Otis Resident Becomes Iron Man

By Jackie Brouillette
September 2026

If you've spent any time driving around East Otis over the past year, chances are you've seen Ben Foster training.

Whether he was running the back roads, biking the hills, or swimming in the Reservoir, he was putting in the miles. On July 19, all that hard work paid off when he crossed the finish line at Ironman Lake Placid.

An Ironman is no small feat. Athletes complete a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile marathon, all in one day and all within strict cutoff times.

When I asked Ben what the hardest part of the day was, he didn't have to think twice.

"Definitely the bike. It's 112 miles over two 56-mile loops, and the last 20 miles are mostly uphill back into town. After riding more than 90 miles, just making it up those climbs while racing the cutoff time was by far the hardest part."

Even thinking about it now, Ben couldn't help but laugh.

"Your body just wants to quit because it's so hard," he said. "I kept telling myself, 'If I quit, I'd still have to ride back into town anyway.'"

When things got tough, Ben says it was the people around him who kept him going.

"My family, friends, volunteers, and all the spectators along the course kept me going. Even knowing people were following along on the app meant a lot."

Ironman Lake Placid is one of the longest-running Ironman races in North America, taking athletes through a 2.4-mile swim in Mirror Lake, a 112-mile bike course through the Adirondacks, and a full 26.2-mile marathon before finishing in the heart of Lake Placid. Photo: Jackie Brouillett

Living in Otis also played a big role in preparing for race day.

“Swimming in the Res was one of the highlights of my training. The hills around town definitely prepared me for race day, and I really appreciated the friendly waves and honks from people while I was out training.”

Ben's advice for anyone considering an Ironman?

"Consistency is key. Believe in the training and the work you've put into it. By race day, you've already done the hard part. You just have to get after it."

Of course, I had to ask what comes next. Ben laughed and said another Ironman is already on the list, along with climbing his first 20,000-foot peak, likely somewhere in South America.

Ben returned home to a handmade sign:

"Congratulations Ben! You're an IRO-MAN!" banner." The "N" may have been missing, but after 140.6 miles, he was almost too tired to notice. 

I'd say the celebration made up for the missing letter.