Accenture Chicago Triathlon-Sprint

[LynneK]

I was going in to this one with a little dread; although it's my local race, I've never done it because of the sheer crush of humanity from 7,500 participants and thousands and thousands of spectators (and when I signed up 2 years ago, I got plantar fasciitis training). But it certainly exceeded my expectations!

Got to the transition area about 5:20; set up in advance of the 5:45 closing time. Got some tips and intelligence from folks in my wave; I talked to several guys who had done the Olympic in the past but switched to sprint because the waves are smaller and the launch times are earlier.

My wave left at 6:58. Temp about 68F, skies cloudy and a little misty, water temp 71-73F, so I decided against neoprene and just went with the tri suit. Right choice! Also, the infamous rocks at the beginning of the swim were not there (?? don't know where they went!). We didn't have to tread water for long before they started us. The water temperature was perfect for swimming. I ended up doing more breaststroke than I intended, mostly for sighting and congestion reasons, but my husband said that when I switched from breast to free I would shoot ahead in the water. Note to self: next race goal is to swim more free and less breast! Approx swim time: 17.5 minutes.

T1 is pretty dreadful -- the distance from swim out to transition is long enough that I thought it should be added to the run distance . I stashed a pair of shoes near the swim finish and saved my feet for later by not running barefoot. I think it was about 5 minutes total, 3 minutes of which was the run from the swim.

Bike was, as always, the best part. My time was pretty consistent with my training time and with my time from Naperville 2006, about 44 minutes. Probably a couple of minutes faster than Naperville. The other participants were nice and we had some joking around on the course. I love biking on Lake Shore Drive because it's the most beautiful urban drive in the world (not that I'm biased or anything ...). I followed a new tip I'd gotten and stood up in the saddle about 4 times during the ride, to loosen the legs for the run. I think it helped.

T2 was fine. My calves and my piriformis (the muscle under your glutes) get tight on the run after biking, so I took the time to do a quick set of downward dog and pigeon yoga poses before taking off. I didn't have a single brick feeling, yay!

The run is my least favorite leg, but the course takes you out to Adler Planetarium (which sticks out into Lake Michigan) and around, and runs you back toward the skyline. Even though the day was cloudy, the city still looked gorgeous, but gorgeous in grey tones. Lots of *very* strong runners, lots of walkers, lots of people like me plodding along. Run time approx. 30 minutes.

Approx total time 1h 42mins.

Overall I think the event was well organized, particularly given the mass of humanity there. The volunteers were great. I will be interested to hear Brina's reaction to the Olympic swim, because it looked to me like at least part of it would be incredibly pinched in and congested. That might make me want to stick with sprint for this event. I would recommend this event to anyone, but I can see how you might want to have your first tri experience at a smaller event.

A very fun day!

[Tri Girl]

Thanks for the race report!!! Felt like I was there with you. I can't imagine a race that big- transition must've been HUGE!! Were the sprint and oly distance bikes all mixed together, or was is separated?
I've heard that race is amazing, and from your accounts- well worth taking the time to do! Chicago is a beautiful city (lived there as a kid), and Lake Shore Drive IS one of the prettiest drives in America for sure! I may have to trek up north to try that one someday.
Congrats on a great race today- and a fantastic time!!!!

[Lise]

What a great race report, Lynne! I was thinking of you guys all morning. It sounds like you had a great race. The swim is a straight line, right? I'm glad you managed to stash some shoes for that transition run--I agree they should take a 1/4 mile off the run for that little jog you have to do! I'm glad you had such fun on the bike. I'm interested to learn more from you about the stretching on the bike and in transition. My pyriformis are still complaining from my race last week!

Congratulations on a race well done! Did you go to Margie's after?

I'm just back from Wisconsin, and going to work at the hosp soon, but I had to check for your race report!

[LynneK]

Thanks for your congrats!

Lise, I am just back from Margie's: two scoops of mint chocolate chip, homemade hot fudge (I ate the entire pitcher), whipped cream, cherry. I can't decide if I eat to train or train to eat .

BTW, I should also mention that I ate a Clif Blok in each transition, and for my water bottle during the bike I used a Nuun electrolyte tablet. I've been using Nuun for the past month or so, and I really like it because it's electrolytes without carbs.

[Lise]

Yay! Save the carbs for Margie's! Don't they just have the best hot fudge? Did you go to the original or the new one? I haven't checked out the new one yet.

BTW, I should also mention that I ate a Clif Blok in each transition, and for my water bottle during the bike I used a Nuun electrolyte tablet. I've been using Nuun for the past month or so, and I really like it because it's electrolytes without carbs.

Where do you get the Nuun tabs? I'd like to try them.

You're making me seriously think about doing the Accenture sprint next year. I'd like to do that race once, to be a part of it. To cross that finish line, in my home town, at the race that inspired me to try Triathlon in the first place. If I do it next year, I'll have the 1/2 IM 1st weekend of August, then a sprint 3 weeks later would be manageable. So much tri-fun in August in the midwest! What to choose?!?

Rest up. You deserve it. L.

[LynneK]

The new one, on Montrose; it's walking distance from our house. I absolutely saved my carb calories for ice cream!

I got the Nuun tablets from their website, because I've never seen them around town. I think they might be available at some sports shop in the West Loop, but I haven't investigated.

[Running Mommy]

NUUN ROCKS!!
Ok, I really need to go to bed!!
But congrats Lynne!

[colby]

I didn't realise how popular August was! The Danskin event we did was about 4k people, which was a lot, but 7.5k!?! WOW.

Virtual carb-free champagne for all! :cheers:

[KSH]

Thanks for the great race report!

I can't believe how many people were there!

Sounds like it was a beautiful course though. In Texas... we don't have courses that are like that.

Smart thinking on putting shoes out to save your feet for the T1 run!

Overall, it sounds like you had a solid race! Great job!

[Bella]

Yay!

You're making me seriously think about doing the Accenture sprint next year. I'd like to do that race once, to be a part of it. To cross that finish line, in my home town, at the race that inspired me to try Triathlon in the first place. If I do it next year, I'll have the 1/2 IM 1st weekend of August, then a sprint 3 weeks later would be manageable. So much tri-fun in August in the midwest! What to choose?!?

Rest up. You deserve it. L.

Several in my training group for the 1/2 Ironman also participated in the Accenture Olympic and Sprint. You are already trained - so it is more a question of logistics and $$ because Accenture ain't cheap!

[Lise]

Several in my training group for the 1/2 Ironman also participated in the Accenture Olympic and Sprint. You are already trained - so it is more a question of logistics and $$ because Accenture ain't cheap!

No joke! But I figure...if I can do it next summer, that would be great. Next year I'll be 47, the year after, 48, etc. If I am careful and keep swim and strength training over the off season, I should be stronger next summer than I was this.