Big Shoulders

Grey skies and choppy waters made Big Shoulders a little more challenging this year. What a ride! I did the 5K this year after swimming the 2.5K the last two years. Taking the turn to start the second lap I thought I might have been smarter to have done the shorter distance again this year. Kirk, I don't know how you swam faster this year - that is impressive.

Wow, my 1:19.22 looks a lot more impressive than I first thought. I was over 2.5 minutes faster than last year, and 30 seconds faster than 2004. Conditions were much more favorable both years. And, as if I needed more proof I'm in an evil, competitive age group. My time got me 19th in 45-49, and would have been the same in 40-44. However, I'd have medaled in either 35-39 or 50-54. And, do NOT get me started about NQTs! Terry, great to meet you face to face and shake your hand. Also, you looked terrific shooting past me the second time around the "washing machine" buoy. (Indeed, I thought the swells were 2-3 feet at that point.) Thanks again to the organizers. It's always fun to see the UIC swim team turn out, and marvel that anyone that young would be caught dead running an event for us old fogies. Matt

I'm proud to dsay I survived my first Big Shoulders. Thanks to everyone with the great advice. I really enjoyed myself and can't wait until next year. The second buoy WAS really hard. I felt sorry for the 5K people who had to do that one twice. Thanks again.

Originally posted by knelson No, not the George Wendt who starred as Norm on Cheers for anyone who's wondering :) Actually I think this George and the Cheers George are related, though. They are related. I played water polo at Brown with (swimming) George's son, Dan. That whole family is fast in the water!

Originally posted by totalswimm George Wendt, who won the 55-59 age group in a very impressive 1:10 No, not the George Wendt who starred as Norm on Cheers for anyone who's wondering :) Actually I think this George and the Cheers George are related, though. My friend who also swam called that second buoy (the one between the second and third legs) "the washing machine." I agree. That one was tough to get around. On the second lap there were a lot of people kind of stuck within 10 meters of that buoy really struggling to get around it.

Originally posted by newmastersswimmer Kirk seems to have established himself as an elite open water swimmer now with 2 back to back strong performances....Congrats Kirk! I wouldn't go quite that far, but thanks Jim!

Well I haven't swum the Big Shoulders 5K yet, but I keep putting it on my calendar every year (only to scratch it off for one reason or another).....Maybe next year will be my year? Congrats to all who swam this year!!....Sounded very brutal from the description given both on the Big Shoulders Website and from the testimonies given here. Kirk seems to have established himself as an elite open water swimmer now with 2 back to back strong performances....Congrats Kirk! ....AND my old friend Jim Dugan (from high school...way way back) appears to be back in top form again! He won the event back in 2000 and then disappeared for 5 years....He seemed to do o.k. though for being out for so long ....coming in 3rd with a time of 1:01.05. Newmastersswimmer

I didn't have trouble with the second buoy. (Maybe I caught one of the few easier waves). What surprised me (besides how high the waves were) was the last leg of the swim, near the sea wall. I thought that would be a piece of cake, with the waves helping push you along to the finish line. No such luck! A couple times my legs came right out of the water kicking. This years was the worst open water swim conditions I've ever done. And I'm proud to say, I SURVIVED!! JIM