Chicago Tri (Page 5)

It would be nice!  I know this is a "day late and a dollar short" but maybe we can work on getting better publicity next  year too.  Although I am sure we will have plenty of wonderful volunteers and fans out there this weekend supporting us!

Anybody know if the swim waves are posted?

I agree this event (sport in general) needs more publicity, but what a better time for the Mayor to bone up to his campaign for the 2016 Olympics! The Mayor should have been all over this a while ago! It's not like this is some kind of new thing here in Chicago, and what a more perfect event than the largest Tri in the world!

Go to the chicago tri website and then confirm your entry http://www.chicagotriathlon.com/?q=confirm.html
Once you find your name, click on your name and you will see your wave number and start time. 

Distance	Intermediate
Clock Time	08:30:09
Usat Num Or Paid	521743
Wave	37

The Clock Time is actually just the date of the triathlon not the wave starts.  I think you find out at the Expo.

Regardless of whether Da Mayer or Chicago 2016 people promote the 2009 triathlon or not, the IOC is likely watching.  But, its so close to announcement time that this year's race is not likely important to the 2016 bid, other than to show off City resources and logistics.  Last year's race was much more important to the Olympic bid in the promotional sense, and I dont remember if they even did anything with it.

If Chicago wins the 2016 games, Da Mayer has to work on winning the hearts and minds of a lot of people who really dont think the games should be here.  In Chicago, you dont do that by promoting a triathlon.  You do that by filling in potholes, allowing zoning variances, granting contracts, getting out of a 1.5 billion parking meter mistake and getting somebody's cousin's friend a job at the Ward office.

Sigh. I'm in the wrong business.

ugh, i'm starting to hate myself for choosing not to rent a wetsuit for this race.  I'm going to be freezing my butt off.

I'm in wave 53, hopefully the sun will have warmed up the water a tiny bit by then.

Unfortunately i've totally not trained at all for the past month so my performance will be my worst ever and i'm not expecting much out of myself - but i'm sure going to have a lot of fun at least!

I'm sure i'll be easy to spot, the only guy in the water without a wet suit.

doh


Edited by jtaddei 2009-08-27 3:05 PM

Weather is going to be ridiculously cool on Sunday.  They are talking about a 17 year "low" hi of 65 degrees or something. 

That means in the morning it's only going to be in the low 50s.  Good biking/running weather, but the swim will be crazy cold.

This was sent to me by a tri training coach.  The last part is pretty funny.

Howdy Athletes,

Many of you have asked if there are things you can do, aside from wearing a wetsuit, to prepare for a likely cold swim at this weekend's triathlon. Yes there are!

 

Acclimatization

The body is pretty good at acclimatizing to cold water. Spend as much time in the lake as you can this week. Take cold showers every day. Start with warmish water, gradually make it colder and work up to spending more time in the cold water. It's especially important to familiarize your face to these conditions.

Swim Caps

An extra swim cap on race day help, and a thermal cap under your race cap helps even more. De Soto (http://desotosport.com/products/product.asp?Category=accessories&ProdID=NC,  Blue Seventy  (http://www.blueseventy.com), and Barracuda (http://www.swimoutlet.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=2329&Click=310393)  all make thermal swim caps, and many scuba shops carry thermal swim caps as well (www.froggponddive.com).

Grease?

I'm reluctant to recommend  applying vasoline etc to your face. While it would likely help keep you warm, the cure is worse than the disease. Open water swimmers that use grease do so because wetsuits are banned in their sport, and they don't apply it to their hands or faces. Grease is likely to get in your eyes and smudge your goggles. It’s also likely to make your hands slippery on the bike and clog your pores and interfere with sweating later in the race.

Teamwork:

If everyone pours just one gallon of hot water into the lake every day, just think what could happen. ::


Edited by TeddieMao 2009-08-27 3:30 PM

Well ... I peed in the lake last time I was in there. No need to thank me, just doin' my part.

Thanks Tony!! What would we do without you!

I am planning on stopping by to see you and Robyn sometime that morning...I am going off super early so it will probably be after I am done.

Good biking weather if you are not wet...I am considering brining one of my long sleeve running shirts to throw over my tri suit if it is too cold.

well i think i wouldn't be exaggerating when i said that I can swim alright in cold water - in fact i prefer it a little on the cold side at the pool in town.

but 60some degrees?  That's enough to motivate you to swim fast so you dont freeze!



that it actually a great idea.  Thanks for saying that.

Edited by jtaddei 2009-08-27 4:09 PM

This will be quite different from my first sprint in Ohio two weeks ago.  First of all it was 95 and humid and there were only like 700 total participants.  A long sleeve shirt is a good idea and warm up pants for after the race too probably.

Beware ... have you ever tried to put on a shirt when you're wet. It's like rolling a fruit roll-up. Takes FOREVER! I did that at my first-ever tri many years ago and haven't done it since. You'll warm up on the bike soon enough.

If you must, go buy some arm warmers. They're easier to get on and off.

Yeah I agree!  I was thinking about the long sleeves and pants for after the race when I am relaxing and watching everyone else compete.

tri top and arm warmers... sounds functional (ability to roll them up and down as you need), but i don't foresee myself winning any best dressed awards any time soon with them.

From chicago tribune.com weather forecast for Sunday, from Tommy Skilling himself:

Is that bike gonna be fun or what!  Cant wait for the second loop, northbound on a slick LSD.

Wow! Hard to believe the water temps might be warmer than the air temps.....hmmm....wonder how functional that wetsuit would be on the bike?....it might not look pretty, but imagine the time you would save in T1!!

The Southbound portion will be no picnic either.  Fast yes, but also dangerous.  Sounds like fun.

If it is going to be anything like last year, I was topping out at about 30 without really trying, going South.  And unfortunately, they still have yet to repave a majority of the course so keep your eyes open for the pot holes.  They were plentiful last year.  I would guess I saw about 2 dozen pinch flats last year because of them. 

Edited by crowny2 2009-08-28 8:50 AM

I was already really scared about the bike...now I am back to being terrified!