Ready for Ironman Lake Placid 2025: A Chat with Debbie Nack & Katie Lee
As the anticipation builds for tomorrow's big race for Ironman Lake Placid 2025, we had the chance to catch up with PTC athletes Debbie Nack and Katie Lee. They share their reflections on previously racing Ironman Lake Placid (IMLP), what's different this time around, and the mindset that keeps them pushing through.
Quoc: To start, Ironman Lake Placid is perhaps the most popular 140.6 in the United States aside from Kona with athletes coming back multiple times. How many times have you raced IMLP and what were your biggest takeaways from those races?
Debbie Nack: I have done IMLP twice- once in 2019 and again in 2021. My biggest lesson was in nutrition. In 2019, it was hot - much hotter than you would expect here. And although I had tried through hot weather to prepare for the race, I got nervous and didn’t trust what I had done in training. Instead, I almost doubled my sodium intake on race day because and it made me very nauseous. I spent the last 30 or so miles on the bike and the first half of the run trying to keep everything down. By the turnaround on the run, the nausea subsided I was strong through the finish. In 2021, I trusted my nutrition plan, executed it perfectly and had a great day!
Quoc: Why do IMLP again? What have you done differently this time around?
Katie Lee: One of my friends signed up for the race, and I realized I would have too much FOMO not doing it again since I really loved my first experience. I also liked the idea of coming back to the same race and seeing if I could either do a bit better or just enjoy it all a little more now that I know what to expect.
This year, I've done less volume in terms of training but feel like I came into training with a better base. According to my coach, I may have been doing a little too much too early in my training last year, so we'll see if scaling that back pays off this time around!
Debbie Nack: I chose this race again for the same reason I chose it the first 2 times…Lake Placid is a magical place. The course is grueling but my feeling is that if I am going to be out there all day, I want to be surrounded (and hopefully distracted by) the beauty of this magical place. And let me just say….with finish times of 14:22 and 13:49 respectively, I get my money’s worth, lol!! In terms of things done differently this time around, I have been more focused on post-workout recovery/nutrition because that is something that I don’t always prioritize.
Quoc: Any specific memorable moments or lessons you've learned training for this Ironman?
Katie Lee: I was surprised that this time around has been a little harder training-wise, dealing with some back and hip pain and trying to find all the time needed to train. I've definitely learned more about how to try to train for this distance in a more sustainable way. I really felt training starting to drain on me, with my body not feeling great and being stressed about fitting it all in.
I needed a bit of a reality check that training and doing this sport is really meant to add to my life positively and help cope with stress, not cause it. Which meant giving myself some grace to let training fit into life where it could and not try to adjust my life around training, and trust that I'll have done the best I could to prepare myself.
Debbie Nack: Running The Light At The End of The Tunnel Marathon in June out in Washington State was a very memorable training run! I highly recommend it.
Quoc: During a day full of mental challenges, any favorite mantras or self-talk you like to use to keep pushing through?
Katie Lee: During races, I like to think about people who are supporting me there, tracking me, who made sacrifices, and helped me through training – to keep going for them. This probably sounds a little cheesy, but I also like the idea that I'm pushing myself on race day for the version of me who was struggling through a training day on her own. We deserve and earned that effort on race day from all of the tough training we went through to get there.
Debbie Nack: On race day, I have a list prepared in my mind of people in my life who have motivated or inspired me by the personal obstacles they have overcome. I choose one person for each mile from miles 20 through 26 of the marathon and I spend each of those miles trying to think only of the person I selected for that mile. I have done this since my 2nd marathon in Boston in 1998 for every one of my 50+ marathons and it brings me strength when I need it most. The other simple thing that I do is I tell myself, “ 5 more miles is just to Boathouse Row and back or it’s only 20 more laps on the track and you’ve done that more times than you can count!”.
Quoc: What's your favorite multi-sport related purchase so far in 2025?
Katie Lee: I really haven't bought much this year, but I am racing in a new kit with the Oval Endurance team. I have to do a shameless plug for my boyfriend and fellow PTC teammate, Justin (Ehring), who I'm very lucky to have as my coach. He's a very motivating yet realistic coach, so I'd highly recommend him to anyone looking! You can check out his website here: https://www.ovalendurance.com or reach out to Justin Ehring through the PTC group.
I also have to add a plug here for my dad, who has been the best training partner to me for the past 12 years. He is showing off the SlipStream at the Placid Expo this year – it's an awesome, more affordable product for at-home swimming. Website here: https://swimslipstream.com or you can reach out to John Lee (also a PTC member) through the PTC group to learn more!
Debbie Nack: Favorite multi-sport purchase this year...I LOVE my new Garmin 965!
Quoc: Thanks so much for sharing a part of your journey. You will both be amazing on race day. Any final thoughts?
Debbie Nack: One last thing I will add is what I am looking forward to most this time around- I hope the announcer doesn’t miss me for the 3rd time!! I have yet to hear “Debbie Nack, you are an Ironman” when I am coming across the finish line! This year, I think I will stop in the middle of the “runway” and wait for it:)
Katie Lee: Going through these questions was such a nice way to reflect before the race, I appreciate the opportunity!
Good luck to Debbie, Katie and all the athletes competing in Ironman Lake Placid 2025!