Accenture Chicago Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic


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Chicago, Illinois
United States
Capri Events
 		Total Time = 2h 55m 39s
Overall Rank = 1296/3632
Age Group = M45-49
Age Group Rank = 92/198
Pre-race routine:

We woke up at 3.30 to leave for the transition area at 4.30. Had the usual shower and breakfast, and a ride of surreal beauty to the course. Setting up in the dark was a challenge--I must bring a headlamp next time--but went OK. I made several practice runs to find my bike among the 7000 parked there.

Then I watched my wife's start in the sprint distance race, walked along the seawall with her for the entire swim (very cool to be able to do this), then killed the two hours before my own start.
Swim
  • 31m 47s
  • 1500 meters
  • 02m 07s / 100 meters
Comments:

Chip time (with long run to T1) was 35:25.
It took long enough to get my wave into the water for the treading start that the horn went off just as I jumped in. But there was enough traffic to wait for anyway that this didn't make any difference.
About halfway through I looked up at the shore and there was my wife (done with her entire race--that's how big this thing is--cheering me on.
What would you do differently?:

Go out a little harder, but overall this felt good and was as fast as anything I've done. Wetsuit was a toss-up at 72 degrees.
Transition 1
  • 07m 30s
Comments:

Includes long run to T1
Official T1 time was 3:29
Bike
  • 1h 13m 38s
  • 24.85 miles
  • 20.25 mile/hr
Comments:

This felt really good--I focused on keeping my cadence at 90 or above and not worrying about speed. I passed a lot of people, mostly in other waves and age groups. It's nice to feel fast, anyway.
Transition 2
  • 03m 36s
Run
  • 59m
  • 6.16 miles
  • 09m 35s  min/mile
Comments:

The run was tough for me, as always, but very steady--almost exactly even splits.
Post race
Warm down:

Several minutes in front of the misting fans.

Event comments:

This is an event you have to see to believe: 7000 bicycles in the transition area, 50 swim waves, a swim you can follow every stroke from just a few feet away, and bike and run courses right in town. Extremely well organized for such a massive event. The large turnout of once-a-year racers and first-timers means that experienced triathletes, even the slow ones, look better in the results.

My time goal was to get under 3 hours and be at least MOP. Made both; a good end to the season.




Last updated: 2005-08-29 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:31:47 | 1500 meters | 02m 07s / 100meters
Age Group: 105/198
Overall: 1618/3632
Performance:
Suit: Sleeveless
Course: South along the seawall towards the Field Museum, then a turnaround and a long leg north. The first leg, with traffic going in both directions, was amazingly crowded and slow, but the second part was open, fast and fun. The lake is unbelievably clean--you could see the bottom clearly the entire swim.
Start type: Plus:
Water temp: 72F / 22C Current:
200M Perf. Remainder:
Breathing: Drafting:
Waves: Navigation:
Rounding:
T1
Time: 07:30
Performance:
Cap removal: Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike:
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
01:13:38 | 24.85 miles | 20.25 mile/hr
Age Group: 81/198
Overall: 987/3632
Performance:
Course was a little long--maybe a mile; official stats and my computer each say that the average was 20.5
Wind:
Course: Two long loops on LSD--very scenic, with some treacherous hummocks. You could see them coming by the piles of ejected waterbottles.
Road:   Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills:
Race pace: Drinks:
T2
Time: 03:36
Overall:
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
00:59:00 | 06.16 miles | 09m 35s  min/mile
Age Group: 110/198
Overall: 1567/3632
Performance:
Course: Nice tour of the Museum campus to McCormick Place and back.
Keeping cool Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?
Evaluation
Course challenge
Organized?
Events on-time?
Lots of volunteers?
Plenty of drinks?
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5]