Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

knelson — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:26:36 GMT

If I had known I was going to place 4th in my age group, I would have kneecapped knelson to move into the top 3. :dedhorse: Why go after me? My friend Steve Bargwell beat you out for third. You could have taken him out instead! :D

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

Former Member — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:17:21 GMT

Well, it's my turn this week for 3miles n the Hudson... I was told by race folks last night the water is mid 70's and a wetsuit will make me over heat... No Kirk I am not challenging you on this one....but I'll let you know my time...hehe

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

Former Member — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:00:50 GMT

Maybe the best way to address knelson's point is to create an after party or some other reason for folks to stay around. One event I am working with is considering doing the awards an hour after the event at a wine tasting. From and event director's point of view, one potential problem with giving awards while the race is still in progress is that it is possible that our more senior age group winners could still be in the water. I was at a race this summer where one of the last finishers was an 92 year old. It would have been a real bummer for him and for me to not see him get his award with everyone else. If the gap gets too large, a time limit can be imposed to end the offiical race at a certain time. That will also allow a time certain awards ceremony. I couldn't make it this year, but hope to see everyone there next year.

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

ViveBene — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:13:31 GMT

Thought I'd post this quote from the Big Shoulders (bigshoulders.org) page, to indicate the nature of the meet: "Finishing times or racing styles don't matter to the Big Shoulders community so much as effort, spirit and participation in any form." I would say this is a very strong philosophy that drives the organization of the day's events. Regards, VB

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

ourswimmer — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:12:41 GMT

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.

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

Jim Clemmons — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 10:17:24 GMT

One event I am working with is considering doing the awards an hour after the event at a wine tasting. At least this way :wine: no one will care which award, if any, they got - or didn't get. Or when they didn't get it. :party2:

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

Former Member — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 08:52:05 GMT

The 2007 Big Shoulders 5K was my first open water swim. I just wanted to say kudos to everyone involved in making it such a successful event! It was very well organized, and race conditions could not have been any better! I look forward to many more swims in downtown Chicago! Robin

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

Former Member — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:51:11 GMT

I think that awards should only be given after everyone is back, safe and accounted for. I see Kirk's view too that there is a bit of waiting around can be a little wearying after a tough swim. As for afterevents, why not right up some portable showers for the finished swimmers to get cleaned up and comfortable? Or A lunch as has been suggested. This worked at the OW I did 2 weeks ago. I sat on my butt and ate a sandwich and cookies while Dave Barrra completed a 1/2 mile swim...what's better than that?

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

mattson — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:18:09 GMT

If I had known I was going to place 4th in my age group, I would have kneecapped knelson to move into the top 3. :dedhorse: This was likely the combined effects of the direction of the wind/waves off the lake, as well as the breakwater. Anyone out there that swims the Ohio St. beach regularly? Is this a common phenomenon? There were two factors that made the "current" more obvious. The turnpoint was a lot closer to the wall, compared to other years I've swam. Some people always hug the wall for the surge assist, but had to swim a little extra distance to get to the wall; not so this year. The water also seems shallower than I remember. While I could always stand up for most of the last leg, it seems to be chest-high (or shallower) instead of chin-high. I would think this would increase the wave action.

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

aquaFeisty — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:29:20 GMT

the day was beautiful! sunny skies, cool water, very little wind! this was my first time doing the 5k and it was a blast! I can't wait to do this race again next year*** re: the mosquitos, we had such a wet August that the mosquitos have been out of control vicious lately. I came armed with Off and I still got bit, dangit! ***However: next year, as part of my training, I will pack icepacks around my feet for 20 minutes, then practice jumping up and sprinting across my lawn. Though the water didn't feel too cold, it was chilly enough and enough of my blood/oxygen was being diverted elsewhere that my feet went numb by the end of the 5k. As Kirk said, the worst part of the race was the 50m run up on the sand. At about the 25m point, my frozen feet refused to comply with the forward motion of my upper body. WHAM! I hydroplaned on the sand. One of my finer sports moments! :D

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

fatboy — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 01:49:38 GMT

I think more people stayed around for awards last year and in 2005. Big Shoulders was a national championship in those years and they gave out 3 medals for each age group. I enjoyed seeing the awards and was glad that they waited for everyone to finish. Being so early in the morning I am not sure wine would make people stick around longer. Maybe coffee would!

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

knelson — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 01:24:39 GMT

Aside from the mosquitoes, over which I do not believe Chicago Masters have any authority, the event was great. I almost forgot about the mosquitoes. They were pretty hungry before the event :duel: Living on the West Coast you forget how persistent those little buggers can be in the Midwest.

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

Former Member — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 12:54:34 GMT

This was my first time doing Big Shoulders, and I was surprised by the effect of the seawall on the final leg. I was anticipating there'd be a huge reflection off of the wall, but instead there seemed to be a significant trailing surge, pushing us on toward the beach. This was likely the combined effects of the direction of the wind/waves off the lake, as well as the breakwater. Anyone out there that swims the Ohio St. beach regularly? Is this a common phenomenon? Swimmy, Kirk, other posters: sorry we didn't plan a gathering. Next year look for Team Hottub t-shirts.

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

Former Member — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:53:18 GMT

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

knelson — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:00:03 GMT

Sorry, knelson, that the slow swimmers annoy you so much. Why would you say something like this? I never said the slower swimmers annoyed me. What annoyed me is waiting two hours after I was done swimming for the awards. I think it's great that everyone who finished finished. Would their achievement somehow be lessened if awards were given out while they were still in the water? I guess one solution would be to send off the swimmers by estimated finish time and have the slower swimmers start first. This would reduce the total time of the event, but would require the later waves to pass more people. But as the director said in the pre-race speech "it's a big lake." There's plenty of room out there to pass one another. But, sorry, I don't want to ruin this thread. I love the event and that's why I've swum it now four times. I'm just offering suggestions for how I think it could be improved. I don't expect everyone to agree.

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

ViveBene — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 10:58:10 GMT

jaegermeister: I've swum there a few times. The man-made structures affect water flow around the second buoy, making that small area a bit more choppy/sloppy than it otherwise would be, but usually the entire basin is easy water, no surge/rolling waves carrying you down the home stretch along the seawall. Regards, VB

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

knelson — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 10:55:56 GMT

That last couple hundred yards into the second buoy is always a little rough and Saturday was no exception. I think Tom is right, though. Once you get around the buoy the waves tend to help push you to the beach. I always try to space myself away from the seawall because of the waves reflecting off it. The other difficulty is the water gets pretty shallow a ways from shore. That final running sprint up to the beach is the toughest part of the race!

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

Former Member — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 08:50:58 GMT

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.

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

Swimmy — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 07:31:46 GMT

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 :)

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

knelson — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 05:30:12 GMT

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.

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

Swimmy — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 05:06:05 GMT

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:

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

Former Member — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 14:39:25 GMT

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.

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

Swimmy — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 12:22:27 GMT

It was a great race! I had lots of fun. What a beautiful day. I hope to make it out there some other year. Well done! Swimmy :cheerleader:

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

Muppet — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 11:57:36 GMT

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!

RE: Great Day in Chicago for OW Swimmers

fatboy — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 10:51:38 GMT

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