Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

orca1946 — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 10:56:23 GMT

Polar bear is something I have thought of over the years, but always chicken out!:bolt:

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

bzaks1424 — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:11:54 GMT

For North Siders, here are some pictures, with an internal link to Chgo Polar Bears Club and plunge at North Avenue Beach: ottorascon.com/.../ The NYT usually has an article on the revelry as well. Otherwise, you might get a PM, if you stop referring to OW swimming as "icky" and OW swimmers as "mere directionless flotsam at the mercy of wind and tides." Of course, Sophie would have to come too. And somebody to ferry your frozen corpse home. Further, my lips are sealed. :) I don't recall ever ripping on OW swimmers! In fact I have a great deal of respect for them! They can do something I don't like to do! OWS is "icky" but this NY Plunge sounds like a lot of fun! I will have no more doggie in 2 weeks.

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

ViveBene — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 10:57:45 GMT

Wait - what is this new years plunge? For North Siders, here are some pictures, with an internal link to Chgo Polar Bears Club and plunge at North Avenue Beach: ottorascon.com/.../ The NYT usually has an article on the revelry as well. Otherwise, you might get a PM, if you stop referring to OW swimming as "icky" and OW swimmers as "mere directionless flotsam at the mercy of wind and tides." Of course, Sophie would have to come too. And somebody to ferry your frozen corpse home. Further, my lips are sealed. :)

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

Former Member — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 09:59:27 GMT

I don't recall ever ripping on OW swimmers! In fact I have a great deal of respect for them! They can do something I don't like to do! OWS is "icky" but this NY Plunge sounds like a lot of fun! I will have no more doggie in 2 weeks. No more doggie ? :( Maybe I should bring Patch. She jumps in even when there's icebergs!

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

bzaks1424 — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 09:11:02 GMT

Word! Unless you are out of town on some sissy slope in Idaho. Attendance is taken. :) Wait - what is this new years plunge?

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

ViveBene — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 09:00:21 GMT

The New Year's dip is compulsory. And there's FIRE afterwards!! Word! Unless you are out of town on some sissy slope in Idaho. Attendance is taken. :)

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

Former Member — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 08:52:24 GMT

I puked up Lake, Lara Bar, and Gatorade, and gave up on sighting other than *** stroke I KNEW you would have fun!

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

bzaks1424 — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 06:22:24 GMT

No more doggie ? :( Maybe I should bring Patch. She jumps in even when there's icebergs! As of Oct 1, plan is I'm out of the house. That means no more Sophie for me.

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

Former Member — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:14:50 GMT

Absolutely! Marjorie, that is crazy. I am not nearly that tough, and possibly even a sissy :) The New Year's dip is compulsory. And there's FIRE afterwards!!

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

evmo — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:33:59 GMT

Much of that knowledge comes from actually doing it. Absolutely! (Your big chance is coming up, evmo! Record is 42 consecutive months' dip off the Point! Marjorie, that is crazy. I am not nearly that tough, and possibly even a sissy :)

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

ViveBene — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:12:07 GMT

Much of that knowledge comes from actually doing it. If you don't get a chance, you don't understand what your physiological reactions mean when you are suddenly plunged into a novel situation. And even experienced cold-water swimmers can get hypothermia. (Your big chance is coming up, evmo! Record is 42 consecutive months' dip off the Point! Photo from the makeup New Year's plunge, Jan. 30.)

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

Bobinator — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:09:50 GMT

Well I'm going to put 10 lbs on before next yrs. race. I think that in itself would help me mentally!

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

evmo — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:39:37 GMT

Words like "tough" and "sissy" don't apply if there is no chance to acclimate even a little to swimming in colder, rougher water. Agreed. That said, I think sometimes people underestimate what they're capable of in this domain. Physical acclimation helps, as one's body learns to redirect blood flow from the extremities to the core. This requires actual cold-water practice. But mental acclimation is, I think, more important than commonly realized. The knowledge (and acceptance) of extreme discomfort for the first few seconds and possibly minutes after entering the water. The knowledge that loss of sensation in your extremities is not necessarily dangerous. The acceptance of post-swim shivering, and knowledge of best practices in dealing with it. I know Lynne Cox has written/spoken about this at length, though I don't have links handy. I keep thinking about the distinction between "comfort" and "safety." I doubt the water at Ohio Street Beach Saturday morning was "comfortable" for anyone - especially with the wind and cloud cover. In fact it was probably moderately to severely uncomfortable for most. I know a few people visited the medical tent afterward... but I'm pretty sure nobody went to the hospital. It should also be noted that 586 people finished the race - 394 in the 5K and 174 in the 2.5K. Assuming all 800 registrants showed up, that's over 70% who took the plunge - and finished. Given the conditions, that's pretty impressive.

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

Former Member — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:34:35 GMT

Come on up for some cold lake swims in advance. That will also take off a bit of the pressure and mystique of B Shoulders. Words like "tough" and "sissy" don't apply if there is no chance to acclimate even a little to swimming in colder, rougher water. You made the right choice to leave the water. I wouldn't second-guess, compare, or feel bad about the decision. 'K? :) agreed. Absolutely nothing to do with tough or sissy. I was just lucky to have been able to get in the lake a couple of times that week to get used to it.

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

Former Member — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 07:26:19 GMT

My pep talk came after the second buoy the first time. I realized that not only was I going to survive and finish, but that I wasn't even very cold. I realized I had wasted so much time belly-aching and swimming slowly that a decent time was impossible. I will definitely know better next time I face such conditions.:) hehe we are alike. One of these days I have to just swim a race from start to finish and not waste so much time analyzing when I should be swimming.

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

ViveBene — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 04:22:52 GMT

You guys are a lot tougher than me!!!! I'd be proud if I finished that swim. I bagged it after 25 or 30 strokes, a serious sissy!! I will be ready next year for whatever the weather throws our way!!! Come on up for some cold lake swims in advance. That will also take off a bit of the pressure and mystique of B Shoulders. Words like "tough" and "sissy" don't apply if there is no chance to acclimate even a little to swimming in colder, rougher water. You made the right choice to leave the water. I wouldn't second-guess, compare, or feel bad about the decision. 'K? :)

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

Bobinator — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 03:00:28 GMT

You guys are a lot tougher than me!!!! I'd be proud if I finished that swim. I bagged it after 25 or 30 strokes, a serious sissy!! I will be ready next year for whatever the weather throws our way!!!

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

srcoyote — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 02:22:59 GMT

Not cold, not sick, just slow, so finish the race! The Ghost Barge from the Bermuda Triangle that parked itself on the 2nd leg of the course was a little disturbing. Annoying actually. My pep talk came after the second buoy the first time. I realized that not only was I going to survive and finish, but that I wasn't even very cold. I realized I had wasted so much time belly-aching and swimming slowly that a decent time was impossible. I will definitely know better next time I face such conditions.:)

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

Former Member — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 16:10:53 GMT

Any info on what date they may be looking at for 2011? Unfortunately I've had to withdraw from LRLH and will miss all of the fun. I'm moving very slow still, in and out of the water. i don't know the date, but it will be the same course that you did last year.

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

Former Member — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 16:00:01 GMT

this will be the 2011 USMS 5k national championship Any info on what date they may be looking at for 2011? Unfortunately I've had to withdraw from LRLH and will miss all of the fun. I'm moving very slow still, in and out of the water.

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

Former Member — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:49:13 GMT

chaos, I look forward to meeting you - maybe even swimming with you one of these days! well i'll be swimming LRLH as well, and probably going to Brighton Beach the next day. there is a nice 5k loop. see www.cibbows.org this will be the 2011 USMS 5k national championship

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

Former Member — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:40:28 GMT

well i'll be swimming LRLH as well, and probably going to Brighton Beach the next day. there is a nice 5k loop. see www.cibbows.org this will be the 2011 USMS 5k national championship I'll be sad to miss Little Red Lighthouse, but definitely want to do at least one of the NY swims next year! I'm contemplating doing a relay for MIMS, if I can trick anyone into it. Of course, money is always a problem, so I'm working on some reverse-sponsorship deals, where I threaten to wear a particular brand of suit unless the manufacturer pays me not to. Miraclesuit® is particularly interested. Big Shoulders is still giving me a laugh! I stopped for a while after the halfway point and had to give myself a pep talk. Not cold, not sick, just slow, so finish the race! Images of Chaos enduring more than 15 hours of worse stuff in the English Channel were inspirational :) The Ghost Barge from the Bermuda Triangle that parked itself on the 2nd leg of the course was a little disturbing. Annoying actually.

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

ViveBene — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:15:38 GMT

Thanks for the reports, and glad to see you back Stateside, Chaos! Looking forward to reading what happened after "Tonight is the night." I was out West during Big Shoulders - had a nice swim in Flathead Lake, ID, in fact - but hope the less than calm and less than warm water on Saturday in Chicago helped swimmers critically evaluate their skills as OW swimmers. There are shipwrecks at depths of 10 feet in Lake Michigan.

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

Waterdog7946 — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:04:52 GMT

I have to say this was an interesting experience for me to say the least. I have only been in open water twice in my life and that was purely recreational and definitely not with these conditions (water temp 62, 2+foot plus waves) I got in the water with my group and waited a very long minute to start. I looked around at everyone and announced "I'm really cold and needa hug!!!" We took off and I spent the first 300 yards in a state of panic, hyperventilating the whole way. I got myself under control and once I got to the first marker buoy I knew I'd be okay. I caught a few waves that made me swallow and choke on water and never really could get a rhythm going. After the first lap I thought about quitting but I wanted to tell my 9yr old son that I finished the whole thing. The last lap wasnt about time....it was just about finishing. I'm no stranger to distance or tough workouts...I can do a 500free in 5:30 so I'm in okay shape.. But this event wasnt so much a physical test as much as it was a mental test. I've got it in my head that after finishing this race under these conditions that any workout, any goal, swimming or otherwise....will seem easier to attain:applaud:

RE: Big Shoulders, 11 Sept. 2010, Chicago

evmo — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:17:43 GMT

thanks for the report. be sure to say hello at little red. i'll be helping out with check in before the swim. chaos, I look forward to meeting you - maybe even swimming with you one of these days! I was out West during Big Shoulders - had a nice swim in Flathead Lake, ID I heard from the Point warriors that you had gone glacial. Can't wait to hear about it. I hit a dark patch coming back in on lap 1. I puked up Lake, Lara Bar, and Gatorade, and gave up on sighting other than *** stroke during the first leg of lap 2, and things started to look up -- for me it became a matter of surviving to the finish. I doubt there was a single person out there who didn't have a dark patch or three. Anyone who finished that race has a lot to be proud of. Congrats on coming back from the puking episode - that's some excellent HTFU'ing :applaud: