Today has been a challenging, swampy, flooded rain fiasco.
Huge amounts of rain pouring down on Chicago.
Flooded streets everywhere. Flooded rivers & creeks all over the suburbs.
There were actual whitecaps flowing down Western Avenue this morning.
I’m not kidding! Whitecaps!!!

But I just had a mid-afternoon break with a yummy s’mores.
Okay, three of them, but who’s counting?
All is good. Balance restored.

Sure, they can say that the bike trail is closed.
Sure, they can tell you stay off.
But some of us just see that as a challenge.

So, yes… I was out there this morning riding my bike along the lakefront.
With such an unusual weather event in Chicago, I felt somehow oddly “obligated”
to go outside to play in it. And yes Mom, I made sure I was always a safe distance
away from the waves!… kinda…

And to think I was swimming in this exact location just a few months ago getting ready
for the Triathlon. Glad these waves waited until now with my wetsuit packed away!

A little further south, and the waves were crashing in around the harbor. With a great view
of the city as the crashing waves look as though they might wash away the skyline?!

Whoops… and there goes the bike trail… glad I was on the “safe” side of the harbor!

All in all, the morning ride was quite spectacular. You can’t tell me “not” to do something
and really have me not do it. Especially when they have been hyping this weather event so
much. Okay, so the ride home wasn’t too fun with gale force winds blowing into my face!

Another dark morning – this time with some dramatic clouds sweeping across the sky.
That dot in the bottom right corner… that’s Navy Pier from a distance!!!

But as the sun began to come up, and I made it to the Pier and was headed home, the sky
lightened a bit. But the clouds continued to be quite dramatic!

And again, that’s Navy Pier sticking out into the lake… with Lake Point Tower as an anchor.

Already brighter than yesterday… and a LOT fewer clouds!!!

Although there was still a good bit of wind while I was out playing on Navy Pier. Take notice
of the flags… and let me just say, the ride back home was a lot more fun with the tailwind!

It was fun to play around on the Pier while the sun was coming up. Seeing all of the normal
attractions of the Pier without all of the crowds & screaming masses. All too soon, it was
time to head home… with the tailwind… and one really cool cloud that was developing a bit
north. All stacked up and turning shades of pink…

Eventually the sun won out, and we were treated to a beautifully typical sunrise after all.

So the sunrise was a little anti-climactic again this morning. Dark & gloomy. But…
there was a bright spot on the morning ride… The Redbull Flugtag has come back to Chicago!
And this morning they were setting up just south of North Avenue Beach.

So here’s the deal with the Flugtag… it’s a whimsical competition for human-powered
flying machines. And by “flying”, I really mean running off the edge of the large scaffold
structure and plummeting into the water below. Each “flying machine” is handmade
and had some sort of theme to it. The “crew” does a thematic performance on the deck
before attempting their flight. It’s a day of wonderful nonsense & merriment…
and a bit of cluttered wreckage in the lake for the Redbull folks to clean up!

The fun begins tomorrow! You can tour the “airplane” hangars starting at 11:00am
followed by the official shove-off. For more information, click here… Redbull Flugtag.

After months of training & preparing, it was finally Triathlon day in Chicago!
The day starts early as the bike transition are opens at 4:45am and closes at 5:45am.
So thousands of racers all need to get their bikes & gear in place before it closes.
Once closed, it’s time to wait for your assigned Wave time. Mine was 8:54am…
so we had to wait about three hours to get started!!! Luckily, my friend Pammy was
coincidentally in the same wave, and Chris just before ours. So we could all hang out
watch everyone else, and wait together!

The sunrise was beautiful as it came up over the lake. Beautiful shades of pinks & reds.
Although we all know that famous slogan, “Red skies in morning, sailors take warning.”
So the red sky was just a warning of things to come… and they did.

So serene. So beautiful. Even with that one lone lifeguard boat preparing for the fun.

And then the first Wave went off… as there were more lifeguard boats at the ready and
the first swimmers started passing by. And once it starts, the anxiety level increases
as it’s now “real” and you know that your Wave is coming soon. No stopping it now.

As our Wave got closer, it was finally time to squeeze into our wetsuits and don our pink
swim caps. Each Wave of the Triathlon is assigned a different group color…
last year purple, this year pink. Pammy and I were ready… excited to get started…

Okay, and maybe just a little scared too…

As the clock continues to tick down, we’re just two minutes from starting.

So you finally get into the water and tread water until the air horn signals the start.

And we’re off…

The swim starts in Monroe Harbor across from Buckingham Fountain. You swim
south to the Field Museum, turn around at the orange pyramid cone, and then
all the way back north to the swim exit a mile later!

Once I finally made it out of the water, there’s a HUGE sigh of relief. That is
definitely my worst leg of the race. Not a big swimmer. In fact, I did the entire
thing once again doing the side stroke!! Crazy, I know… but it works for me.

Then it’s on to the bike transition where you change clothes, put on your bike shoes
and head out on your bike. It’s two laps along Lake Shore Drive totaling 25 miles.
The first lap was pretty nice. But when I turned around to start my second lap, you
could definitely see the storm rolling in. The wind was picking up an there were large
gray clouds to the west. On my last stretch south, the rain started with a light drizzle.
I was happy that I had completed the bike portion before the rain really kicked in…
and that my average speed on the bike was over 20 miles per hour!

Sorry for the lack of pictures here… but my Dad was also the photographer, and he
was back by the swim & run section. So I don’t have any photos from the bike or run.
You’ll have to take my word on it… tee-hee.

Then it’s back to the bike transition one more time to ditch your bike, change clothes
& shoes as needed, and then it’s off for a 6.5 mile run through Grant Park. You head
south along the lake past the Museum Campus and Soldier Field, then turn around
down my the 31st Street Beach. The whole time it was raining. At first, it was a
refreshing drizzle. But at times it picked up a bit – but by that time I was already wet
from the rain & sweat, so I didn’t care much.

By the time I made it to the Finish Line, it was really coming down.
And there stood my parents in the pouring rain cheering me on! Yeah me…
to have such a great cheering section! So excited to come across that line.
Excited to have finished my second Triathlon! Relieved that all of the hard work
& practice paid off. Endorphins, Adrenaline. Sweat. Gotta love the combination!

Soaked through & through… but still celebrating with my friends Pammy & Chris.
And enjoying the fact that I shaved 13 minutes & 40 seconds off last year’s time!!!

Back home, it felt great to take a shower, wash off the grime and eventually be dry again!
Some stiff muscles, but nothing too sore. And a nice new Triathlon medal to show for it.

And the big reward at the end?… a celebratory dinner at my favorite Rose Angeli’s
with my parents, Pammy and her husband. A wonderful end to our wonderful day!

Kinda sounds like a movie, huh?!
Actually it was just the start of today’s summer camp field trip to the Art Institute.
We arrived in Grant Park a little earlier than the museum opening. So we walked over
to Buckingham Fountain so the kids could sketch and eat an early lunch in the park.

Such a beautiful way to start the day, right? Sitting in the park on a beautiful Tuesday morning.
Watching my summer campers capture the statuesque landmark fountain in the sketches.
Only to be followed by more art… and our field trip to The Art Institute of Chicago.

Behind the breakwater walls, the lake seemed quite calm & serene.

But the rest of the lake was SPLASHTACULAR!!!
Away from the breakwater, the lake was a little out of control… but in a really cool good way!

Needless to say, I thought it best to skip the morning swim for today.

The beaches in Chicago are officially open starting today!
I can always tell a few days before when the lifeguard chairs re-appear
and get a fresh coat of white paint! Summer’s on its way…

Okay, so we made it down to the North Avenue Beach when the sun finally made an
appearance this morning. From the beach, you also get a good view of the city skyline.
Flat Stanley was quick to strike a pose on the spokes of my bike!

There I was… only a few more days with Flat Stanley. He still needed to see the Big City!
So we pedaled towards Navy Pier to start his big adventure! Posing in front of the iconic
Ferris Wheel that Taylor got to ride last summer.

We also pedaled along the Chicago River and made it to Michigan Avenue.
Stanley was impressed by the big buildings… especially the gleaming white Wrigley Building!

Over the river, he was greeted by Marilyn Monroe… or at least a huge sculpture of her
in the infamous dress & stance from “Seven Year Itch.” And… for the record…
I have NO IDEA why she’s even here in Chicago?!!!! Or when she’s leaving?…

Across the plaza from Marilyn Monroe is the beautiful Chicago Tribune Building.
Striking gothic architecture with incredible “inclusions” mortared into the facade…
pieces & parts for other famous & historic buildings around the world.

Also in the Tribune Towers… the WGN Radio station! You can see the broadcasters
through the window as they work. And Stanley climbing out of my bike bag!

Then, further up Michigan Avenue, Stanley found two of his favorite friends…
and Taylor’s favorites as well! Always a happy moment when you see Mickey & Minnie
greeting you at The Disney Store.

Next we were off to the historic Chicago Water Tower. A beautiful brick building reportedly
one of the few that survived the Great Chicago Fire. Actually, I think it was the building
across the street that survived the fire… but who’s counting?!

And a trip to downtown Chicago would not be complete without a stop for some chocolate!
Sadly, they weren’t open yet… shucks…  I guess Stanley’s tour was not quite complete!

By the time that our tour had finished, I was running late. And we still needed to pedal
all the way home… into the wind!!! Needless to say, I was exhausted and running late.
I actually sent a text message to the “glitter gig” to tell them I would be coming in later.
And I blamed it all on Flat Stanley and his Big Adventure!!!