Greetings from Chicago

welcome and forgive me as i have beer gardens on the brain (thanx other beer thread starter people) BUT a strawberry blonde is a very nice/refreshing beer from, i think, petes wicked brewing.  any relation?

hope the training stays awesome.

Hello all you Chicagoland triathloners!!! I did the Naperville race last year (my very first triathlon!!!) and I'm signed up again this year! Naperville is a great race, very well organized... all female, very good environment, very nurturing, encouraging, warm and fuzzy! Seriously.... a fantastic FIRST time experience. So great I'm doing it again... and again next year... and the year after that... God willing.  

The swim is like a zig-zag thru-out Centennial beach swimming area. They start you out in heats and it is a bit crowded, so I recommend you stay to the side or rear of your heat, especially if you're not a strong swimmer. If you're a strong swimmer and can maintain, get right up front... there was some bumping and thrashing about, which surprised me, but I've found is to be expected in open water, mass starts.... The bike was very fast and flat. I did it on a mountain bike last year... looking forward to doing it on skinnier tires this year. The run was also flat. All finishers got medals. Your name is printed on your bib so people actually cheer for you by NAME as you round corners, pass by, and cross the finish line!!!

I did two other races last year, aside from Naperville, and I found that Naperville was by far the most well organized, and most well thought out. (It also had the best goodie bag!!!)  

I would definitely be interested in "tri" ing to get together with you guys... I'm way up north in Crystal Lake. We could definitely plan on meeting the day before at the expo if you want!!! I'm in! I'm in!

Let me know... Good Luck to all of you!!!

LW 

Andrea, sounds like you live near me!!! I also train on my own.

LW

I'm not signed up for that bike thing this weekend...

The expo last year was a place where you could meet some famous female triathletes... Michellie Jones was there last year... I think there were others also, but I was oblivious. I didn't even know who Michellie was!!??!? She actually competed in the race too. I hope there's someone famous there this year... Now that I read IT and Triathlete, I actually know who these athletes are, and would definitely be interested in seeing/meeting them.

 Aside from that, of course, there is a "course talk..." which basically outlines the course, shows you on a map how to exit the swim and then which route to take back to the Trans. area... and then where to exit, etc etc... There may have been some other "seminar" type things, but I didn't stay for them, as my sister had competed in this race twice before and told me I didn't need them! I kicked myself later, standing at the start of the swim...scared and nervous, for not learning more about what I was supposed to be doing here... so if there's something that looks/sounds interesting... we should plan to attend this year!!!  You also pick up your goodie bag (WOO WOO!) and Tshirt, and get your timing chip and body marking... There's also some vendors @ the expo... shoes, t-shirts, wetsuits, tri-suits, health food stuff, samples galore, fruit juice etc etc...I think we should be getting email updates from Reebok as the time grows closer....

I thought I remembered hearing that the expo was going to be in a different location than it was last year??? Let's wait to see exactly where it's going to be... then we can plan on meeting at a specified time near the area where they give the course talk? What do you all think?

Tell me more about yourselves...how/why did you get involved in this obsession  sport?

My sister and her husband dragged me, kicking and screaming to my first 5K... It took me something like 40 minutes to finish, but I was hooked. They both had already competed in several triathlons apiece, brother in law is a two time IRONMAN, and they encouraged me to start also... so I did, and here I am... I love what triathlon has done for my self confidence, it's given me a "hobby" and it's really taken my previously boring aerobics workouts to a whole new level!!! It's exercise with a goal.

OK I'm getting wordy. Have a great day, Chicago-girls!

LW