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 Swim
Comments: The swim started off bad and only got worse. Was not expecting to go under as soon as I stepped off the ladder. Plan was to glide over the water, not sink into it immediately. So, I panicked… Immediately and never recovered. I cannot tell you if the water was cold or warm or ucky, or gasy or oily, no idea. I don't remember. Every time I thought I would recover; I got clobbered by someone or got a mouth full of water from the washing machine effect. At various points, I really thought I was going to just drown out there. Nothing was working..even the back stoke would be good for a while until a wave of people came through and I got tons of water in my face/mouth. I felt like I never swam in my life, like I never set foot in water. Shear panic. Ended up giving myself what felt like an asthma attack. I could not get air, my lungs were burning and I could not stop coughing. Imagine trying to swim with that?? Well, when I finally got to the buoy, and the guy helped me up on the ladder, I could not stop thanking him, it was like he saved my life by helping me out!! What would you do differently?: Stay away from the Chicago Tri, never again.  Transition 1
Comments: It was a long jog/walk from the swim to the T1 mat, that time is in my swim (as if they couldn't make it any worse for me). My rack was way in the back wall near the bike exit. Far away (and up a hill) from the swim in and run out. I couldn't run, tried, failed. I thought for sure that I would be the lost soul in transition, not able to find my stuff. Well, actually that is the one thing that went really well. I had no problem finding my stuff. Had my ugly pink/green striped towel and it stood out!!  Bike
Comments: I was really looking forward to the ride, but I was so spent from that swim that nothing helped. I waited to get my bearings, tried to push, struggled and then just said "screw it" enjoy the ride. every time I would push harder my lungs would burn up and I would have a coughing fit. I was spitting and hacking like a guy! YUK. What would you do differently?: See swim. Transition 2
Comments: racked my bike (had to move someone elses bike over slightly). Got my stuff on fairly easily tried to jog out. HA, yeah right!! Not a chance. Lung attack, coughing fit...walk out of transition. What would you do differently?: See swim  Run
Comments: I've never had a 5K this bad in my life. Never. I could do an easy jog..for a little while..If I started to pick up my pace, lung attack..burning and coughing. Then it started to get really hot out too. Wonderful. Walk/joged the entire run. What would you do differently?: See swim. Post race
Warm down: After I finished (unbelievable). I went over to the TWT tent and hung out, dazed and confused for a while. I wanted food and water and it hurt to talk. So I basically just sat there for while. Chatted with people as they were coming in (and as my lungs would allow), ate then when transition finally opened (about 11 am) I went to get my stuff with mervet and attempted the trip home. I was mentally fried, I was not physically tired, just mentally fried. The swim took everything I had. What limited your ability to perform faster: See swim. Event comments: Considering there were 8000 people at this race, and logistically, it was difficult due to its size, it was very well organized. I have to say that I don't have a single complaint about how the race was run, other than I didn't like having the run portion on the grass next to the paved trail WTF?? Last updated: 2010-03-27 12:00 AM
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United States
LIfetime Fitness
Sunny
Overall Rank = 2164/2285
Age Group = 40-44
Age Group Rank = 117/123
I'm writing this so I remember next year why I will not be doing this race again.
Got up at 3:00 am, had oat meal, egg white and blue berries. Loaded up the car and took off. Got to transition before it was open, so had a short wait. Got a decent spot in wave 4 a little bit down the rack. Set up my stuff, had my ugly orange/green strip towel over the bike seat so it was easy to spot. I was convinced that I was going to loose my bike in transition..and that was actually the one thing that didn't happen and actually went well!
Went up to the TWT banner, took our picture and then took off for the swim start at 6:12 am!! It was a good thing, I didn't have time to think or get anxious or anything. Kim and I jogged over to the start and did some running in place to warm up. By the time we got there, we were boiling up. Wave two was already getting in the water and we had to fight the crowd to get up to our wave group.