| BIG
SHOULDERS 2002:
RACE DIRECTORS MESSAGE
Another
year of Big Shoulders in the books, but all those who participated
know that this year’s event was truly special. The conditions
were completely flawless – a sunny, cloudless sky, water
temperature of 78 degrees, air temperature of 75 degrees,
and water as smooth as glass. Thanks to Lakeshore Athletic
Services, Big Shoulders made the technological leap to Champion
Chip timing for the first time, with all swimmers’ times
registered electronically. In addition, Big Shoulders made
the move from Sunday to Saturday. The number of participants
reflected the conditions, and served notice that Big Shoulders
continues to grow in size and popularity. This year, 353 swimmers
signed up to participate in the 5k and 2.5k events. Thanks
to this record turnout, a record amount of money was raised
to help support the men’s and women’s swim teams
at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
The
additional swimmers and perfect conditions contributed to
a significantly faster winning time, and faster times throughout
the age group divisions. Chris Yontez of Los Angeles crossed
the finish line fastest overall, with a time of 59:17, followed
closely by Jim Barber (59:43) of Zionsville, IN and Chicago
Masters’ own Bill Winters (1:01:14). Liz Dillman finished
first on the women’s side, and fourth overall, at 1:01:27,
with Nadine Day (1:02:12) of Danville, IL and Kelly Perry
(1:03:01) of St. Charles, IL completing the top three spots.
Some of the amazing stories to come out of this race were
not the finishing times, but the racers themselves. Congratulations
to all of the first time competitors of Big Shoulders, who
were able to set and meet their goal of finishing an open
water swim. They are an inspiration, and the new blood that
keeps this sport growing.
Big
Shoulders’ continued success is due in large part to
the totally professional and unparalleled job performed by
the Chicago Park District lifeguarding crew. Thanks to their
support, Big Shoulders has been a model of safety for open
water swimming. Big Shoulders must also thank the continued
support of its sponsors, Infolocus, Kiefer, Gatorade, AdRoc,
The Shamrock Companies, Chicago Amateur Athlete, Vertel’s
and Balance Bar. Thanks also to the volunteers, including
the many swimmers from UIC Men’s and Women’s Swim
Teams.
Have
a great year of training, and we hope to see you all back
next year for BIG SHOULDERS 2003 on September
6, 2003. Check back to our website, www.bigshoulders.org
for more information on next year’s race. Please also
submit photos from the event that we may post on the site.
Send your photos to chris@bigshoulders.org.
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A
View from the Beach...
the faces of Big Shoulders 2002
Faces.
The Faces of Big Shoulders 2002… this year they were
smiling faces. What more could we ask for? The weather was
right and Lake Michigan decided to present itself at face
value, holding no mysteries for 2002 Big Shoulders swimmers.
The surface water temp was warm, welcoming, and consistent
all the way around. No cold water inversions at far corner
one, no choppy swirls at corner two.
Out
of more than 350 swimmers, the Biggest of Shoulders yet, what
kind of faces did we see?
Consistent
faces: near as we can figure, and this is just “off
the cuff”- Lauri Tanamura and George Wendt are the only
two who have swum all twelve Big Shoulders, but plenty of
familiar faces were back …Bill Mulliken, Chris Sheean,
Tom Boettcher, Jennifer Jacobs, John Martin, Russ Hefner,
Dave Ackerman, Phil Dodsen, Dennis Miller, etc etc. Pam Patterson
handled logistics with a host of characters that included
her Mom and Dad, the UIC Swim Team with coaches Paul Moniak
and Ina Harizanova, Amy Smith, Jenny Bierbaum, Tim Kelly,
Boyd Black, Bill Gray, Mark Jaeger, Kathleen Pisula, Mara
Weil, Lee Carry, Chicago Parks District, and the list goes
on…
Winning
Faces: Our overall winner came from LA, the locus
of Face Power, where first impressions are everything. And
impress us he did, with a powerful sub-hour swim.
Facing
Fly: The Butterfly Guy, Tom Boettcher, was back for
yet another 5K all butterfly. Ho hum, it's just part of Big
Shoulders now.
Facing
Up: Word has it that a mysterious swimmer decided
to flip over and really enjoy the fabulous architecture, completing
the 5K all backstroke. Now the Big Shoulders IM Team can be
assembled -- Founder and 1960 Olympic Gold Medalist Bill Mulliken
has completed the 5K all breaststroke, we have our backstroker
now, Boettcher covers the butterfly, and we have loads of
freestylers.
Dog
faces: New additions such as Cathy Gray’s Pal
came sniffing around our ankle timing bracelets looking for
food or fun. And what of this weird new science, the ankle
timing bracelet? Seemed to work fine for everyone. Some of
us remember grabbing Popsicle sticks as we trudged through
that finish shoot sand. Ah, the face of change as Big Shoulders
faces the future.
Facing
Inward:
After all the hellos and reunions of old friends, everyone
had to get their “game face” on, calling upon
reserves of strength and determination to complete their own
little miracles. Just ask yourselves how many people in the
entire world have ever completed a fresh water 5 kilometer
swim…its no small feat.
Onlookers’
faces: Everyone prepping for the LaSalle marathon
had a chance to run by and appreciate a sport truly removed
from the common human experience. Imagine the esoteric nature
of propelling one’s own mammalian mass through water.
Why, 100 years ago the whole idea of competitive aerobic power
swimming was all but nonexistent. Now look at us – we
are charting new ground in human behavior, challenging our
arms, legs, lungs and minds!
Face
it,
Chicago’s Big Shoulders is one special race, with plenty
of characters putting on their best faces in and out of the
water each year. For you first timers, we are glad to have
you. Next year, c’mon back, join our legions of familiar
faces and bring a few more along. Big Shoulders always has
room for one more swimmer ready to go face to face with Lake
Michigan in downtown Chicago.
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