Getting excited about Pleasant Prairie!

[Lise]

Hey, Lynne,

I have done the Lake Zurich Triathlon (LZT) for the past three years. This year it was cancelled for road construction, which is what pushed me to do Pleasant Prairie (PP) instead. Accenture is huge. I love to go down to the expo, and to cheer at the race, but as a participant (which I've never been), it looks uncomfortably huge, to me. Comparison points:

Expo: Accenture has a great one. LZT: nothin'

Swim: Accenture--huge amt of people trying to swim in potential cold water of Monroe harbor. LZT--clean, warm lake, start and end on small sandy beaches.

Numbers: Accenture--largest in the world. LZT--about 1,000 people

Transition area: See above.

Run to transition area: Accenture--long, on cement. LZT--not so long, on sand/grass/cement.

Bike: A--LSD. Fun, yet hot if it's a hot day. LZT--rolling, beautiful country side.

Run: A--cool run around the museums, down LSD and back. LZT--run through the neighborhood and up around Lake Zurich.

Finish line: A--Phenomenal, exciting, emotional, triumphant. LZT--small town America, friendly, individual attention if you need it.

The main things that have kept me from Accenture are the not great swim, long distance to the transition, and the packedness of the transition area. I'd say anticipate a very narrow transition space, and create a way to remember where you are so you can find your stuff in T1 & 2. Just set your mind to deal with the swim and the run up to transition. And then: Have a great time!

A friend had done PP before, and recommended it highly. I might've done it before if it weren't just a week after LZT. Do look into LZT next year. It is such a nice, friendly tri. So far it's only Olympic distance, but they've been talking about adding a sprint.

[Lise]

I just got back from my nephew's 7th bday party. My Mom and sister both say they're coming to cheer for me next weekend! My sister will bring a camera, so we'll get some shots from the end, at least.

I gave my nephew two 3# dumbells and a small exercise ball. He and my niece love to bounce around and play on the ball when they're here, and one day my nephew discovered my free weights. He really got into them! I hoped his folks wouldn't mind--they were surprised and amused. He pulled the first dumbell out of the bag, smiled, looked at me, and said, "I bet this is from you!"

I am so happy that they will know me as their fun, athletic aunt, instead of their depressed, fat aunt with the mean partner. They may hear stories of the bad old days, but that's not how they'll think of me.

[SadieKate]

And now for the cheering section...

What, you can't hear me?

Go, Lisa! Go, Lisa!

[Brina]

Hi all,

I have a question for Lise and any others of you who are doing Pleassant Prairie next weekend. It's a week before the Accenture Chicago triathlon, so you're probably not doing both (unless you're in WAY better shape than I am!). What made you decide to do Pleasant Prairie instead of Chicago? Size, location, something else?

I decided to do Chicago instead of Pleasant Prairie mostly because it's the closest event to my house, but I am also curious (and a little intimidated) to participate in such a large event.

Lynne

I am doing Accenture as well. It just seems like one of those things you have to do once. I too am a little intimidated. Who am I kidding - I am a lot imtimidated. It is my first Oly, and I only did my first sprint last month.

Good luck to you.

[Lise]

I am doing Accenture as well. It just seems like one of those things you have to do once. I too am a little intimidated. Who am I kidding - I am a lot imtimidated. It is my first Oly, and I only did my first sprint last month.

I must say, despite my well-reasoned arguements above, I think about doing Accenture every year, just to be a part of something so big and exciting. I'm glad for you guys! I will be out of town that weekend, or I'd be down there cheering for you. As I think about next year, Steelhead 1/2 IM is 1st weekend of August, LZT is 2nd weekend, PP 3rd, Accenture 4th... what's a tri girl to do?

Brina, how are you doing with the training?

[Lise]

The forecast for next weekend at PP is highs in the low 80s, partly cloudy. Sounds ideal! (Snoopy dance of joy! I hate trying to run when it's hot, sunny, humid!)

[colby]

The forecast for next weekend at PP is highs in the low 80s, partly cloudy. Sounds ideal! (Snoopy dance of joy! I hate trying to run when it's hot, sunny, humid!)

Great weather! Looks like ours will be nearly the same!

My favorites are mid-60s to mid-70s and cloudy to overcast (drizzly/rainy makes me nervous on the bike, but doesn't bug me swimming or running), but we never get that here in the summer I'll definitely settle for upper 70s-low 80s and even partly cloudy. We get a lot of "no clouds in the sky" days and it drives me nuts.

The Ironman they did near here in June (IMCdA) was HOT - mid to upper 90s, sunny, the first really hot weekend of the summer. Amazing people, I would have fallen apart around noon to 2pm when the hottest part of the day started to settle in

[KSH]

Sounds very exciting!

I am sure you will do a great job!

And the weather sounds like it will be perfect.