It will always be Mrs. T's to Chicagoeans! :D

Anyway, my friend did it, and he was so fast I missed him! He gave me hypothetical start times based on his training, so I ran out to Lake Shore Drive a few minutes earlier, and I never got to see him. Then I went and taught my aerobics class, then ran to the end of the race just in time to see the folks I'd remembered cheering on when they were starting out heading north on LSD (very stiff, hard winds this morning that was slicing everyone up as they headed northbound on their bikes). I cheered them on for a bit, then I went to the finish, and as it turns out, my buddy already finished! I couldn't believe this guy-he's unbelievably good and dedicated to his training. I got his splits and hopefully, he'll be in class tomorrow, and when he comes in, everyone will give him a well rounded applause while I announce his splits and overall time to the class.

Next year, I'm taking off work for the triathlon and I'm going to stand on LSD all day and cheer and scream. It was great- the other people standing with me thought I was on drugs I was yelling so loud and clapping so hard... I even picked up a couple of the cones off the street and waved them around in the air. Even the police were clapping at that one. :D

Overall, a good time. I brought my camera and took a couple of pictures, so when I get home, I'll get busy on trying to get these pictures up for people to see.

Koffee

I appreciated the few folks that stood at LSD and cheered.

That headwind was a mother.

Thanks for the cheers!

Oh I had a blast! I was there cheering last year too. I really do enjoy cheering on the good folks that put their all into this race.

I talked to my friend. I actually DID see him, but I thought his bike was WHITE. So when the black Softride passed, I told everyone to look out for the same bike my friend was riding, but WHITE. Today, I got the chance to laugh at myself when he told me he was on the black Softride. I saw him, he was looking for me, but I was not in the spot he thought I'd be in, and we both completely missed each other! Today, I got him a nice present and a Congrats card, and he was appreciative.

Would love to hand out gu, but I don't want to accidentally break any rules or anything. That wind looked like a mother.

How did you do?

Koffee

I saw a killer black Softride while I was out there, number 53XX or 58XX or something like that. Don't remember if I passed him or he passed me, but i sure remember the bike.

I did better than last year at 3:31:49. Dropped seventeen minutes from last year's bonk-a-thon.

My ride and swim were strong, but as usual, the run was a killer. If I can do ten minute miles next year, I have a decent chance of breaking three hours.

I'm sore today.

My knee is tight.

I'd do it again today if I could.

364-ish days to next year's race.

Last tri is next weekend. (sob)

Well, great job for ya!

I know my friend had a cool ride- that Softride was something to be admired. As soon as he said his Softride was black, I remembered the bike exactly! It was good stuff.

He seemed to do well himself, but was overall disappointed. I was seriously proud of him, and I told him so. Besides, anyone that does a race of any sort deserves lots of cheers and congrats all around. Seriously. I could never do a race like this.

Does that time include the splits too?


Koffee

That was my total time. I am a bit disappointed in my run time especially. I did a sprint the weekend before and did the 5k in 31:30. Taking three times as long to go twice as far was not in my plan. I'll have the run down next year for sure.

Of course I'll also be on a new bike next year. That can't hurt!

Well, that's a good attitude!

And now, you've got an excuse to reward yourself with a new ride too... maybe a Softride like my friend? ;)

I know my friend was flying. When the black Softride passed me on the lakefront, the guy was trucking. I almost yelled at him, but he looked so intent, and the wind was so bad, I just didn't have the heart to break his stride. He said he averaged about 17 miles per hour heading north, but heading back, he averaged about 23- 24 miles per hour. Wow.

Good luck for next year! You should let us know where you are in the race so we can cheer you on too!

As a funny side note, I had no idea another friend of mine was doing the triathlon. Somehow, I managed to snap a picture of him on the lakefront during his ride. I just happened to be taking pictures of people as they passed, and he shot by, and I just impulsively took his picture. When my other Softride friend told me my buddy Tom did the triathlon, and he passed Tom on the bike, I immediately shot back to my pictures and saw Tom on his bike. I don't think Tom saw me, but I will be seeing him Wednesday, so I may get the opportunity to pass his picture on to him. I think he'll get a good laugh out of that one!

Koffee

He was right about that wind. Some times it was awful tough heading north, but there were stretches heading south where I was holding 26-27 for quite a while. WHOO! That was fun!

I've actually had the new bike all year, but due to a deal that I made, I am not riding it until I become SvelteBomber and not FatBomber. I'm not too far from there now, but unfortunately I underestimated the time required to make my metamorphosis.

Sigh...

I just hope that next year I'm not in wave 46 of 48! I refuse to acknowledge wave 49 because that was the team relay wave and they did not do a triathlon like the rest of us. Always fresh after each event and cheerful! Grumble, grumble, grumble.

I bet Sveltebomber would come a lot faster on a nice fast ride... if I were you, I'd take it out for a spin a few more times before winter sets in. ;)

I know a woman who did the relay thing. Just plain silly- if they want to take this race seriously, they should definitely require a tri bike (or at least a road bike!) and participation in all 3 events.

Koffee

Oh, I'll be on it this winter for sure, but for spinning on the trainer in preparation for the dreaded Iceman this November and next year's events, I'll leave that to the cyclocross bike.

The relays were so annoying. My rack faced them and running in and out of transition was made difficult by the people just standing around and yapping the whole time. Plus, they liked to stand in the middle of the space between the racks! Arrgh! They aren't triathletes, they are either swimmers, cyclists, or runners, but not triathletes. I hope they only get one medal and have to share it.

Ahhhhh. I feel better now.

I have no beef with those doing any triathlons on bikes that may not be the best suited for the event. I loooove passing them!