Chicago Triathlon - Olympic Distance - TriathlonOlympic

I need to learn to be more vocal and seed myself at the front of the pack. I ended up leading my wave with one guy drafting me pretty much the whole way. It was a frenzy for the first 150-200. Overall felt great.
I think the quarter mile run from swim out to the bike area is included in this time also.

Seed myself at the front.

Don't know what happened to my T1 split. It was posted yesterday, and was over 2 min. Not that great, but I wasn't rushing. I also dropped a GU running from swim out to the bike area. Cost me some time.

Nothing I can think of.

I should have pushed the bike a bit more. I think I was a little psyched out after the course talk from all the discussions of the bad road conditions. I was a bit paranoid about having a flat or other problem. I hit a big pothole in the first 1/3 of the ride, but survived OK. Also, I think some people forgot about the whole slower riders staying to the left. I had to pass some folks on the far right, and had to slow down a few time b/c the course talk said passing on the left was not allowed and some slower riders were on the far right.

Push it more and not worry about mechanical problems or road conditions.

Bad transition. For whatever reason I went in on the opposite side of the rack than I left from. Had a terrible time racking my bike.

Learn to rack my bike

Started off feeling strong, then I started to feel the heat. Wow was it hot on the course. Way more people walking than running. I was just trying to survive.

I would say train in the heat more, but I have done quite a few runs in the heat and high humidity, and it didn't seem to help.

Walking around trying not to pass out.


Experience (this was my first Olympic distance) and the heat.


They ran out of cups toward the end of the run, but the volunteers improvised and asked if we wanted water from the jugs dumped on us or if we wanted a pull. I was so hot I opted for a shower. I applaud the volunteers for improvising. Lots of spectators to keep you going. All volunteers were awesome.