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 don't think I've ever been to an open water event at which they distributed awards before the last swimmer had finished. I think it would be tacky even if the last swimmer didn't receive any award, and if the awards go three deep in each age group some of the last-finishing swimmers could well be award winners.
If race organizers want people to stay for awards, one way to be sure that they do is to give awards three deep in each age group, and (if budget allows) to give out very desirable awards. At the Donner Lake swim, for instance, the overall prizes in recent years have been either robes or athletic bags, but they give out blue, white, and red towels respectively for the top three in each age group. Those prizes, in combination with the lunch, ensure that lots of swimmers stay to the end of the entire event.
At Big Shoulders, on the other hand, the focus of the race seemed to be more on a fun, well-organized challenge for all swimmers rather than on racing for prizes. They gave finishing medals to everyone, but they gave out only four prizes total: one each for the men's and women's winners at each distance. By the time they did announce and distribute those prizes, maybe 100 people were left at the beach, out of probably more than 800 who were there while the race was in progress. It was pretty anticlimactic as far as awards go, but awards don't have to be the centerpiece of every event.
Aside from the mosquitoes, over which I do not believe Chicago Masters have any authority, the event was great. For that many entrants the organization was very smooth and the weather could not have been more beautiful.
I don't think I've ever been to an open water event at which they distributed awards before the last swimmer had finished. I think it would be tacky even if the last swimmer didn't receive any award, and if the awards go three deep in each age group some of the last-finishing swimmers could well be award winners.
If race organizers want people to stay for awards, one way to be sure that they do is to give awards three deep in each age group, and (if budget allows) to give out very desirable awards. At the Donner Lake swim, for instance, the overall prizes in recent years have been either robes or athletic bags, but they give out blue, white, and red towels respectively for the top three in each age group. Those prizes, in combination with the lunch, ensure that lots of swimmers stay to the end of the entire event.
At Big Shoulders, on the other hand, the focus of the race seemed to be more on a fun, well-organized challenge for all swimmers rather than on racing for prizes. They gave finishing medals to everyone, but they gave out only four prizes total: one each for the men's and women's winners at each distance. By the time they did announce and distribute those prizes, maybe 100 people were left at the beach, out of probably more than 800 who were there while the race was in progress. It was pretty anticlimactic as far as awards go, but awards don't have to be the centerpiece of every event.
Aside from the mosquitoes, over which I do not believe Chicago Masters have any authority, the event was great. For that many entrants the organization was very smooth and the weather could not have been more beautiful.
