Big Shoulders Swim takes place on Sat, Sep 12, 2026 in Chicago, United States. The main route is 5 km.
- Date
- Sat, Sep 12, 2026
- Start
- Chicago 🇺🇸
- Distance
- 5 km
- Level
- Open to all
The Big Shoulders Open Water Swim Classic is an open-water swimming competition held in Lake Michigan at Ohio Street Beach featuring 2.5K and 5K distance options.
Official event pageWhat this race demands
The Big Shoulders Swim requires sustained open-water endurance to complete a 5 km distance in Lake Michigan. Athletes must maintain pacing and sighting efficiency over an extended swimming duration.
Open-Water Endurance
The 5 km distance demands continuous cardiovascular output and muscular stamina without the benefit of wall pushes found in pool swimming.
Sighting and Pacing
Navigating Lake Michigan requires consistent bilateral breathing and open-water sighting skills to maintain a direct line over the extended duration.
Your road to race day
Race day at Big Shoulders Swim is 3 weeks away. This is how a coach divides that time. The first phase starts now.
01Taper2 weeks · Aug 23, 2026 – Sep 5, 2026
Volume drops while intensity stays: short, sharp efforts keep the legs awake as fatigue drains away.
02Race week1 week · Sep 6, 2026 – Sep 12, 2026
Openers, rest and logistics. The work is done; the job now is arriving fresh.
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