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.
"What will the water be like for Big Shoulders?"
Probably mild, but nobody knows. You might get a heads up the night before; however, Lake Michigan changes rapidly - has changed during my one-mile swims - and you may just have to take the chance that you won't be swimming that day, or will decide to exit the water early. I realize this is not too helpful, but that's pretty much the reality. There are some pictures from previous years on this thread. Note the abundance of pool suits:
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
The water temp has been in the low 70s, around 70-71. It feels warmer than a pool of that temp, possibly because the water may actually be warmer directly adjacent to city/land than where sensors are placed in the lake. The air temp in the early mornings has been in the 60s and is likely to be low to mid-60s on Sept. 6.
The course is swum on a triangle inside a harbor semi-protected by barriers. Nevertheless, it can be very wavy. Only the last leg comes along the highway wall where people normally swim.
www.bigshoulders.org
:cheerleader:
Hope you can make it!
"What will the water be like for Big Shoulders?"
Probably mild, but nobody knows. You might get a heads up the night before; however, Lake Michigan changes rapidly - has changed during my one-mile swims - and you may just have to take the chance that you won't be swimming that day, or will decide to exit the water early. I realize this is not too helpful, but that's pretty much the reality. There are some pictures from previous years on this thread. Note the abundance of pool suits:
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
The water temp has been in the low 70s, around 70-71. It feels warmer than a pool of that temp, possibly because the water may actually be warmer directly adjacent to city/land than where sensors are placed in the lake. The air temp in the early mornings has been in the 60s and is likely to be low to mid-60s on Sept. 6.
The course is swum on a triangle inside a harbor semi-protected by barriers. Nevertheless, it can be very wavy. Only the last leg comes along the highway wall where people normally swim.
www.bigshoulders.org
:cheerleader:
Hope you can make it!
