It's too late for this season, but looking toward next year, what is the earliest folks start getting into Lake Michigan, specifically in the Chicago area. Along these lines I'm also curious to find a group that trains regularly in the lake.
Thanks for the help.
Hard core: May - October
Complainers: June - September
(all non-wetsuit; don't know what wetsuiters do)
A number of ad hoc groups swim in Lake Michigan. I'll see if I can dig up some info. Might there be a largish lake in IN that would satisfy? Sometimes you would drive to Chgo and find the lake too choppy to swim.
Training: very much ad hoc too. Perhaps a masters group has organized training in which they go set distances or swim for time or something similar. Once you start you'll get to know swimmers.
Here's one: openwaterchicago.wordpress.com/
Also: www.chicagobluedolphins.com has, I believe, an OW swim night.
I would contact the several USMS teams in Chicago, bec. most will have some OW times in the lake. Chicago Masters, Smelts (ask online coach Chris Layton), others; also check suburbs of Evanston and Oak Park for masters.
You can swim any day in the race area along the wall at Ohio Street Beach. If in early morning or evening (non-lifeguarded hours), you can continue swimming north swim from beach to North Avenue boat house, about 1.5 miles each way (I think). Others will be out there too.
Hard core: May - October
Complainers: June - September
(all non-wetsuit; don't know what wetsuiters do)
A number of ad hoc groups swim in Lake Michigan. I'll see if I can dig up some info. Might there be a largish lake in IN that would satisfy? Sometimes you would drive to Chgo and find the lake too choppy to swim.
Training: very much ad hoc too. Perhaps a masters group has organized training in which they go set distances or swim for time or something similar. Once you start you'll get to know swimmers.
Here's one: openwaterchicago.wordpress.com/
Also: www.chicagobluedolphins.com has, I believe, an OW swim night.
I would contact the several USMS teams in Chicago, bec. most will have some OW times in the lake. Chicago Masters, Smelts (ask online coach Chris Layton), others; also check suburbs of Evanston and Oak Park for masters.
You can swim any day in the race area along the wall at Ohio Street Beach. If in early morning or evening (non-lifeguarded hours), you can continue swimming north swim from beach to North Avenue boat house, about 1.5 miles each way (I think). Others will be out there too.
