Accenture Chicago Triathlon - Olympic Distance - TriathlonOlympic

Time did include the 400m + run back to transition. Swimming is my weakest discipline. Last year when I decided to sign up for my first tri I couldn't swim a lap in the pool without thinking that I was going to die. So the fact that I can actually swim a mile is a miracle in itself!

The swim start was brutal. I was surprised at how narrow a lane they gave us. I got kicked, hit, elbowed and swam over within the first 100 yards. Until getting around the first buoy there really wasn't any room to swim. Coming back up the lake was better, I finally got my HR down and was able to get into an even stroke. About 3/4 of the way through I actually started to enjoy the swim.

I need to work on being able to start out hard and then settle into a pace without my HR going through the roof. I would much rather be near the front of the pack for the first few hundred yards and then find someone to draft off of. I also have to figure out how not get so worked up getting knocked around swimming. Maybe I will have my kids jump on me when I am swimming laps so I can get used to it. I am sure that they would enjoy it!

I was happy with my T1, I had a long run through transition to my bike, but got the wetsuit off and helmet and glasses on easily. Running with the bike was a little difficult as the gap that I had between the trees was filled with guys coming back off the bike course, but made my way through to the narrow bike in/out. Some people were mounting before the timing mat, others standing there adjusting helmet and such, it was a major log jam. Got past that and jumped on bike and started pedaling on top of my shoes up the ramp to Lake Shore Drive.

Given the fact of the log jam at the bike in/out having the shoes on the bike didn't save that much time. But other than that I was happy with T1.

My bike went well. The road conditions were terrible, but they did warn of that in the course talks, so I went out expecting it. I felt bad for the number of people broken down in the center median. I sure would have hated to end my day that way and was sorry that they had to.

I think I held back a little bit, as the past few races I have cramped up on the run, so I was trying to take it a little easier on my legs. In hindsight I wish that I would have pushed a little harder.

A decent T2. Had to weave in through people coming out and the in/out chute was still very congested.

Not much, it was a good transition

A good run, I skipped the first aid station as I had hydrated well on the bike, after that I took a water and a gatorade at each, water over head and a mouthful of Gatorade. Thanks to all of the spectators and volunteers at the turnaround. The cheering was awesome!

I was worried about cramping, as I have in my past two tris, but my legs felt really good after the bike. I think all of the brick workouts have paid off. I have decided that the run is a lot of mental conditioning as well as physical. There are many times that I wanted to stop, slow down, or dive into the lake, but when you think back on those especially tough workouts you start to believe that you can do it. I knew that I was a little off of my goal time for the overall race, but I still ran it like I could hopefully get under it.

Not too much, that was a solid run for me. I had a little side cramping whenever I would drink the Gatorade, but I also knew that I needed the fluids and salts.

Walked around a bit, ate a couple of bananas a few cups of Gatorade and water. Stood in line for a massage for ever, but met some nice people, and the massage was a good one! Hit the BBQ, and the beer tent, sat and listened to the band play some great Dead covers. Walked back to get my swim gear checked bag and headed back to transition to get my bike and stuff.


Swim start was bad for me. I am going to work on starting hard and then settling into a steady pace without feeling like I am going to blow up. I will keep up with the brick workouts so I can confidently hammer the bike and know that my legs will hold up on the run.


This is an awesome experience. I am racing three big races this year, NY, Chicago and The Nations in DC. So far the first two have been awesome experiences, and if The Nations is as much fun as last year, it will be 3 for 3. The logistics behind a race of this size in a major city are staggering. I think with just about everything that the RDs could control they did extremely well. Everything was ontime and very organized. Lake Shore Drive was in terrible condition. I grew up near Chicago and it was always bad, but I dont remember it ever being that bad.

I would recommend this race with the advice that you need to remember the fact that it is one of the largest races in the world so it is going to be crowded, have a huge transition, and a rough bike course. But is a great race in a great city and one that I would definitely do again.