placid 2024 starts with a 2.4-mile swim that takes place in Mirror Lake, which closely neighbors Lake Placid. The lake is known for its calm and clear waters and predictable temperatures in the high 60s to low 70s, providing favorable swimming conditions.
Kicking off with a rolling start, the swim course is a large rectangular loop in which athletes swim two clockwise laps. The swim course features a cable buoy line positioned several feet below the water’s surface, making navigation easy.
Bike
The Ironman Lake Placid bike course is a challenging yet scenic 112-mile route that traverses New York’s Adirondack Mountains. With ample climbing to be expected, athletes will face about 6,000 feet of total elevation gain, with some sections reaching steep grades upwards of 10%.
The route includes two loops with a couple of short out-and-back sectors with U-turns. The most notable climb starts at around mile 40 and again at mile 90, before taking athletes back to transition. Consisting of pristine, smooth-rolling paved roads, the Ironman Lake Placid bike course is undoubtedly world-class.
Run
The Ironman Lake Placid run course is far from flat, packing in over 1,100 feet of elevation gain across the full 26.2-mile marathon. Athletes should be prepared for some challenging sections, with a predominantly downhill descent from the very beginning, making for a grueling return trip for lap two.
The course itself is a 2-lap out-and-back layout with aid stations at every mile. Athletes can enjoy the stunningly beautiful surroundings of the Olympic Village and Mirror Lake, as well as the vibrant energy from volunteers and spectators. The overall Lake Placid vibe is a source of motivation and inspiration during the final leg of the full Ironman distance.
As an annual tradition since 1999, Ironman Lake Placid is the second oldest Ironman race in North America. The course is remarkable and the people make it all the more memorable.
Have You Done Ironman Lake Placid?
In an effort to guide first-time athletes as they prepare for Ironman Lake Placid 2024, we’ll soon be adding short race reports to this page.
If you’ve done Ironman Lake Placid in the past and would like to share your review, send us a message summarizing your race and what year you participated.
Photo Credit: Lake Placid Swim (3), Adirondack Mountains (4), Ironman Run (5)