670 contestants participated in today's Big Shoulders 2.5K and 5k Open Water Long Distance Swim Classic in Lake Michigan. Water temperature was a balmy 72 degrees. Sunny skies produced air temperatures in the mid-seventies.
As usual, Chicago Masters did a super job of organizing this event. Results were available very promptly at the conclusion - love that electronic timing! If past performance is any guide, they'll be posting the results for your viewing pleasure at www.bigshoulders.org in a very timely fashion.
This is a challenging and fun event and worth of consideration by any serious OW swimmer even when it isn't the national championship.
Thank you Chicago Masters for a job well done!
I'll second that, another great Big Shoulders. Well run and great weather.
(Although, that one lifeguard boat along the long leg needs to GET OFF THE COURSE! I had to swim around it on both laps.)
I swam it again this year and did really well. Sixth overall in the 5K! A great event as usual. Not real crazy about the t-shirt design, but they can't hit a home run every year :)
The only negative was waiting for the awards. I thought it was possible I got top three, so stuck around. I finished the swim at just after 9:00, but they didn't do awards until close to 11:00. Maybe it's poor form to give out awards while the race is still going on, but let's be honest here, if they're only giving awards to the top three overall they don't need to wait until every last person is out of the water. Those last finishers aren't really in the hunt.
It was a great day for the swim. The race was well run again this year.
Highlight of the day was meeting Swimmy and DianeC.
Kirk, congratulations on your swim
Great job, everyone! Wish I could have been there with you.
I was there for work on Friday, but they scheduled the trip while I was on vacation. Paying all the extra flight change fees was going to make it an expensive weekend. Oh and the knee isn't in good shape :)
Next year!
I'm in full agreement with the sentiment here. A great venue, well organized, with extra credit for ordering great weather.
If you don't know the location, there is a substantial breakwater that helps in reducing waves, though this year it likely didn't have any effect.
Thanks, Fatboy! We were glad to meet you too.
Muppet, that would have been fun if you came to cheer. Rest you knee for next year. Maybe we can get a big group to venture out to Chicago next year.
Swimmy :cheerleader:
i am also sure that many of those last finishers were present to applaud the efforts of those who smoked the field as the awards were presented.
They had to be since they just got out of the water! :)
I understand your point, but by the time all the competitors were finished the number of people remaining was pretty small. It takes something away from the awards when most people are gone by the time they're presented.
It was a great swim! I'm sorry I didn't get to meet anyone; I talked with 1 or 2 people who had an Alcatraz T-shirt. (There were alot of people and alot of T-shirts).
Can I just be geek here for a minute? I think it so cool that everyone who finishes gets a medal. (And that they're different every year!) I never did athletics when I was growing up. I never got encouragement of any kind in that area. So when I get my medal after finishing the swim, I feel like I've won the Olympics. (No matter how long it took or where I came in). :applaud:
Thanks again to all the people who organize and run Big Shoulders!
JIM
Sorry we missed each other. Next time we will have to organize a special meeting spot.
I loved that all finishers receive something. Wouldn't it be great if all the races gave out race magnets or patches, so we could have a memento from our races. Tshirts are great, but I think finishers magnets would be a fun idea, race organizers. Not everyone can get medals. Some of us just like to swim for the fun of it. Sorry, knelson, that the slow swimmers annoy you so much. I love to cheer for the fast swimmers and hear their times. If the ceremonies happened while I was still in the water, I would not do that race again next year. I also cheer for the last swimmer out of the water, because I know how hard they worked! Some people just want to complete the course successfully.
Swimmy
:cheerleader:
Swimmy :)
The only negative was waiting for the awards. I thought it was possible I got top three, so stuck around. I finished the swim at just after 9:00, but they didn't do awards until close to 11:00. Maybe it's poor form to give out awards while the race is still going on, but let's be honest here, if they're only giving awards to the top three overall they don't need to wait until every last person is out of the water. Those last finishers aren't really in the hunt.
i didn't make it to chi-town this year. but last year it was a blast!
i personally wouldn't attend an award ceremony while there were swimmers still in. they may not be in the hunt for honors but they certainly have my respect and admiration for swimming a 5k or 2.5k or one mile or whatever. while it is possible to have a race with only two people present, an EVENT such as big shoulders is an EVENT because hundreds of people show up each year. i am also sure that many of those last finishers were present to applaud the efforts of those who smoked the field as the awards were presented.
