The activity I've been posting about thus far in this virtual training blog was leading me up to the Chicago Accenture Triathlon. After having registered for the race almost a year ago, once the day was here it came and went on Sunday so quickly! Here's a little bit more about how race day went if you are interested.
I've been taking it easy the last couple days. But I wanted to report the activeness that took place on Sunday. I've found that I really enjoy open water swimming and would like to keep at until the weather gets too cold. And in the post-race depression of not having an event to train for anymore I found a triathlon in Lake Geneva in about two weeks... we'll see. 
< .47 mile swim, 13.64 mile bike, 3.1 mile run >
Virtual Training Partners via Chicago
4 Posts tagged with the swim tag
Buuut Anthony dominates me in fitness level. Enough said. 
Rode down the 8 miles down to Ohio St again after work today. The lake was much calmer than it was on Saturday morning! So that was good. I got in approximately a .8 mile swim and then biked 8 miles north to my apartment.
I tried to imagine starting the swim portion with 100+ other bodies in the water scrambling out of the start. That makes me a little nervous, but I'm going to stick to the back and take it easy. With four days until the tri, I'm also trying to eat a little better (minus that Chipotle...) and get some extra sleep.
With that said, I bid you goodnight!
< 16 mile bike / .8 mile swim >
Saturday morning I woke up at 6:30am on not a whole lot of sleep. Another cool (about 65 degrees) and windy morning compounded my desire to not jump in the lake and go back to bed. I think the only reason I got up was the thought that the tri was just over a week away!
So I biked down to Ohio Street again. However, I would like to note, it was into an outrageous, direct head wind. I'm not sure how high the winds there on the lakefront were gusting--but it was discouraging how much it was affecting my speed.
But not as discouraging as the view when I turned the corner around Oak Street and saw Ohio Street Beach--the waves were insane!! Because that swim area is inset a little bit from the break water and tucked in just north of Navy Pier, the waves have no pattern or rhythm. Just random, large waves would pop up seeming out of now where... and it made for a very interesting swim. I don't have a picture of the water from yesterday morning, but here is a cool shot of Ohio Street anyway.
The lake owned me--I was trying to find a rhythm the whole time. Then I was just thinking about getting home and taking a warm shower. I had a busy day ahead of me. After I cleaned up and warmed up I went to breakfast with my dad who was in town visiting. Both being nerdily fascinated by planes, we then went to check out the 49th Chicago Air and Water show. Our day continued with a 2:55pm Cubs versus Cardinals game at Wrigley. Due to two rain delays, we got home at 7pm.
I fell asleep at 7:30pm while watching tv. I slept until 7:30am this morning. Whoa!
My alarm went off this morning to another gray sky morning. Lake Michigan was strangely still and it was right around 70 degrees--a stark contrast to St. Louis' and Oklahoma City's 102 and 105 temperatures! Just as I clipped in, the sky opened up to let a little rain fall. As made my way down my street and towards the lakefront path on the wet pavement I thought, "this will be fun." I really like running and biking in the rain--but I haven't swam in the rain in a long time.
By the time I hit the path I was feeling fully awake and warmed-up. Pedaled 8 miles down to Ohio Street Beach to where they have the partial lane markers set up just north of Navy Pier in Lake Michigan in a one mile, out-and-back set up. I swam .5 mile and then hopped back on my bike to bike the 8 miles back home to get ready for work. (Side note: the bike path was altered at North Ave Beach because they are almost all set up for the Air & Water show this weekend. Looks as if it's shaping up to be a pretty cool show.)
As Anthony mentioned, running isn't my strongest discipline. Well, swimming isn't much better (yet)! But with getting more training sessions in and checking out , this was my best open water swim outing yet and I'm definitely feeling more comfortable swimming in the lake.
So--why am I doing the Accenture Chicago Triathlon?...you might be asking yourself right now. It presents a fun challenge. And I think that challenge falls into the category of looking for something new to push myself post-collegiate athletics. Toby said to me this morning that it's all about embracing your weaknesses with open arms. I'm going to keep that in mind in the short time between now and the race.
I was also active in my favorite way this evening: participating in team sports (weird, huh? ). My beach volleyball team won our intermediate 4's match tonight at Montrose Beach. We played well tonight but are about .500 on the season. I often wish that volleyball and softball had not both been fall sports at my high school in St. Louis.
Time to get some rest now. Goodnight!
< 16 mile bike / .5 mile swim / 1 hour of volleyball >
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