Challenging First
Chicago Shoreline Marathon
September 8th was the 1st annual Chicago Shoreline Marathon,
an open water race from Calumet Harbor--the former industrial epicenter on the
south side of the city--to Leone Beach on Chicago's north side.
Local organisation
The event was
organized by local paddlers and involved the hard work of many individuals to
oversee the logistics of racing across one of the most scenic and busy shorefronts
in the United States. Twenty - five miles of clean, clear fresh water.
 Awesome idea - surf ski in Chicago! (Photo: Scott Fincher)
The race organizers had provided for secured boat storage
and parking for the night at Leone Beach so we didn't have to drive around town
with boats on our roof racks. The pre-race meeting was over dinner at a
restaurant 3 blocks south.
Downwind? Nope!
On race morning, we prepped our boats, loaded them onto the
provided trailer, hopped into the provided shuttle, and drove 30 min south -
downwind - along the lakefront to the start line at Calumet
Harbor. Yes, you read that correctly. Nothing like doing the old car shuttle
for an upwind run. Unfortunately, the prevailing South wind didn't prevail that
day...though it had for the preceding two weeks. Today, the wind was from the
NNE and our course was to the NW then NNW. It was going to make for an
interesting day, to say the least.
As we rode in the shuttle to the start, we got a good look
at much of the downtown Chicago shoreline. The race course would pass shore
comprised of undulating concrete and rip rap walls, marinas, bays and piers,
interspersed with many beautiful fine sand beaches. The beaches were all
protected from the prevailing south winds by long breakwater piers.
 And they're away... (Photo: Scott Fincher)
The start was well coordinated and obeyed--which is not a
surprise in an upwind 25 mile race-- and we, or everyone but one paddler,
headed for the northern opening in the breakwall as directed. That one lone
paddler headed for the east opening in the breakwall, later saying that he was
surprised that he was leading by such a big margin during that time. The US
Coast Guard promptly ran him down and turned him the right direction (anyone
remember the Monty Python Olympic event of the 100 yd dash for runners with no
sense of direction?). Anyway, immediately outside the breakwall, we were
confronted with a prelude to the day's conditions: 1-3 foot wind waves with
lots and lots of rebound off the rip rap rock walls. Once we got away from the
Calumet Harbor breakwall, the rebound subsided and it was nice diagonal surfing
for 5 miles to the first of 4 beach stop check-ins.
Beach Stops
At each beach stop, you rounded the breakwater wall, and
surfed perfect little waves onto a sandy beach, walked a few yards up to the
officials, gave your name, grabbed a Gu or water if you needed it, returned to
the boat, and proceeded to the next stop. Between that firststop at 63rd Street and the next at 12th Street
(where the Adler Planetarium
is located), our course was slightly different,
more or less due north and upwind. The wind was about 5-10 mph from the NNE,
and the waves were increasing here to 2-4 feet and completly multi-directional,
i.e. clapotis.
 Chop on Lake Michigan (Photo: Scott Fincher)
It was very technical for the next 5 miles and if you slowed
down, it was heck just trying to keep your balance. I was completely focused on
the water just a few feet in front of my bow and managed to take advantage of a
rebound wave pattern going my way for much of this leg. As we got closer to the
planetarium, we also got closer to shore and to more concrete walls facing
different directions. This seemed to focus the clapotis and the waves got
bigger - into the 3-5 foot range in a few areas. Check-in on the beach, then
out through the surf again and on into the downtown area. The next few miles
passed the heart of downtown Chicago. The Sears Tower, the John Hancock
Building and McCormick Place were to our left, and a concrete breakwall was out
to sea a mile or so to our right. We passed marinas, moored boats, water taxis,
double decker tourboats, and enjoyed watching an enormous schooner from an era
gone by sailing near the outer breakwall. We passed the Chicago River, the
locks, and headed straight for and around world famous Navy Pier. During this
leg, the waves were smaller, the wind was pleasant and cooling, and the sights
were fantastic.
Safety Boats
It was here that I first noticed the safety boats watching
over us. Coast Guard and Marine Police vessels were escorting us from the
start, but were a bit further away from us on the open water. At about the
midpoint of each of the five legs of the race, and at each of the last few mile
marks of the race, there were volunteers in sea kayaks wearing dayglo orange
hats, floating in our path. They were ready and able to give directions and
make sure that we racers were doing alright. Now, even when you know that you
are on the right course, and even though you feel fine, it's nice to know that
multiple people associated with the race are keeping track of where you are.
On again around Navy Pier and out through the breakwall
towards the North Avenue Beach stop. Through here, the waves were really
challenging with all the rebound caused by the one mile stretch of
multi-directional concrete walls that protected Lake Shore Drive and its
runners and cyclists on the adjacent paths. North Avenue Beach was rife with
beach volleyball, bikinis, and all sorts of activities - it was a shame we
couldn't stay longer.
Between North Avenue Beach and Montrose Beach, our point to
point course took us about 3/4 mile from shore, past a couple
of marina entrances, bays,
and a combination of rip rap and concrete shore.
In here it was probably no more challenging than between 63rd and 12th (the
second leg), but by this time, we had been on the water for 3 hrs and through
more than 10 miles of big confused seas. So, it was a long leg and I was
starting to just slog ahead. For most of this leg, I had a Marine Police escort
on a jet ski 20 yds over my left shoulder. Twice, he/she raced ahead and got
between approaching motor/sailboats and me, so I didn't need to change my
course or play chicken with larger vessels. Around the next harbor wall, ride
the surf to the beach, check in, and prep myself for the final 4 miles. This
last leg was easy. One to two ft regular beam-ish waves with no rebound or slop
and a shoreline comprised primarily of sandy beaches. The finish was easy to
spot due to the large orange weather balloons which also marked each of the
four preceding beach stops. A seemingly unlimited supply of burgers, hot dogs,
potato salad and ice cream awaited us at the finish.
 Paddler's view of the Chicago skyline (Photo: Scott Fincher)
In summary, the water in Chicago was very challenging that
day as the rebound and clapotis just went on and on. We had about the worst
possible wind direction for the race this year, though the wind wasn't that
strong. However, due to the structure of the shoreline, you could ride rebound
waves or paddle across fairly protected water for about half of the 25 miles in
that headwind. The prevailing wind direction in Chicago at this time of year is
from the south, and when the race date coincides with a nice south wind, it'll
be a hoot.
"the most well organized and professionally run race"
In all, it was about the most well organized and
professionally run race I've been in. The course was varied, challenging, and
scenic.
Beautiful sandy beaches in Chicago? - you bet! You
definitely have to put this one on your calendar next year.
For more info (and the results) see:
http://www.chicagoshorelinemarathon.com
Triple Crown?
The
hope is to lure paddlers to compete in the US surfski champs, the New York City
Mayor's Cup race, and the Chicago shoreline marathon - as kind of a triple crown
series. I believe that this race could
become one of the major races as it's centrally located and it's a great course.
Erik Borgnes
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