Accenture Chicago Triathlon - Olympic Distance

 Sorry to inform you of this.  You can't ride the course.  It is Lake Shore Drive.  They partially close it off for the race.

are bikes not allowed?  I live in Boston, am used to cars....

2 days in a row I could do - but a sprint and an Oly on the same day seems well harder than a HIM!

will you do it dressed as a pirate  

I'm pretty pumped about this one.  My first Oly.  I'm not shooting for any specific time, just to finish and to do it as well as I can. 

I learned, last year, that trying to do this race with a specific time in mind is almost impossible.  First, the run from the swim to the bike is laughingly long.  Second, there are just SO many people in it, to me, it is a race for fun, not for placing. 

I'll be doing that in Pleasant Prairie this weekend.   Woot!

cool - since I am staying at the hotel I figure I can hit the expo a few times

come in friday and we can check it out, I can see how many hours I will have to wait for my swim wave....

what's with the bodymarking ahead of time?  do they really think I want to be marked friday for sunday??? yeah no showers for me

happy to do it saturday evening if it means sleeping later sunday..... 

 It is a highway.  The cars a doing 60mph.  There is no sidewalk or median for that matter.  Trust me.  LSD is a no mans land for bikes. 

I think they were refreshing numbers Sunday morning last year.  I would suggest to get a Sharpee and just mark yourself.    Hey, go mark yourself! LOL!

I have done this race the last two years and it is incredible.  I hope you have a great time!  Swimming in Lake Michigan is really cool,  the water is crystal clear and you can see the guns on the bottom.  The bike is VERY scenic.  Watch out for the pot holes.  I don't know what shape LSD is in this year, but last year was a bit scary in spots.  The run is fantastic.  You go through the museum campus along the lake front.  The food at the end is awesome.  I am talking real food, chicken, spagatti, garlic bread, etc.  The guest hotel is one of the best in Chicago.  The expo is HUGE,  bring a lot of money.  There are triathletes everywhere.  I like hanging out at the front door of the hotel drooling over all the bikes.

I agree.  The sea of bikes in transition is breath taking.  So much carbon and aluminum and ruber, etc.  You will likely never see that many bikes in one place anywhere else at one time. 

mr2tony - 2008-08-12 9:57 AM Doc, I'm not doing the race and am bailing out of town on Saturday morning early but if you want to grab dinner and/or drinks on Thursday or Friday let me know. I'll get you my phone number and we can kick it freestyle. My condo is only a couple blocks from the hotel so you'll be in my stompin' grounds, and I know some decent restaurants and bars in the area. I know you're the clubbin' type so if you want to hit up the hip-hop-happenin' places I'm sure we could find someplace for ya.

Sure.  Bail on us when we need you the most.  I see how you are. 

sigh

ok Goggs et al, not sure how much drinking I will do PRE race but definitely up for dinner and play -

let me see what time my flight gets in because the airlines are always so reliable  

mr2tony - 2008-08-12 5:28 PM

crowny2 - 2008-08-12 10:12 AM

mr2tony - 2008-08-12 9:57 AM Doc, I'm not doing the race and am bailing out of town on Saturday morning early but if you want to grab dinner and/or drinks on Thursday or Friday let me know. I'll get you my phone number and we can kick it freestyle. My condo is only a couple blocks from the hotel so you'll be in my stompin' grounds, and I know some decent restaurants and bars in the area. I know you're the clubbin' type so if you want to hit up the hip-hop-happenin' places I'm sure we could find someplace for ya.

Sure. Bail on us when we need you the most. I see how you are.

sigh

I do what I can. Doc, you should've let me know you were coming to town. You could've stayed at the condo since I won't be there. Oh but you're a doc -- need the first-class amenities and such offered by the Hilton.

sponsor is paying for the trip

Pretty explicit - no refund no transfer....