CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The 40th annual Chicago Triathlon was downgraded to a duathlon on Sunday, after possibly dangerous conditions on Lake Michigan led organizers to cancel the swimming portion of the race.
The National Weather Service predicted waves up to 6 feet high in the lake, as well as dangerous currents. In turn, Chicago Triathlon organizers gave the 8,000 participants a choice: Either compete in a duathlon, or choose a run-bike-run option.
“I think it just created a different type of a race — neither good nor bad, just another thing to adapt to,” said Cooper Macek, one of the participants. “You show up ready to compete regardless of the conditions. It was a good day.”
Macek was part of a relay team and told WBBM he ran a 10K in around 40 minutes.
Another competitor, Eric Saxon, said that while he was a bit disappointed not to swim, he was still proud of his performance.
“It was tough, because I was training so hard for [swimming], because I knew it was going to be the hardest,” he said. “I wanted to walk out of here and say, ‘I’m a triathlete.’”
Although Saxon said training to be a triathlete has made him feel like one, he added that he’ll definitely be back in 2024 to earn the title officially.
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