Life Time Tri Chicago - Sprint Distance - TriathlonSprint

Much better than last year. Tried staying on the east side of the course but the life boats dodging in and out caused me to zig zag a lot. No problems though. Very calm water, little interference from other swimmers. Very low water level, it was really strange seeing the big algae blooms at the bottom.

Stay further away from the boats, learn how to swim faster (as usual).

Sprint group has the best transition racks- right up by bike out again this year. I didn't use the potties this year so that was a solid 2 minutes off my T1 time from last year.

Last time doing this race on my frankenstein mountain bike.

Figure out my gears earlier on. I hardly ever ride this bike so it's gearing is kind of a mystery to me.

I don't wear bike shoes so my transitions are simple. Tight racks meant I was dodging people who were walking their bikes in. Got to my rack and someone just parked her big hoopty bike using the kickstand, not actually on the rack, so of course I ended up knocking it over while trying to rack my bike. Really had to pee but decided to hold it. Put on hat and race bib while running out.

Nothing. I rock at transitions.

The bladder situation made me feel really bloated and sluggish but I soldiered on. I think I took two 2 minute walk breaks. This ended up being a triathlon PR run!!! And my fastest 5k this year. Totally shocked. I really didn't think I was moving this fast.

Nothing, apparently. Not sure if a potty break would have relieved the "pressure" enough to make the run any faster relative to the time I would have lost taking the break, but I don't think it would have - I haven't run a 35 minute 5k in over a year, so this strategy worked out well.

Grabbed food, walked around, then got a massage in the T2 VIP tent. Magical. Spent the rest of the afternoon cheering on my teammates.


Still not a fast swimmer. Bike is too heavy. No complaints on the run other than the icky bladder feeling.


I might want to try the Olympic next year... But I really like that the sprint goes first and gets the best transition racks... Weather was perfect this year. I knocked 19 minutes off my time from last year- mostly off the swim, but a few minutes off T1, bike and run too. I'd like to think that was me getting better but I think it was mostly the lack of crazy waves and wind. Overall very happy with how this race turned out!