Chicago Triathlon gets ready for “lift off”

The always popular and always well-attended Chicago Triathlon weekend is not far away. Final preparations are nearing and competing athletes have been training hard in anticipation of the big weekend.

On Aug. 23 and 24, along our city’s beautiful lakefront, some of the finest conditioned athletes, as well as some who are taking the leap for the first time, will be competing in the swim-bike-and-run event, the Chicago Triathlon.

It is one of our most popular summer events, with thousands participating and thousands more lining the race course, cheering on the brave contestants.

There is a little something for everyone in the weekend’s offerings.

On Saturday, Aug. 23, there are races for kids ages 7-10 and kids 11-14, with all three events, so this could be fun as we may get an early look at some of our future superstar triathletes!

Following those races on Saturday is the “Super Sprint” Triathlon, and then wrapping up the first day is the big “Triple Challenge” Triathlon, beginning at 10 a.m.  This involves a 1.63-mile swim, a 46-mile bike race, and then a 10.85-mile run.

The fun and games continue on Sunday with a 6 a.m. start for the “International Triathlon,” which challenges athletes with a 1.5-km swim, a 40-km bike ride, and then a 10-km run.

The final event of the weekend is the “Sprint Triathlon,” which may be the best attended of the entire weekend and involves a .47-mile swim, a 15-mile bike ride, and a 3.1-mile run.

Athletes participating in these races begin with the swim competition, which starts at Montrose Harbor and heads northbound to the swim exit pier just at the end of the same harbor. Then it’s time to saddle up on the bicycle for a beautiful ride along the closed-off and wide open Lake Shore Drive, followed by a jaunt down in the “bat cave,” also known as Lower Wacker Drive, and finally out and over to the McCormick Place Busway, where bicyclers then head back to their original bicycle location.

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At that point, the last part of the “tri” kicks in with the running phase and takes the tired, but still battling, triathletes along the Chicago lakefront with views such as Buckingham Fountain, The Field Museum, The Aquarium, and Soldier Field before finally heading to the finish line at Columbus Drive.

A welcome-back party with food and beverages greets the tired participants at the race’s end.  

This big triathlon event draws many people from Chicago and the suburbs, but also many visitors. A large contingent of the athletes is from out of state, and sometimes even out of the country!

Not only do we get geographical variety, but age group variety as well.  Spectators will see young kids participating all the way up the age group ladder to grandparents, and maybe even a few great-grandparents.  The experience levels can differ as well, from the experienced longtime triathletes to some trying the multi-tiered challenge for the first time.

All in all, it is a great, traditional Chicago summer event.

Spectators are welcome to watch and cheer on the athletes, and let’s hope the weather comes through and we get a great Chicago weekend!

For more information, visit the Chicago Triathlon’s website.