The event is Saturday, September 10, 2011. Best to sign up early. A 2-week window is offered during which only USMS swimmers may register. The event reached maximum capacity in 2009 and 2010.The following was sent around by event organizers:
"Exciting News, Big Shoulders Participants – Registration for this year’s Big Shoulders Open Water Swim Classic will open on March 1, 2011 for all USMS Members (or those willing to purchase a USMS membership for $38), at www.clubassistant.com/bigshoulders. Also, for the first time in several years, beginning on March 15, 2011, Big Shoulders will offer USMS One Event Registration for those who are not able to take advantage of the many USMS benefits, but still wish to swim in Big Shoulders. One Event Registrations will be available at www.clubassistant.com/bigshoulders beginning on March 15, 2011 for $12 for swimmers 18-39 years of age, and $17 for swimmers 40 & over.
Don’t delay your registration. Big Shoulders has sold out the past 2 years, and will not offer any waitlists, transfers, deferrals, or general whining about the registration process."
Does anyone know what the criteria is to qualify to swim in wave 1? Is it based on previous Big Shoulders swims, other OW swims or can a pool time for a 1500M or 1650 be used. Just curious.
Does anyone know what the criteria are to qualify to swim in wave 1? Is it based on previous Big Shoulders swims, other OW swims or can a pool time for a 1500M or 1650 be used. Just curious.
There is a contact email at www.bigshoulders.org.
Does anyone know what the criteria is to qualify to swim in wave 1? Is it based on previous Big Shoulders swims, other OW swims or can a pool time for a 1500M or 1650 be used. Just curious.
Last year was the first time they offered an elite wave. If you were interested in being in that wave, you emailed the race director your best recent 5K open water time. They took the top 50 submitted times and - voila! - that's the elite wave.
Thanks for the replies. Big Shoulders was my initiation to open water swimming. I had done a very small, local 1K swim here in Georgia prior to the event. My brother lives in Chicago and I thought it would be "fun" for us to do together. I had no idea what I was in for. Since I live in Georgia, I doubt that I have even been in water that was under 80 degrees. Wow, what a shock 63 was!! But I finished (2.5k), and although it was challenging, I had FUN. We hope to keep this event on our calender for years to come. I may even try the 5k this year but making the elite wave would have to be a long term goal!
Has anyone done both in the same year or is thinking about doing this? Do Big Shoulders Sat, get on a plane for 4 hrs and do La Jolla the next day? Is this too ambitious?
I doubt anyone's done that double, but that's all the more reason for you to do it! You'll have a great story to tell on Monday (which I hope you'll share with the forum). I wouldn't worry about the recovery time at those distances. Just think of yourself as a swimming tourist. What better way to spend a weekend than these two classic open water swims?
I'm relatively new to open water swimming but I really love it. I did the last 2 La Jolla Rough Water Swims:fish2: I had such a blast the first yr that I endured 60'ish water temps last year. So, if you're at all familiar with LJRWS, 2009 was probably one of the roughest years in recent history and 2010 was probably the coldest. (BTW, I'll take rough over cold any day!!) What's this got to do with Big Shoulders, you ask? You see, I really want to do La Jolla again this year because it has a special place in my heart but I also really want to do Big Shoulders. But they are Sat & Sun of the same weekend.
Has anyone done both in the same year or is thinking about doing this? Do Big Shoulders Sat, get on a plane for 4 hrs and do La Jolla the next day? Is this too ambitious? And I'm not talking about 5K & Gatorman. I'd do 2.5K Chicago, 1 mile La Jolla. Naturally, I'd arrive in Chicago a few days before, do some sightseeing/swim the lake, etc. so I'm not jackassing all over the country in a short amount of time & tiring myself out. I currently swim 3-4x/wk, 2500-3000 yds per session. I'm not very fast but my endurance is pretty good. Hoping to slowly work up to 4-5x/wk & 3500 & also do some group ocean workouts in the summer (can't wait!!).
If anyone has done this, how did it work logistically? Did you feel like you had enough time to recover from the swim & jetlag (I tend to get jetlagged in my old age even with a 2 hr time difference.. I know, pathetic.. :cane: ) or did you feel like you had enough time?
a big shoulders 2.5K (1 1/2 miles) and la jolla 1 mile seems like a great weekend - la jolla is home and chicago is a vacation right?
I've done some very enjoyable doubles - this doesn't seem too ambitious for me.
