Accenture Chicago Triathlon - Olympic Distance - TriathlonOlympic

Brutal at the beginning. No room at all. Finally thinned out a bit, but I still never felt like I got a chance to truly get into a rhythm, as there would always be someone in the way, either in front or next to me. Got kicked in the face twice but luckily neither kick caught my nose or jarred my goggled loose. I love this swim course and hate it at the same time...the navigation is sooo easy with the seawall right there and the boats on the other side, but being the biggest tri in the world, there are lots of people and it's a battle. Overall, my time was decent, about what I expected so I'm fine with my swim performance.

Keep pressing forward, there were a couple times when I felt like I was in a big pack so I would stop, slow down and wait for the people I was battling to get ahead of me so I could have some space...but it never worked because as soon as they got ahead and I started going again, there were more people coming from behind and I'd find myself in the same situation.

Wetsuit is sooo hard to get off my heels. Took me forever to wiggle out of that thing. Also, bike shoes are bike shoes with 3 straps on each shoe, not tri shoes, so that costs me some time.

Rip wetsuit off quicker.

Tough head wind heading north. Nice tailwind heading south though. After first loop, it was really a kick in the nuts to have to turn back into that headwind. Very rough dangerous road, and lots of people not following the passing and riding rules, I'm just glad I escaped without a flat or a crash.

I thought I did this one ok, I don't remember any big hangups, but the time is a bit slow.

Just move faster.

I could feel it coming, then just after first mile both quads cramped up like crazy. Stopped and stretched and took some water, walked a bit, then the cramps pretty much went away. First mile was 8:30 pace, then because of the stretching/walking, it went up to about 9:30 or slower for the rest fo the race. Hot going south, it was after noon and sun was in full force. I was struggling the whole time. Turned around to come back north and the wind helped cool me down, but was pretty strong in my face. Cramps were creeping back in at around 5 mile mark, some side stitches made their prescence felt and even a blister, that surprised me. Overall, it was basically a huge gut check, which I don't feel I fully rose to. It's easy to say now that it's over, but since there was no one thing that was totally holding me back I feel like I should have been able to push a little harder and not walk at all.

Just try to find a mental zone that pushes the pain down and allows me to fight a bit harder. I'm not terribly dissapointed, but alos don't feel totally satisfied.

Walk around a bit in a daze, slam some cold ice water, stand in front of cold mist fan. Then a couple beers a some food.


It sounds like excuses, but it sucks starting so late in the day...makes the wind and heat much worse than first thing in the morning.


Seemed like everybody in the late waves times were down from last year, at least the people I talked to. I was 4 minutes slower than last year, I wanted to be 4 minutes faster! My ranks were down a bit too, so I didn't exactly perform great. I'm ok with it though, I think I did the best I could for that day.