Bigger Shoulders In Chicago

Chris Sheean, race director of the Big Shoulders 5K that doubled as the US Masters Swimming national 5K championships, reported from Lake Michigan:

The 19th year of Big Shoulders was bigger and better than ever with 805 registered swimmers, and 715 completing one of the two distances.

After weeks of concern about below-normal water temperatures by many swimmers, Lake Michigan warmed up on cue, and was a balmy 73˚F (22.7˚C) on race morning. The air and water were calm with some low clouds drifting over the skyline as the sun rose, creating a majestic and beautiful setting (see below).

The competition was stiff this year, with a number of notable swims, including Erica Rose once again winning in 1:00:48, slipping past Kelly Perry (1:01:16) and Megan Ryther (1:01:23).

On the men's side, local hero Andy Seibt swam the time of his life, coming in at an astounding 56:21, beating out Alexander Tyler (57:53) and Adam Dawkins (58:46). Many thanks to all our sponsors and volunteers, and to all those who came out to compete and support Big Shoulders. Next year's race is set for Sept. 11, 2009.

Of course, a big decision will come on October 2nd when the Olympic bid cities of Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo learn what city receives the nod to host the 2016 Olympics. The planned Olympic 10K Marathon Swim for the 2016 Chicago Olympic bid is very close to the Big Shoulders 5K.

National Championship 5K Results:

1. Andy Seibt, 56:21
2. Alexander Tyler, 57:53
3. Adam Dawkins, 58:46
4. Tony Mattar, 59:01
5. Josh Kercheval, 59:32
6. Kevin Coates, 1:00:02
7. John Frutiger, 1:00:12
8. Will Simmons, 1:00:25
9. Sean Mathews, 1:00:46
10. Kirk Nelson, 1:00:56

1. Erica Rose, 1:00:48
2. Kelly Perry, 1:01:16
3. Megan Ryther, 1:01:23
4. Eney Jones, 1:02:10
5. Karen Schimdt, 1:03:13
6. Clare Brophy, 1:04:25
7. Denise Brown, 1:05:13
8. Polly Surhoff, 1:05:16
9. Katherine Braun, 1:05:44
10. Joy Stover, 1:05:54

Come-back At The Coastal Crawl

1998 world open water swimming champion Erica Rose (shown on left) experienced the highs and lows of marathon swimming this year, but ended up her season on a high note at the Coastal Crawl 10K Open Water Swim.

Earlier this year, Erica was invited to the elite Great Channel Swim, the first professional marathon swimming race across the English Channel in a generation, along with 12 other top marathon swimmers from around the world. However, due to complications with the French authorities, the Great Channel Swim was cancelled this year and her dreams dashed.

So Erica threw herself back into her work with little time for training as she had done for the past 15 years when represented the USA in numerous world championships and professional marathon swims. But the tug of open water swimming was too great to keep Erica away for too long.

Coastal Crawl 10K Open Water Swim, which doubled as the US Masters Swimming 10K National Championship, was enough to light her fire again.

The 10K race (see 10K swimmers and kayakers above), along with a 1-mile and 2-mile race, was held in Little Traverse Bay in Harbor Springs, Michigan this weekend.

After competing in professional swimming race in China, Argentina, Canada, Serbia, Australia, Brazil, Italy, Ecuador Spain, Mexico, Panama, United Arab Emirates, Grand Cayman Islands and Japan over her storied career, we asked Erica to compare these international competitions with the US Masters Swimming open water championships.

"[The race] was extremely well run and there was a good turnout. The swimmers were a bit nervous about the water temperature heading into the event, but I think most people were pleasantly surprised with how warm it was. It was 67˚F for most of the course."

"The course was set up in three loops and was very clearly marked and well laid out. There were pretty easy points to sight and the water was calm while we were in the harbor. It got pretty choppy, though, once we went out into the lake, but we were only there for a few minutes during each loop."

Despite her recent inactivity, Erica was pleased with her performance, finishing as the first overall women in 2:22:44, second overall to D. Scott Wells.

"I felt great until that 6K mark, but then it became very clear to me why I used to train so much for long open water events. When I finished the race on Saturday, my arms hurt as much as they used to after a 25K."

"I swam most of the race with [Scott]. He did a great job of drafting the first loop, leading me the second loop and then taking off on the third loop. He had a very impressive swim and it was fun for me to get to be with him during two-thirds of the race."

"All in all, it was a good day and a great event that I would recommend to anyone."

The top five men included D. Scott Wells (48) in 2:16:59, Andy Seibt (51) in 2:26:33, Randy McElwain (45) in 2:27:54, Matthew Klaasse (18) in 2:29:33 and Dale Jackson (49) in 2:32:41.

The top five women included Erica Rose (27) in 2:22:44, Malloy Mead (23) in 2:28:45, Martha Martin (46) 2:33.08, Donna Johnson (41) in 2:35:21 and Mary Ruppe (40) in 2:35:23.

Photo of Erica Rose by Dr. Jim Miller.

Spreading The News In Chicago

Like her former USA Swimming national teammates John Kenny and Sara McLarty, former world 5K champion Erica Rose offers open water swimming clinics. Now located in Chicago, Erica offers motivational and educational information to budding and experienced open water swimmers based on years of racing in the Pacific Ocean, in lakes in Canada and down rivers in South America.

World's Best Are Coming To Tiburon...Again

The always challenging, fiercely competitive, incredibly enjoyable RCP Tiburon Mile announced another world-class field of elite pool and open water swimming stars for its tenth annual event on September 13th in San Francisco Bay.

It will be an amazing race. The field includes:

• Trent Grimsey (Australia, shown on left): winner of the RCP Tiburon Mile, Waikiki Roughwater Swim, 5K and 10K Australian national championships, Oceania 10K championships

• Thomas Lurz (Germany): multi-time world and European 5K and 10K champion, bronze medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics 10K, silver medalist in the 2006 RCP Tiburon Mile after a photo finish with Vladimir Dyatchin, won the 2005 and 2006 World Open Water Swimmer of the Year
• Vladimir Dyatchin (Russia): Swimming World Magazine’s 2007 Male Open Water Swimmer of the Year, winner of the 2006 and 2007 RCP Tiburon Mile, multiple 10K world champion and 2008 10K Olympian
• Evgeni Bezruchenko (Russia): 2001 10K world champion and member of the winning team at the 2007 Maui Channel Swim and 2008 Trans Tahoe Swim
• Brendan Capell (Australia): 2004 25K world champion, 2007 RCP Tiburon Mile silver medalist, multi-time winner of the 25K Australian national championships and highly ranked FINA World Cup and Grand Prix competitor
• Andrew Beato (Australia): silver medalist at the 2008 and 2009 Australian national championships
• Oussama Mellouli (Tunisia): 2008 Olympic 1500-meter gold medalist.
• J.K. Koehler, Jr. (USA): All-American in 1650-yard freestyle from Indiana University, Olympic Trials 1500-meter finalist, member of 2008 RCP Tiburon Milers’ Trans Tahoe Swim winning team
• Chloe Sutton (USA): 2008 Beijing 10K Olympian, 2-time RCP Tiburon Mile champion, 2-time USA national 10K champion, gold medalist in the 2007 Pan American Games 10K, bronze medalist at the 2008 5K world championships and 800-meter freestyle at the 2008 USA Olympic Trials
• Luane Rowe (Australia): winner of the 2008 Waikiki Roughwater Swim and fourth in the 2008 RCP Tiburon Mile
• Eva Fabian (USA): silver medalist in the 2008 USA 10K national championships and member of the USA Swimming Junior National Team

Other swimmers who may compete include Germany's world 25K champion Britta Kamrau, Australia's Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Rice, Russia's Olympic gold medalist Larisa Ilchenko and American 10K world champion Chip Peterson, Olympic gold medalist Brooke Bennett, world open water swimming world champion Erica Rose (shown on left) and Olympic gold medalist and NCAA champion Dana Volmer.

Who are better race car drivers: NASCAR or Formula One drivers? Who can throw a ball better: quarterbacks or pitchers? Who is better in the water: pool or open water swimmers?

The RCP Tiburon Mile may be the best venue to determine the world's best athlete in the water. The race is not a marathon swim (i.e., over 10K), so the advantage does not go to pure open water swimmers. The race is not in a pool, so the advantage does not go to pool swimmers. Rather the distance and venue is a good compromise between pool and marathon swimming.

But, as many open water swimmers know, there are no lanes no lines, no walls..and no mercy.

The $10,000 winner-take-all cash prize is incentive enough, but the pride of beating Olympic medalists and world champions from 20 different countries may be the bigger honor.

Founded in 1999 by Robert C. Placak, the RCP Tiburon Mile annually attracts a wide range of swimmers between the ages of 13 and 80, but the eyes of the media and thousands of fans who line the banks of San Francisco Bay will be on the elite competitors.

Photo of Trent Grimsey winning the 2008 RCP Tiburon Mile by Elliot Karlan of Elliot Karlan Photography.

A Rose Is A Rose Is A Competitor

Erica Rose, one of the six women and 14 ultra-marathon swimmers who has been invited to compete in the Great Channel Swim was interviewed by Bob Babbitt of Competitor Radio last week.

Listen here for an entertaining interview.


Erica spoke about her excitement of racing for £10,000 (US$14,566 or €11,327) across the English Channel and the history of pro racing in the English Channel. One of her many interesting comments regarded her view of her coach, "[My] coach [on my escort boat] needs to keep me entertained and alert...they need to help me stay focused and keep me positive."

Erica Rose on the English Channel Race

We caught up with Erica Rose in Chicago where she has begun a focused training program for the Great Channel Swim this August. Erica's excitement and energy were very evident.

Q1. So how do you feel?
A1. I'm so excited! It's such an amazing opportunity - I am thrilled to be a part of it.

Q2. How are you training for the Great Channel Swim?
A2. The focus of my training for the English Channel is building up my swimming yardage so that I am prepared to compete in a race that could last as long as nine or ten hours (obviously, I hope it won't take that long, but I need to be prepared). I will be training in Evanston, Illinois under the supervision of coach Bob Groseth. When it starts to warm up a little bit here in Chicago, I will incorporate lake swims into my training routine so that I become as familiar as possible with the feeling of swimming in very chilly water. I love to train and I am looking forward to the challenge that lies before me.

Q3. Are you nervous?
A3. Right now, I am much more excited than nervous about crossing the English Channel. It is something I have wanted to do for several years and to have the opportunity to do it - along side some of the world's very best open water swimmers - is an honor and a thrill for me. I'm sure I will become more nervous as August approaches, but for now, I'm very excited.

Q4. What are your goals?
A4. My main goal, of course, is to have a successful channel crossing. This will be my first time swimming the English Channel and I am very aware of the many challenges I might encounter along the way. At the same time, I know that I am not merely crossing the channel... I am racing across it! My goal is to be as competitive as possible with the other women who have been selected to compete in this event. I am among an incredibly elite crowd - and while I am honored and excited just to be part of the group, I am also focused and determined to represent my country as best I can in this prestigious event.

Q5. What would be your goal time?
A5. I don't think I can set a goal time right now. I want to be competitive with the other girls during the race. The speed we swim will be quite dependent on the weather we encounter on race day. The fastest time a woman has ever done is just under 7 and a half hours. If we get a good day, I would say there is an excellent chance that the record will be broken this summer. If it's a tough day, it will take longer. I just need to be physically and mentally prepared for whatever conditions we face.

Q6. Can you handle the cold water?
A6. I am not overly concerned about the cold water. I have raced in cold water before and I tend to handle it well. That said, I know it is a factor that needs to be taken very seriously and I do not want to underestimate the impact it could have on my performance. I will practice as much as I can in the chilly waters of Lake Michigan this spring. I did the Polar Bear Plunge here last year... it can't get much colder than that.

Q7. What is the longest swim you have done to date (both in terms of time and distance)?
A7. The longest swim I have done to date is the 88K (54.6 miles) Hernandarias Parana race in Argentina. I have done that swim twice. The first time, it took me just over 10 hours - which makes it the longest swim I have ever done in terms of both time and distance. I'm definitely hoping that crossing the English Channel will take less than ten hours this summer.

Top two photos of Erica were taken by Dr. Jim Miller at the 2003 and 2005 World Swimming Championships. Lower photo was taken by TYR which has sponsored Erica for years.

America's Hope in the Most Amazing Race

Erica Rose, America's best marathon swimmer over the last ten years, has confirmed her participation in the greatest endurance race of 2009: the Great Channel Swim across the English Channel.




Erica, who transitioned from the world's 5K champion in 1998 to one of the top professional marathon swimmers in the world, will face a stellar field of experienced marathon swimmers from all over the world.


Russians Yuri Kudinov and Natalya Pankina, Bulgarian Petar Stoychev, Cassandra Patten of Great Britain, Stefanie Biller of Germany and Australians Shelley Clark and Brendan Capell have committed to compete in the world's most iconic channel. The final list of competitors will be announced shortly by Nova International.

Erica has traveled the world competing against the world's fastest marathon swimmers - and she will need every kilometer of experience in the Channel:

2007
1st - 25K USA National 25K Championships
1st - 5K Chicago Big Shoulders
2nd - 9K Rosario Professional Marathon Swim in Argentina
2nd - 34K Lac Memphremagog FINA Grand Prix in Canada
3rd - 88K Hernandarias-Parana FINA Grand Prix in Argentina
3rd - 57K Santa Fe-Coronda FINA Grand Prix in Argentina
3rd - 10K Viedma Swimin Argentina
3rd - FINA Grand Prix Series (overall ranking)
4th - 10K USA National Championships
4th - 32K Lac St-Jean FINA Grand Prix in Canada
4th - 36K Capri-Napoli FINA Grand Prix in Italy

2006
1st - 10K Pan American Championships in Ecuador
1st - 5K Pan American Championships in Ecuador
1st - 25K USA National Championships
1st - 32K Lac St-Jean FINA World Cup in Canada
2nd - 10K Seville FINA World Cup in Spain
3rd - 1.5K Tiburon Swim in California, USA
4th - 10K USA National Championships
4th - 25K World Open Water Swimming Championships in Italy
4th - 36K Capri-Napoli FINA World Cup in Italy
10th - 10K World Open Water Swimming Championships in Italy

2005
1st - 25K USA National Championships
2nd - 10K USA National Championships
4th - 37K Around the Island FINA World Cup in New Jersey, USA
4th - 36K Lac Magog FINA World Cup in Canada
6th - 32K Lac St-Jean FINA World Cup in Canada
6th - 88K Hernandarias-Parana FINA World Cup in Argentina
7th - 57K Santa Fe-Coronda FINA World Cup in Argentina
7th - 21K Rosario FINA World Cup in Argentina
8th - 15K Sumidero Canyon FINA World Cup in Mexico
9th - 25K World Swimming Championships in Canada
9th - 10K World Swimming Championships in Canada

2004
1st - USA Nationals, Ft. Myers, Florida, 10K
1st - Pan American Championships, Playa Blanca, Panama, 5K
1st - Pan American Championships, Playa Blanca, Panama, 10K
2nd - USA Nationals, Ft. Myers, Florida, 25K
3rd - Tiburon Mile Swim, Tiburon, California, 1.5K
8th - Lac Magog FINA World Cup, Magog, Canada, 36K
9th - 10K for the USA, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 10K
11th - 25K World Open Water Swimming Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
16th - 10K World Open Water Swimming Championships, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

2003
1st - 10K USA National Championships
1st - 2.5K Alcatraz Shark Fest in California, USA
2nd - 25K USA National Championships
9th - 1.5K Tiburon Mile Swim in California, USA
11th - 10K World Swimming Championships in Spain

2002
1st - 10K USA National Championships in California, USA
1st - 10K for the USA in New Jersey, USA
1st - 2K Yangtzee River Crossing in China
3rd - 5K Pirate's Week in Cayman Islands
4th - 5K USA National Championships

2001
1st - 10K USA National Championships
7th - 5K World Swimming Championship in Japan
14th - 10K World Swimming Championships in Japan

2000
3rd - 5K USA National Championships

1999
1st - 5K USA National Championships
1st - 5K Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Australia
1st - 5K Pre-World Championships in Hawaii, USA

1998
1st - 5K USA National Championships
1st - 5K World Swimming Championships in Australia

1997
1st - 5K USA National Championships
1st - 5K Pre-World Championships in Australia

1996
2nd - 5K USA National Championships

We will post an interview with Erica later today. Her excitement is contagious as she gears up her training for the most prestigious, most challenging race of her career.

Upper photo provided by TYR that has sponsored Erica for years.

Transponders in Open Water Swimming

In major international competitions, including the Olympics and FINA World Cup and Grand Prix events, open water swimmers strap on two transponders, one on each wrist. The swimmers must finish the race with both transponders.




What happens in a major international competition, when a swimmer's transponder comes off for some reason? If the swimmer finishes the race without one or both of the transponders, the swimmer is disqualified. In these cases, the swimmer usually indicates to (i.e., yells at) the referee that he or she has lost the transponder. There is no need to stop in the race and lose precious time. The referees in cooperation with the Omega Timing officials will deliver the replacement transponder to the swimmer in the water or the coach at a feeding station or in an escort boat.

At the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Championships in Seville, this is exactly what happened. A swimmer indicated to the referee that her transponder was lost and the transponder was delivered to her coach at the feeding station. The transponder was handed to the swimmer on her next feed.

Other times, a referee can hand a replacement transponder to a swimmer in the water as the race in underway and he or she is swimming in a pack. The most recent example occurred at the men's 10K in the Asian Beach Games in Bali.

Things happen.

But experienced referees and race officials are generally always well-prepared for the unexpected to happen.

Upper photo shows Erica Rose with her transponders snugly taped to her wrists with waterproof tape. The tape helps the transponder’s wrist straps from flapping about, which can cause severe frustration during a marathon swim. Photo by Dr. Jim Miller.

Middle photo shows Larisa Ilchenko winning the 2007 World 10K Championship with a transponder on her right wrist. Photo by Dr. Jim Miller.

Lower photo shows FINA officials removing the transponders from the wrist of Margy Keefe, silver medalist at the 2005 World 5K Championships.

Background: The transponders and floating timing system are innovations from Omega Timing that has managed the timekeeping at the Olympics since 1932. Omega developed the first semi-automatic swimming timer used at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, and later developed the original touch pads placed at each end of swimming pools that were first used at the 1967 Winnipeg Pan American Games.

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association

USA Swimming Open Water Video

Under the leadership of Dave Thomas of USA Swimming, all 2,800 swim clubs registered with USA Swimming will receive a nice open water swimming Christmas present. Thomas has arranged for the teams to receive a USA Swimming Open Water Swimming DVD that covers all aspects of competitive open water swimming.

The video, currently in post-production, was shot at the USA Swimming National Open Water Select Camp in Ft. Myers, Florida. It was a collaboration by national team coaches Rick Walker of Southern Illinois University, Catherine Vogt of USC and Steven Munatones. Dean Ekeren, USA Swimming National Events Director and Gregg Cross, inspirational race director of numerous national championships in Ft. Myers, also assisted in the production of the video.

The educational video covers in-pool training for open water swimming, open water swimming drills and skills, drafting, feeding, starts, finishes, buoy turns, setting up an open water race and safety.

Photo shows the top female open water swimmers at the 2007 USA Swimming National Open Water Swimming Championships, all of whom have participated in the USA Swimming National Open Water Select Camps where the best pool distance swimmers are given an opportunity to receive a comprehensive and intense introduction to open water swimming.

A Mile in the Bay and Another Down Under

Oussama Mellouli, the Olympic 1500-meter gold medalist from Tunisia and USC, will have a busy October.

On October 5th in San Francisco, Mellouli will participate in the RCP Tiburon Mile and then will fly over to Australia to compete in the Sydney World Cup meet on October 25th and 26th.

Mellouli swam a great Olympic final to upset 2-time Olympic champion Grant Hackett with the third-fastest time ever swum in 14:40.84.

In the RCP Tiburon Mile, Mellouli will be similarly chased by open water swimming world champion Thomas Lurz of Germany and other open water swimming stars, including Chip Peterson, Fran Crippen and Russian 2008 10K world champion Vladimir Dyatchin. Eric Vendt is also expected to be in the mix.

The women's race should also be equally as exciting with 2-time defending champion Chloe Sutton facing a slew of pool and open water swimming stars very motivated to capture the $10,000 winner-take-all cash prize.

Photo of Mellouli by Getty Images after his 800-meter freestyle gold medal performance at the 2007 World Swimming Championships.

The Longest Race in the World

The FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix traditionally kicks off its season in Argentina with a series of races in Argentina. Santa Fe, Rosario, and Viedma are held in February on back-to-back weekends.

Another one is these early FINA Grand Prix races is the 88K (54.6 miles) Hernandarias-Parana race, known as the longest professional race in the world.

Erica Rose, who finished 3rd in 9 hours 40 minutes in 2007 and 6th in 10:05 2005 in the Hernandarias-Parana, says, "The race itself is incredible. It is challenging, for sure. There are some points when the river is narrow and you feel like you're moving quickly, but there are other points where you can't see either bank of the river at all and you have no idea where you are or if your rowers are taking you in the right direction."

"The people in Parana and Hernandarias are amazing. They get so excited about the marathon that they celebrate the week leading into it and line the banks of the river when you're swimming. They're incredibly supportive of the swimmers and treat us like celebrities."

Photo of Erica swimming in the Hernandarias-Parana race.

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association

A Smooth, Cool and Memorable Big Shoulders 2008

Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Unlike Hurricane Hanna's cancellation of the Brooklyn Bridge Swim, Hurricane Gustav only caused a water temperature drop at the Big Shoulders 2.5K and 5K Swims on Saturday.

Under a gorgeous fall morning, 410 swimmers completed the 5 km swim and 193 swimmers entered the 2.5 km race in Lake Michigan. Although Hurricane Gustav lowered the water temperature by 10°F, the lakefront was relatively calm and showcased the skills of Northwestern's Eric Nilsson who won the 5K in 56:38, followed by Washington D.C.'s Steuart Martens at 57:21, and Mike Alexandrov at 57:24. 1998 world 5 km champion and fellow Northwestern Wildcat Erica Rose led the women's field with a time of 1:01:13, followed by Indy Swimfit's Victoria Rian at 1:02:50 and Kelly Perry at 1:04:19.

Former King of the Channel Michael Read also competed as well as the ever-present Bill Ireland of Southern California who competed in race from Fiji to Alcatraz to Chicago on a one-man world open water swimming tour.

Photo of Erica Rose by TYR.

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association

Summer Classics - Big Shoulders

564 people are entered in the 2.5K and 5K Big Shoulders Swim to be held in Lake Michigan next week. One of America's most successful open water swimmers, Erica Rose plans to defend her 2007 5K title.


Photo of the Big Shoulders race course from the John Hancock Tower in downtown Chicago.

Why Do Open Water Swimmers Do It?

"I wanted a T-shirt that says ‘USA National Team'. It turned out to be a very smart decision."- Mark Warkentin, National Champion and FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup winner

"I was invited to a USA Swimming Open Water camp for people who never tried it before. There, we were expected to participate in the National Championships in Ft. Myers Florida and I won my first 10K." - Chloe Sutton, National Champion and FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup winner

"Open water swimming is swimming in its purest form - it's just you and the elements." - Steven Munatones, quote in New York Times (August 26, 2005)

"I love it because its a lot harder and more complex then pool swimming. Plus, it's longer and I'm not that great at flip turns. The best thing is you get to travel and meet people from all over the world." - Kristen Groome, FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup winner

"I participated in my first open water race because my coach at the time thought it would be something fun for me to do the day after pool-Nationals in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Even though I was challenged and frustrated during that first race, I enjoyed the experience and liked swimming in an environment where I felt more free and comfortable than I did in the pool. I eventually moved up in distance from the 5K to the 10K and then on to longer races, and I found that the longer the distance, the better I seemed to do. I think the other main component that kept me interested in open water swimming was the opportunity I had to travel and to meet new people through the sport. Over the years, I've developed some of my best friendships through the sport of open water swimming, and the people and places I've gotten to know are definitely one of the main reasons I continue to swim!" – Erica Rose, 1998 World Champion and multi-time National Champion

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association