The leading men’s professional athletes make their way toward the end of their first of two laps on Mirror Lake for the 2.4-mile swim course of the Ironman Lake Placid on July 20. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

Ironman Lake Placid volunteer Shelly Hannon, who has completed past Ironman races, gives some words of encouragement to a racer at the start line at Mirror Lake beach on Sunday, July 20. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

Signs of encouragement greeted Ironman Lake Placid athletes at the start on Mirror Lake beach Sunday, July 20. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

An Ironman Lake Placid athlete “high-fives” a supporter while running from the swim portion to the biking transition at the Olympic Speedskating Oval in Lake Placid on Sunday, July 20. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

Elizabeth Hollo walks with her bike at the Olympic Speedskating Oval on Sunday, July 20 to begin the triathlon’s 112-mile bike portion — the middle leg between the 2.4-mile swim at the beginning and the marathon 26.2-mile run at the end. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

Ironman Lake Placid athlete Ian Ball gets on his bicycle near the Olympic Speedskating Oval on Sunday, July 20 to begin the triathlon's 112-mile bike portion — the middle leg between the 2.4-mile swim at the beginning and the marathon 26.2-mile run at the end. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

Ironman Lake Placid men’s professional athlete Sven Wies bikes through a heavy downpour on Cummings Road in Lake Placid on Sunday, July 20. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

Ironman Lake Placid men’s professional athlete Leon Chevalier begins the 26.2-mile marathon run, the triathlon’s final leg, on Main Street in Lake Placid on Sunday, July 20. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

Ironman Lake Placid men's professional athletes Matthew Marquardt, left, and Kristian Hogenhaug begin the 26.2-mile marathon run, the triathlon's final leg, on Main Street in Lake Placid on Sunday, July 20. The two were the first to begin running and Marquardt would go on to win the race with an unofficial time of 7:50:08, while Hogenhaug would finish in second place with a time of 7:56:16. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

Ironman Lake Placid athlete Shane Robertson crosses the finish line in the Olympic Speedskating Oval in Lake Placid just before 11 p.m. Sunday, July 20. (News photo — Chris Gaige)