In the Spinerval thread I said “There is a funny story by Troy about his first Ironman in “Becoming an Ironman”. He did Lake Placid as a student a few days after a big keg party. I think he won, but I don’t recall for sure.”
Someone else said “Neat little urban legend about Troy’s first IM. He’s not won an IM though. 2nd in Canada once, IIRC. Don’t know about the kegger either.”
So I checked my book. I don’t know if it is true, but the story, as told to Kara Douglas Thom by Troy Jacobson for printing in Becoming an Ironman, is that he won his first iron distance race at Lake Sunapee New Hampshire in 9:44:16, when he was a sophomore in college.
Maybe the distinction is that it was not an IM branded race.
Anyway, like Dan Rather, I always like to check my facts, sooner or later.