Accenture Chicago Triathlon - Olympic Distance - TriathlonOlympic

PB swim by a long shot, I took 4:00 off of last years time. I felt focused, had great navigation and handled the crowd of swimmers well. I was more aggressive in the water, last year I would get frustrated and take my time swimming around people. This time if someone was blocking or navigating poorly I politely swam thru. This was the swim I have been waiting for all year. Considering it was a good 1:20 run from the lake to the pad, my pace is not right above - I probably swam a 1:30/100y.

Nothing at all. Question is, what would I do the same next time?

I did well on T1, I was not pushing too hard since I wanted to follow up a great swim with a great bike. Transition went well considering I had to run 400 yards from the lake to the pad then another 200-300 yards to the bike, luckily the bike out was about 80 yrds away from the bike exit. The suit got a little stuck, but thats all.

Nothing at all. Keep practicing, keep focused. 27th in AG for transition so I guess I did ok considering with a wetsuit.

Bike went well, I probably pushed the swim a bit harder than I should but its not every day I can make up 3:00 off of my goal race time. I consumed one Gu and most of my InfinIt on the bike - I definite forced myself to drink but glad I did, it was warmer than I thought and the wind picked up nicely in time for our wave to ride. The road surface sucked big time by the way. When can they make LSD a completely nice surface? It was the worst surface in the 3 yrs I've done this race.

Nothing. If I could pay into the "Resurface Lake Shore Drive" fund I would if that counts.

I tried to do a moving dismount but the crowd was bad so I took it easy, still I got into transition well. I shaved about a minute from last years transitions (total), so I feel that I did well. 2nd OA in AG for this transition, it went well.

Nothing, it all comes down to where your wave rack is, I like being close to the bike out/in and that helps so you don't have to run far in cleats.

Run was not as fast as I was hoping, definitely the result of pushing the swim and bike, but I did well in the bike and swim so I can't complain. I got passed by only 3 other runners. It definitely got warm fast after the bike, the other issue was all the athletes, at some points it was three or four across, that definitely contributed to the time but really it came down to pace. I maintained a few ticks below 7:00 for the first 4 miles then kicked it up for the last two - maybe 6:45-6:50. I used up the gas tank fairly well.

Nothing, I've been nursing a sore knee, it was great today but I was worried about it coming back so I may have held back a bit. I probably could have pushed the first 4 miles harder but I wonder what the last two would have been like.

Post race party/expo. I ate a ton of food and went back for a second beer. Now that's what I call a warm down.


I don't like these questions, there's always the "what if" thing and frankly I had a great race and feel good about the whole thing. I have done well in other races, but this one is special. To come in 11th in AG out of 503 in a race this size is something I will never forget.


This is the most FUN tri anyone can do in my opinion. Its 8000 athletes, yes but it doesn't always feel that way. The race organizers should be complimented for this fact, the race party has a band, tons of free beer or wine, and is like a street festival. Once again, a great race in Chicago.