Fleeting and Random Accenture Chicago Impressions

Not too many impressions today, fleeting, random or otherwise.

• If you can't find it at the pre-race expo, you probably don't need it.
• For a race billed as the "world's largest" triathlon, things seem to work pretty well. Even the porta-potty lines were shorter than last year.
• Tip: take a flashlight with you to set up your transition area. Apparently race organizers are unaware that it's still dark at 4:30 A.M.
• Extra-special thanks to the volunteers who assist you up the swim exit's steps. Great job and much appreciated.
• And another HUGE thanks to the volunteer in transition who helped me through T2 when I found another bike thrown on top of all my stuff. Don't know her name, but she had the coolest Jamaican accent.
• Hey Mayor Daley! Fix Lake Shore Drive, why dontcha? Its condition ruins an otherwise world-class event. Kinda like a zit on a super-model.
• Accenture's racer tracking technology is pretty cool.
• Our waiter at dinner Saturday night heard we were doing the triathlon and flashed back on his last experience serving marathoners their pre-race meal. He expected us to order simple (and inexpensive) pasta, bread and water, tip poorly and depart by 6:15. He was pretty much wrong on all counts. Live Strong? You betcha, but not without pesto pizza with prosciutto and figs, a salad of heirloom tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella, wood-grilled king salmon and fresh berries for dessert. Now THAT'S a pre-race meal.
• Why would you stay any place but the Fairmont? It's close enough to the race that I got in a good nap between setting up transition at 4:30 A.M. and my wave going off at 8:36.
• 30 seconds before our wave went into the water, a racer dude discovered that his wetsuit was on backwards. This is after he'd been wearing it for, oh, 15 minutes or so. Hmmm. Late night there, buddy?
• It's not just early finishers who get crowd and volunteer support. Volunteers are still there and the crowds still cheering as late finishers make their way around the course, too. Other race organizers could learn something from this.
• Chicago is just a really cool place to have a triathlon.