Accenture Chicago Triathlon - Olympic Distance - TriathlonOlympic

I was relaxed, kind of zig zagged a bunch - but not initially - was following feet and missed the buoy to turn around - that is when the zig zag started. Finally about the half way mark I settled in and breathed on my left side which let me see the crowd of spectators - that actually helped! Did not breast stroke much. By the end I was passing people who had passed me. I felt good and strong and could see doing a HIM.

perhaps find a way to warm up. The big thing is I was relaxed and ENJOYED the swim!

so I was as far from bike in out as possible - only the relays were further. I am fine with how I handled it.

oh yeah as I pulled my wetsuit off my chip came off with it - fortunately as I put my sunglasses on I noticed and put it back on!

I did NOT hammer, took it easy and just enjoyed it. Road was rough and debris was EVERYWHERE - water bottles, tools, sponges. Lots of people with crappy bike handling skills - one girl on a P2C with aero helmet who could not for the life of her hold a line - she was in her second loop me in my first we played cat and mouse a bunch. then she was essentially blocking but clearly not on purpose. If you are going to be all decked out learn how to handle your dang bike!

I might have been able to go harder and still been ok on run - I purposely held back but still was passing most people. Enjoyed the view, and people with cowbells, honking, yelling out their cars - it was fun!

long run through transition!
other women there, chatted whilst changing. Lots of the relay folks blocking the way. grr

nothing

I had a hard time with cramping. First had a side stitch in my oblique - did Trixie's idea of go down hard with opposite foot and breath out hard. Seemed to help but then fairly early had intestinal cramping and later nausea. Thought for sure I was going to crap myself and then hurl but did neither. Had to walk a bunch and run slow. The good news is that I got to see the pros and was passed by the top 5 men.....rear view of Potts, Reed....and the others were headed out as I was headed in - that was cool to see. Did rally for the final half mile and ran it in - in pain but still managed to smile and get my arms up. Should be a good video and pic.

figure out why the heck I was cramping and not have that happen so I can actually run..This was the only part that I was not fully having fun. It continued past the race.

gave in my chip and kept going - felt like I had food poisoning. grabbed water but skipped the food etc. just kept walking and went to transition and got my stuff - ate one shot block. walked back to hotel packed showered and lay down curled with pillow. WISHED whatever was doing this would exit my body.


some intestinal distress that never fully developed!


Incredibly well organized. Such an amazing thing to be part of 9000 people racing! That is cool. I was really happy to be part of an event. It took the pressure totally off for me and I just enjoyed myself. Even with the GI stuff that hit at the run and post race. It was fun meeting people like David and Trixie and Tony. I think this is one of those must do races at some point but not sure I want to do such a huge one again. The views were incredible whilst racing and the whole crowd was great. I loved all the spectators especially during the swim! That was great being next to the pier even if it meant swallowing diesel...It was amazing seeing so many fit people out doing this and I was one of them!
I like the longer distance - what a shocker!!! This was my first Olympic and I think because it was so big the pressure was off and I just had fun.

They put up percentiles on the accenture site: 60% overall, 74% for gender, 81% for division (cool)

56% on swim 72% on bike 51% on run

so above average even with my slow azz run!!!