BIGSHOULDERS RACE TIME
8:00 A.M. start for first wave of 5K Swim; 8:15 A.M. start for first wave of 2.5K Swim.  Check-in for both events begins at 6:30 A.M. Course Briefing at 7:40 A.M.  Waves seeded by age and distance.  Wetsuits and entries received after September 6th will be in a separate heat

PLACE
Ohio Street Beach, Chicago (directions)

REGISTRATION
The 2008 entry form can be downloaded here in Adobe Acrobat format.  Just click, save, print, fill
it out, and send it to us.

Continuing this year is online registration.  Access the online registration form at www.signmeup.com/bigshoulders 

COURSE AND TIMING
Triangular 2.5K course; marked by buoys and lifeguards in row boats. (See map in "Stuff for Swimmers" section) Water temperatures have varied between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.  ChampionChip timing system used ($25 fee for failing to return chip)

PARKING
Discounted Parking is available at Navy Pier. Bring your parking stub to the registration table for a validation stamp.

USMS REGISTRATION
You must attach a legible copy of your current U.S. Masters Swimming card with your entry form, and bring a copy to the race.  Cost for an annual membership is $35.00, or $20.00 after Sept. 1, 2009.  (If you are not yet a USMS member, you can register now for Big Shoulders, write "pending" for USMS No., and register for USMS after 9/1/09 for $25).  You must bring your USMS card to show at the race check in. USMS registration form available here, or register online at https://www.clubassistant.com/club/usms.cfm.

RACE DAY ENTRIES:
RACE DAY ENTRIES WILL BE PERMITTED IF SPACE PERMITS. YOU MUST BRING YOUR USMS REGISTRATION CARD AND PAY THE $70.00 LATE ENTRY FEE.

ENTRY FEE: 
$50.00 if received by 8/31/2009; $60.00 from 9/1/2009 to 9/9/2009; $70.00 for day of race registration.  NOTE – Registration fee does not include USMS registration fees.  Make check for entry fees payable to CHICAGO MASTERS SWIM CLUB.  NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN FOR ANY REASON! 

All participants will receive a goody bag at the race, which in past years has included water bottles, swimming products, etc.

T-SHIRTS: 
One high quality collectable shirt included with entry fee!  Extra shirts may be purchased for an additional $15.00.  Please indicate size and quantity on entry form.

WETSUITS
Swimmers wearing wetsuits are welcome to register in the Wetsuit Division, but may be started in a different wave and will not be tabulated with the age group swimmers who do not wear wetsuits.  However, swimmers wearing the Blue Seventy Wetsuit "point zero 3" model will be permitted to swim and be tabulated with the age group swimmers. 

AWARDS & RESULTS
Each finisher will receive a finisher's medal.  Results for each age group will be posted on the internet here at www.bigshoulders.org.  Wetsuit swimmers are scored for top three male and female overall.

RULES
All swimmers are required to wear the supplied fluorescent swim caps for safety reasons.  Current USMS rules will apply.

ACCOMMODATIONS
BigShoulders makes arrangements with local hotels to obtain group rates.  Check back again later for discounted places to stay near the event.

THE AFFORDABLE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE
Hostelling International is a 500-bed hostel in the Loop offering beds for a low rate. For information visit www.hichicago.org to download the details for the Big Shoulders deal. To reserve, call 312-583-2225 and mention Big Shoulders.

QUESTIONS
Call Scott at 630-408-8884, or email Chris at bigshoulders2009(at)yahoo.com

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		THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE 2008 BIG SHOULDERS SWIM. PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL BIG SHOULDERS 2008 RACE RESULTS!
BIG SHOULDERS 2008: Just 48 hours after the remnants of Hurricane Gustav rolled through Chicago, 603 swimmers braved the 69 degree waters of Lake Michigan for the 2008 installment of BIG SHOULDERS.  410 rugged athletes completed the full 5K swim, with another 193 taking on the "sprint distance," the 2.5K.  While Hurricane Gustav may have lowered the waterfront temperatures by 10 degrees, it left Chicago's lakefront a relatively calm body of water.  The net result were several fast swims from some big names.  On the men's side, Northwestern swimmer Eric Nilsson took the gold with a tremendous swim of 56:38, followed by Washington D.C.'s Steuart Martens at 57:21, and fresh from Beijing where he swam in the Olympics for his native Bulgaria, Mike Alexandrov at 57:24.  For the women, USA open water sensation (and NU alumnus) Erica Rose took the top spot in a time of 1:01:13, followed by Indy Swimfit's Victoria Rian at 1:02:50 and Kelly Perry at 1:04:19.    Other legends of swimming graced the lake this year as well.  Chicago Masters' own George Wendt, fresh off of his feat of setting the world record in the Men's 60-64 1500m swim, handily won his age group with a time of 1:03:11.  1960 Olympian for the United Kingdom, Michael Read, joined us from Ipswich, England, and Bill Ireland managed to squeeze in Big Shoulders after completing Alcatraz, Fiji, and several other swims around the world this year.    Big Shoulders has many people to thank for its success.  This year the race had 680 registered swimmers, despite a dire looking forecast heading into the weekend.  Big Shoulders wishes to acknowledge Kiefer, SwimVacation, Advanced Occupational Medicine Specialists, Superior Ambulance, SheeanDesign, HumanLabs and Marathon Sportswear for their continued support.  In addition, Big Shoulders wants to be sure to thank its committee, including Bob Lewis, Casey Platt, Scott Reeves, Paul Moniak, David Hefner, and the Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Team.  Finally, Big Shoulders wishes to thank all of the swimmers for coming out and joining in this great event.  Thanks to groups like NASTI, Evanston, IndySwimFit, the Naperville Waves, and all the other great teams that show up in force, this race enjoyed another rousing success.   Please plan to join us next year, September 12, 2009, when Big Shoulders will host the USMS 5K National Championship!   -Chris Sheean, Big Shoulders Race Coordinator