Triathlete in Chicago

Welcome Hilary -- good luck with your racing season........

Welcome Hilary.I've also been a swimmer all my life (since four). But I just started doing it competively. Good job on doing tris! Good luck and happy training.

Hey man, swimming will really help ya out. The people out of the water first seem like they always have the edge. Since you're in Chicago, you should train to do the Shamrock Shuffle at the end of March. I know that it might be during the end of your swim season, but give it a whirl anyways. 15,000 people for an 8k. You can't go wrong. Later.

Thanks for the welcomes everybody. About the Shamrock Shuffle, I've heard about it but I'm not sure why I've never done it before. Right now it's not my swim season, I'm swimming everyday on my own though. My lacrosse season starts March 1st though but if it's on a weekend (which I'm assuming it is) it shouldn't be a problem. Maybe I'll check it out. Thanks

Cherish the swimming strength and keep it going as much as you can, a great asset for any tri event. Sounds like you are on a great path for a healthy and active life, I am jealous. Keep us updated on your progress and congrats on coming out of the lurking shadows to say HI.

Nice to see you tri'n' at such a young age, I envy you!

Welcome!! Man-O-Man I wish I would have started that young! can you imagine the shape you would be in now! you got a good thing going! Good luck on the season and safe training! Jack

Have you picked any particualar tri's to do this summer? I live in the very very Northwest Suburbs. I have found that tri's fill up pretty quick around here. Visit www.chicagoaa.com In the upper left corner pick the national calender for events. Then you can find running, bicycling and triathlon races accoding to states. The site also allows you to link to a registration form when the event opens. I check it daily because I have been burned by races filling up fast.

Mike

I live in Naperville and Reebok has a triathlon series that they do every summer and Naperville is one of the four cities they chose to host one of their triathlons. I know that I am doing that one for sure and I plan on doing a few others this summer but I don't have any other particular ones picked out yet. Are you registered for any already?

I am doing the Lake Zurich tri. The city of Lake Geneva has a series of Tri's from sprint distance to Ironman. I am doing the June race so far and they have a September race I might do if all goes well in June. Delevan Wi has a tri I have registered for. The last two I'm looking at is one in Schaumburg and Chicago.

Mike

Hello fellow Chicago Triathlete!
You mentioned that swimming was your strength. Lucky you!!
That means you have age AND swimming working for you. . . .

If you need to develop your running ability I would recommend looking into CARA (Chicago Area Runners Association).
I have been running with them out here in the NW suburbs for the last 4 years and they got me from ex-smoker to three time marathoner. The people are very friendly and helpful and they train at all different abilities. They have a couple sites downtown where they meet for regular runs. They also hold speedwork sessions one night a week. Check out www.cararuns.org.

I have done the Shamrock Shuffle the last 3 years. It is a good race although it does get VERRRRRY crowded. It is also a popular race for racewalkers - so be prepared to do some "bobbing and weaving" as you wind your way through those that prefer to race 3 or 4 abreast.

Good luck with your training.

Hello! I might check into CARA but at school we have a year round running club and if my schedule doesn't work for me to run with them, I'll either run with my sister or by myself. I was going to sign up for the Shamrock Shuffle but I was disappointed when I found out I have a lacrosse game at the same time.

welcome chicago! i agree with others and envy you starting out young. have fun!

AWESOME... i am so jealous that you've found 'the love' this early in life. I can only wish you the best, especially trying to train in Chicago home of the winds and the erratic weather. [I live in the surrounding suburbs of... and my fav place to train in the summer is the bike path along the lake]. Best of luck and welcome!

Hello and welcome. Nice to have another youngster on the team! My daughter is a swimmer also and I am a high school swim coach. Having a strong swimming background is a nice advantage in this sport for several reasons. Most swimmers already have a pretty impressive endurance base. And most have a pretty good work ethic, which makes training for triathlons a little easier. Good Luck to you!

Great to have you here - getting on board early on - exciting - keep us posted on your season.