20th Annual Chicago Masters' Big Shoulders 5K & 2.5K

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Registration Schedule

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ANNOUNCEMENT 8/28/2010:

Big Shoulders 2010 has sold out!  We hit our maximum of 800 on 8/19/2010, and will not accept any additional mail-in or online registrations.  If you wish to be added to the wait list, please send an email to bigshoulders2010@yahoo.com.
 
If you are currently registered for Big Shoulders 2010, please check out our PSYCHE SHEET to verify your name, USMS number, age, distance you are swimming, and whether you will wear a wetsuit to race.  Note, if you wish to make any changes (i.e. swich distance or change to wetsuit division), you must send an email to bigshoulders2010@yahoo.com by midnight on September 4, 2010.  Otherwise, you will be entered as you registered, and if you attempt to swim a different distance or decide to wear a wetsuit, you will be disqualified.

20th ANNUAL CHICAGO MASTERS’ BIG SHOULDERS 5K & 2.5K
OPEN WATER LONG DISTANCE SWIM CLASSIC
****USMS H2Open Series Event****
Saturday, September 11, 2010, 8:00 a.m. at Ohio Street Beach, Chicago
Sanctioned by Illinois Masters Swimming Association for USMS, Inc. (#210-001W)

 
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 time for 1st heat, then by age and distance.  Wetsuit swimmers and entries received after Sept. 6 will be in a separate heat.

COURSE/TIMING:  Triangular 2.5K course; marked both by buoys and lifeguards in row boats. (See map on reverse.) Swimmers start in the water, and finish with a run up the beach.  Water temps have varied between 65-80°F.  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.

QUESTIONS?  Check out www.bigshoulders.org, call Scott at 630-408-8884, or email Chris at bigshoulders2010@yahoo.com

ONLINE REGISTRATION:  Online registration is preferred.  Your credit card will be charged by Club Assistant.com Event Billing.  Please use Visa, MC, or Discover.  Register for the race online at www.clubassistant.com/bigshoulders.

USMS REGISTRATION:  You must be a USMS member, or a member of a foreign Masters Swimming Association, to compete in Big Shoulders.  Online race registration for a completed entry begins with USMS membership verification. Cost for an annual membership is $37.00. 
JOIN USMS ON SEPT 2, 2010:  For swimmers interested in participating in Big Shoulders, but who won't need to join USMS before the race, Illinois Masters offers a reduced membership fee after Sept. 1, 2010 ($27.00).  You may register online now for Big Shoulders, but select "Non-USMS" as your path of registration, in which USMS membership is temporarily not required.   You will then need to obtain a late year USMS membership on September 2nd, which will be automatically verified with the Big Shoulders-ClubAssistant-USMS verification tool.  Failure to become a USMS member before SEPT. 5, 2010 will result in forfeiture of your Big Shoulders entry, with no refund.  Please also note, you must bring a copy of your USMS card to show at the race check in. USMS registration form is available at www.bigshoulders.org, or you can register at www.clubassistant.com/club/usms.cfm.


RACE DAY ENTRIES:  Race Day Entries Will Be Permitted If Space Permits, But You Must Bring Your USMS Membership Card And Pay The $75.00 Late Entry Fee. 

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

ENTRY LIMIT/FEE:  Registration will close when entries reach 800 total.
Fee is $55.00 if received by 8/15/2010
$65.00 from 8/16/2010 to 9/8/2010
$75.00 for day of race registration
NOTE – Registration fee does not include USMS registration fees.
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 collectible shirt is included with entry fee!  Extra shirts may be purchased for an additional $15.00.  Please indicate size and quantity during online registration.

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 any suits approved by USMS will be permitted to swim and be tabulated with the age group swimmers. 

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

LODGING:  Big Shoulders has obtained discounts on hotel rooms as follows:  We have blocks of rooms at 2 hotels that are walking distance to the race start.  For both hotels, be sure to ask for the Big Shoulders rate to get the discount. Reservations must be made by August 10^th, or the rooms will be released. Rooms are available on a first come, first served basis.

Note: If paying by credit card, your credit card statement will reflect a charge from "BIGS SWIM."