After a full day of being “trapped” in the studio firing the soda kiln & cleaning my studio yesterday… it felt extra great to get out on my bike this morning for a little sunrise bike ride. So hard to believe that today is the start of September… wait, what?! When did THAT happen???

A little warm & steamy already this morning… but it felt great to get out this morning to work a little of the lactic acids out of the muscles from yesterday’s race. Didn’t need to push so hard this morning… just a leisurely ride as the sun never quite appeared from behind the clouds.

First there was the check-in ChiTri Expo… always fun with my friend Tracy!

But then it was race time…

It was another hot & sweaty day down on the lakefront… but this time there a good reason! Today was the CHICAGO TRIATHLON… swim, bike & run! The weather started out nice with still waters & a cool breeze for the swim… which I must admit was surprisingly “calm” considering it was my first time swimming in the lake since the last Triathlon!!! And by swimming, I mean “flailing about in a forward direction”!!! HA!!! The bike is always fun – although the headwinds heading back south were pretty strong until you get to go underground to ride on Lower Wacker Drive… which is my favorite!!! It’s like riding through the BatCave!!! But by the time I made it to the run, the temps were reaching the 90’s with blazing sun for most of the route through Museum Campus along the lake! Tough… but we finished… finally… all hot & sweaty! Another one done… always fun playing at the ChiTri with my “racing” pal Tracy Wanatowicz… and our annual post-race photo-shoot at Buckingham Fountain!!!

After a string of cloud-free sunrises, it was great to finally a few clouds for the sun to play with! The weather this past week has been FANTASTIC… and it looks like another great one today!!!

Just like yesterday, this morning was still quite WINDY with crazy-cool waves crashing all over the place! The ride headed south was great fun… whoo-hoo tailwind!!! Then some fun playing with the splashing waves… almost getting doused a couple times! Always exciting when the waves are high enough to crash up & over onto the bike route! Dangerous… but exciting nonetheless!

Dark & moody without much chance for a sunrise this morning! Just a lot of clouded drama over the lakefront… reflecting on the quietly rippled water. Enough clouds to make part of the skyline “disappear” into the clouds.

Another quiet ride with some low-hanging haze along the horizon delaying the sunrise just a bit. Rippled reflections with an ombre’-shaded sunrise.

With just a low-flying layer of clouds on the horizon, it was a chilly start to the morning today. Quiet & serene… but I kinda wish I had added some long sleeves for my morning ride?! HA!

The waves are still acting up, while the sunrise was dappled through some low-flying clouds. Another beautiful morning with cool temps & chilled breezes.

Crisp & clear… with plenty of wind & splashing waves all around. This morning was a little cooler than expected with crazy cool gusty winds coming in from all directions! Very fun (and a little dangerous) along the lakefront when the waves are crashing in & splashing upwards. It’s a challenge to “catch the splash” on film… and NOT “catch the splash” getting soaking wet!!! It’s all in the timing…