I plan on doing the Big Shoulders Swim in Chicago next month for the first time. Will drive up from Cincinnati on the day before. If I go to the Ohio St. Beach the afternoon/evening before, is it likely that I will get in a warm-up swim?
If not, is there another place on the lake that would be good to get used to the lake? I have a reciprocating Y membership that will get me into the Lakewood Y, but I'd rather swim in the lake instead of a 20y pool.
Thanks for the help, and to all of you who have said that this OWS is addictive, you can say that again.
If I go to the Ohio St. Beach the afternoon/evening before, is it likely that I will get in a warm-up swim?
Yes. I swim there a couple times during the week. You can swim along some tri buoys that are strung parallel to the walkway. The 2nd red pole is 1/2 mile. During lifeguarded hours, they prefer you not go beyond that pole, but sometimes they don't care. You can ask -- you'll see some lined up along the walk at their stations -- or just go and wait for them to say something. I would expect many ppl to be swimming. In non-lifeguarded hours nobody cares that I know of. If the bacteria level is high and the beach is closed, ask the lifeguard to point out a spot on the next beach north, Oak St. Beach. They are all used to OW swimmers and are quite sympathetic! You shouldn't have a problem.
Close by is Hotel Intercontinental, where you can swim in the 25 yd pool for $15. Johnny Weismuller swam there.
The area where the swim takes place is in my avatar. Nice!
Regards, VB
If I go to the Ohio St. Beach the afternoon/evening before, is it likely that I will get in a warm-up swim?
Yes. I swim there a couple times during the week. You can swim along some tri buoys that are strung parallel to the walkway. The 2nd red pole is 1/2 mile. During lifeguarded hours, they prefer you not go beyond that pole, but sometimes they don't care. You can ask -- you'll see some lined up along the walk at their stations -- or just go and wait for them to say something. I would expect many ppl to be swimming. In non-lifeguarded hours nobody cares that I know of. If the bacteria level is high and the beach is closed, ask the lifeguard to point out a spot on the next beach north, Oak St. Beach. They are all used to OW swimmers and are quite sympathetic! You shouldn't have a problem.
Close by is Hotel Intercontinental, where you can swim in the 25 yd pool for $15. Johnny Weismuller swam there.
The area where the swim takes place is in my avatar. Nice!
Regards, VB
