The swim portion of the Chicago Triathlon was canceled Sunday due to “unfavorable swim conditions,” according to event organizers.
Participants instead are competing in a duathlon — a run followed by a bike ride and another run — starting from the swim start area on the lakefront path adjacent to Lake Shore Drive and Balbo Avenue, according to a statement from the Chicago Triathlon.
Athletes are reporting to the same swim area and are lining up in their original assignment groupings for the race.
Lake Michigan weather conditions sparked swim warnings at Chicago beaches over the weekend, and elevated water levels already had forced race organizers to slightly adjust the swim entry at Monroe Harbor.
LIVE UPDATE from the #ChiTri Swim Start in Monroe Harbor.
Posted by Chicago Triathlon on Friday, August 23, 2019
In announcing their decision, race organizers stressed they wouldn’t do anything to risk athlete safety. Some 10,000 people are expected to compete in Sunday’s event.
The Chicago Triathlon isn’t the first Chicago area endurance event this summer to be affected by weather conditions. Organizers of the Wauconda Triathlons cancelled their entire sprint and Olympic distance events in mid-July because thunderstorms drenched the course.
SWIM CANCELLED: MANDATORY DUATHLON | Due to unfavorable swim conditions, today’s #ChiTri swim has been CANCELLED. All of today's participants will compete in the Duathlon (run-bike-run) option, beginning from the Swim Start area on the lakefront path. More details coming... pic.twitter.com/5GZ4uztCSi
— Chicago Triathlon (@ChicagoTri) August 25, 2019
