The Chicago Triathlon is approaching fast and now that everyone’s registered and training hard I thought it would be good to give you some tips on the race and how to make it an unforgettable experience (in a good way!).

First I’ll give you some things to look out for; this race is the biggest Triathlon in the world with the most participants so there are bound to be some hiccups along the way. After that I promise to brighten your spirits with some things to look forward to. This is going to be one of the best experiences of your life!

The Swim Start

This is particularly close to my heart. I missed my start because I had no idea about this so please if nothing else read this next sentence! The Swim Start is extremely far away from Transition. By extreme I mean, wear some flip-flops and get ready for a brisk morning walk with the crowd. In addition to the distance from the finish to the transition area I estimate it to be around a mile total.

I will post my Chicago Triathlon story for those that are interested, but basically I left Transition with about 15 minutes to get to the start and got within earshot of the announcer just in time for him to say “4, 3, 2, 1 GO! That was the start of the first wave!” Yes, I was supposed to be in the first wave at 6am sharp.

Needless to say you will need at least 20-25 minutes to walk from Transition to the Swim Start. If you are worried about pre-race nerves and toilet facilities, well don’t be. The walk will do you good and you can do your warm up along it. In addition to this there are in fact Porter Potties right near the Swim Start so no need to stand in line all the way at Transition.

For more information on the Start please see the Chicago Triathlon Course and Chicago Triathlon Swim Course Map.

The Transition Area

Obviously, with a race this size the transition area is going to be massive too – seriously, it’s huge! Since the Sprint and Olympic distance Triathlons are back to back they have to close transition really early so make sure you know when to get out. But more importantly try to get there as early as you can bare to. This will secure you a good spot in your lane.

Some tips to handle the Chicago Tri Transition:

1. Get there early. Even at 5am when I was riding down to the race there was a huge crowd funneling into the transition area. If you can bare to be there first, do it. There are lots of bikes and lots people all getting checked into Transition.
2. Secure your ideal spot in your lane. The Transition Area is on a hill with the lanes  (I believe last year the lanes were by 200-300 participants) running parallel to the slope. This means you will either be facing uphill at your spot or downhill. If you are there early you can see which you would prefer.
3. Differentiate your spot. This is much harder than usual at the Chicago Tri with the sheer mass of participants. I must have seen about 20 of the same Tweety-Bird balloons last year. That being said, try to find something unique that you can put at your spot so that it’s easy to sight as you scramble into Transition. Even your daughter’s cheerleading pompom on the end of an antenna will do!
4. For more tips on transitions please see my Transition Tips article.

For more information on the Transition Area please see the Questions About the Transition Area.

The Road Conditions

For the bike leg of the Chicago Triathlon you will be sent along Lake Shore Drive or LSD or “The Drive” as the locals call it. This is pretty much a 4-6 lane highway which is fun, but there are some things to look out for.

1. The highway is not entirely closed to public traffic. They leave one outside lane open for cars on either side. Consequently, expect to be riding with the flow of traffic with a lane of cars on your right. This can be distracting when you’re trying to pass someone and some clown in a massive SUV flies past you.
2. This brings me to my next point. Riding along the Drive last year I was surprised to see some nasty potholes in the highway. The race organizers had the courtesy of filling them with sand and even putting cones in front of some of them but they can be extremely hard to avoid while overtaking and/or dealing with traffic. I was riding alongside a guy last year racing hard when he could not avoid a massive square pothole with sand in it. He braked hard but still nailed it and I heard his tire pop and some major cursing as I left him behind. Be warned!
3. One last thing about the road. The turn around at the top end of the Drive narrows to just under a car lane’s width. Please be careful! The turn is a full 180° in just the two lanes sectioned off for the race and there are LOTS of riders! If you feel confident about your turn then try to get in front of any riders ahead of you. The marshals will yell at you to slow down but I say IT’S A RACE! Fly up, brake hard, turn, accelerate! Of course be careful but still!

For more information on the Bike course please see the Chicago Triathlon Course and Chicago Triathlon Bike Course Map.

Ok, let’s get to…

The Good Stuff

1. If you are participating in the Sprint Triathlon or you’ve set up your transition nice and early and have some time to watch the waves before you then look forward to a gorgeous sunrise on Lake Michigan. As mentioned before I was in the first wave of the day last year and the sun just broke the horizon as I hopped on my bike out of T1. Absolutely spectacular, especially hitting the big black John Hancock building and the other glassy buildings near the lake.
2. Yes, there is a crowd, but you’ve never been surrounded by so many Triathlon enthusiasts and supporters in your life have you? Not only do you meet many people just like you participating in the same event as you, but you get to enjoy all the supporters as well. Since there are so many family members and general spectators attending the event you will feel like a star running past the Swim Finish, Swim Start and out past the museums. Enjoy it and take it all in!
3. The volunteers are extremely helpful and enthusiastic. There are plenty of water stations with both water and sports drinks. Plus, I couldn’t believe the size of the bins they had full of GU Sports Gel. They were handing those out by the handful so if you feel like bit of sticky energy boost grab some! I must say the volunteers were very organized and handled the crowd really well.
4. Ah and my favorite, the finish. You can hear the finish line announcer and crowd about half a mile away (or further if you have better hearing than I do – most likely!). Use it to push through the pain and start to feel your achievement! You will run down the same chute that the pros do so enjoy it! Hundreds, maybe thousands of supporters line the finishing lane making the most wonderful racket you’ve ever heard; probably the best part of the Chicago Triathlon. When you’re done with your race expect plenty of bananas, bagels, a wet towel and a finisher’s medal. Wonderful!

Please also read The Ten Commandments of Triathlon. This will give you the most important things you need to know for the race.

I sincerely hope you enjoy your Chicago Triathlon. It was the most incredible racing experience of my life and I hope that my tips and comments will help you a little! If you have any experiences to share then please feel free to comment. Or if you have any questions or concerns, drop me a line in the contact page and I’ll be happy to help.

On a side note I absolutely love the city of Chicago and thoroughly enjoyed the six months that I lived there. For those of you interested in visting here’s a link to help you Explore Chicago.