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Big
Shoulders 2003: Race of Mystery!
Sometimes in life a large and
dynamic phenomenon can present more questions than answers,
leaving its participants perhaps puzzled but pleasantly
perplexed. Big Shoulders 2003 was just such an event, a race
shrouded in the mystery of its own success. Let’s explore some
of the mysteries of this Lucky #13 Annual Swim:
The Big Mystery:
Where’d they all come from? Almost 400 people swam Big
Shoulders this year! Official count was 237 for the 5K and 152
for the 2.5K, making 389 overall. Yet, Big Shoulders still felt
as friendly and collegial as ever, proof of our Midwest
hospitality and good nature.
Mysterious Distance:
Even with the help of high technology, namely the GPS, plus
our cumulative experience, many hypothesized that the course was
slightly short of an exact 5K. As Race Director Chris Sheean so
aptly put it in his quote of the day, “Hey, it’s a volunteer
race and the Lake is free. If any of you feel cheated out of
some swimming, by all means please jump back in for a few extra
strokes!” We all found this amusing, though Chris was actually
the only one to take himself up on his own advice.
Weather Mystery:
Just how did we luck out this year, when a few days previous
the water was chilly, the winds gusting and the waves surging?
Today’s race was temperate and relatively calm, even though
there were many shivers and chattering teeth heard at the start
line.
Mystery of the Day:
“Big Shoulders is always the first Sun…er, Saturday after Labor
Day each year.” Now that Big Shoulders has successfully made
the transition to Saturday from Sunday, what will we do with all
that extra weekend time post-race?
Persistent Mysteries:
Dr. Dennis Miller was awarded the Iron Shoulders designation
for having swum in every Big Shoulders race since its inception,
joining the other Iron Shoulders Award winners honored last
year. What keeps him going? Today was Dennis’ 13th
Big Shoulders, prompting him to quip, ”Hey, I spend all day
fixing teeth and inflicting pain. Why shouldn’t I suffer a
little once a year myself?” (We are just kidding; Dr. Miller is
a fine and trusted practitioner of the science and art of dental
treatment, and we heartily endorse his craft. Stop in and see
him right down the street from the very same beach where Big
Shoulders launches. He never said t
The All-Butterfly Mystery:
Tom Boettcher returned to once again swim Big Shoulders 5K
all butterfly. This is the fifth time in a row he has done Big
Shoulders all fly, begging the question – What on earth
possesses a man to swim 3.1 miles of butterfly? 5 times? One
wonders: What is on his mind with every butterfly stroke? And
how many strokes of fly fit into a 5 K anyway? Perhaps, in the
answers to these mysteries, there is some window to the soul of
all Big Shoulders swimmers…
Sweet Mystery of Love:
In the never-ending circle of life and love, Chicago Police
Officer and Chicago Masters Swimmer Nial Funchion won special
recognition for his 26 mile Lake Michigan swim along the coast
of Chicago from Evanston due south. Upon completion of this
swim, Nial presented his girlfriend, Big Shoulders 2.5k swim
champ Peggy Dempsey, with an engagement ring hidden in his
wetsuit. It is hypothesized that Nial added at least 5 minutes
to his swimming time over 26 miles by carting along that large
rock for the entire distance! Big Shoulders was proud to have
this Aquatic Romantic as part of our crowd this year.
Racing Mysteries:
Back with a renewed zeal for racing, Richard Kramer won the
Overall 5 K race with a blistering time, reminding us of his
many previous Big Shoulders victories. Likewise, his female
counterpart Nadine Day set a breakneck pace just 5 minutes
behind in winning the women’s division. In the 2.5 K race, the
spread was 3 minutes between male winner David Wickstgrom and
female champ Peggy Dempsey. All swimmers encounter some racing
mysteries as we cycle through phases of burn out and enthusiasm
for training and competition. We all learn ways to pay
attention to the flow of our minds and bodies.
The Mystery of the Cookie:
Everyone wants to know: What is in those delicious
Potassium Cookies courtesy Race Founder and Olympic Gold
Medalist Bill Mulliken? Its always good to see Bill’s smiling
face on race morning.
The Mystery of the Unknown Swimmer:
New names and faces come from all over the country to join
us at Big Shoulders each year, though it is a mystery to us how
so many have heard of this Architecturally Significant Classic.
Return to your faraway lands and spread the word -- swimmers of
all abilities will always be welcome. We are proud of every
swimmer at Big Shoulders, from the first to the last. Thank you
to everyone for cheering right until the end, while enjoying a
brunch of scrumptious neon green Gatorade and Gold Balance Bars,
the gold standard in the world of mobile nutrition.
The Antithesis of the Unknown -- Our Regulars return to
Dispel Mystery:
We saw Cathy Gray, Famous Amos, Daddy John Martin, Laurie
Tanimura, Amy Statton, pastry wizard and multi-talented Russ
Hafner, Coach Tim and his masters group, and there are so many
more beyond this short list. There is no mystery to why swimmers
such as these return every year – we find camaraderie and
challenge in the waves below Big John Hancock Tower.
No Mystery -- The Quality of The Race:
It is no mystery to the regulars of Big Shoulders that every
event is smooth, professional and fun thanks to all the
volunteers that make it happen. Race Director Chris Sheean has
infused Big Shoulders with his gracious and admirable personal
characteristics, providing a long-term guiding force in the
personality and professionalism of the race. Pam Smith has
provided steady and surgically precise coordination and
support. Almost-a-Dr. and U. of Chicago cancer researcher and
volunteer Candace Cham brings us all a smiling face as we
overcome pre-race grogginess to register. We thank all the
volunteers, including the UIC Men’s and Women’s Swimming Team
and head coach Paul Moniak, the Chicago Park District
lifeguards, and all those who helped with provisions like
cookies, Gatorade, etc. It would be exciting for Big Shoulders
swimmers to stop by a Flames home meet some time and cheer on
these great athletes. Let’s not forget sponsors such as Balance
Bar, ADROC Productions, Hostel International, Ultra Swim, Adolf
Kiefer, Gatorade, Infolocus, Sheean Design, the Chicago Park
District, Chicago Amateur Athlete as well as the companies who
understand when we allocate some personal time and effort to
making this race great.
Mystery of our Bodies:
Many voiced the sentiment that they were proud, grateful and
relieved just to have finished the race once again. For all
that we know of our world, there is still too much mystery
within our own bodies. All of us are forced to confront the
mystery of our own bodies; will we make it down that long, deep
backstretch twice while the current picks up and our tendons
tighten up?
One of Big Shoulder’s best-trained and most courageous swimmers,
George Wendt, described how he found his calf and foot cramped
in the middle of the race to the extent that he had to break
stroke and stop to work it out. Much to the chagrin of this
marauder of the water, he fell off the lead pack but still
finished in the Top Ten. George’s incident is a good lesson for
all in how to keep our calm in the face of adversity. Big
Shoulders does not reward panic; cooler heads prevail in the
midst of extreme physical challenge, even if it means making a
sensible decision to break or stop. The boats are there to
help, and there is no shame for ours is a race where every
participant is a champ even if your body throws you some
unexpected responses.
The Great Mystery of Self:
Perhaps our greatest mystery, played both in and out of the
water, is of the simultaneous frailty and robust nature of life
itself. How many of us have faced tragedy over the past year
due to illness and accident? How many stories did we share of
brave displays in the face of cancers and similar health
threats? Perhaps we find some meaning or expression of our own
will to persist in our yearly Big Shoulders endeavor. That
Lake Michigan triangle structure, marked by three ominous orange
course buoys, serves as a mental architecture for us – it
provides consistency and challenge by which we can meter our
year and calibrate our own state of health.
As we reflect upon the mysteries of Big Shoulders 2003, let us
be thankful we could all come together in health, vigor and
friendly competition to celebrate the joys of extreme outdoor
swimming. It was a privilege to gather, and a joy to swim! See
you next year.
Tom Boettcher
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