CHICAGO, IL · SEPTEMBER
Big Shoulders Training Plan
A free open-water swim plan for the Chicago Masters' Big Shoulders 5K & 2.5K Open Water Swim Classic, written by an AI coach around the event and the fitness you have now. It adapts every week as you log your training. Free account, no card.
- Formats
- 5K, 2.5K
- Sport
- Open-water swimming
- Race day
- September 11, 2027
- Until race day
- ~51 weeks
Build your Big Shoulders plan
The instant browser builder only plans running races, so a open-water swim plan comes from the coach itself. It opens with the Big Shoulders already filled in for September 11, 2027, asks about your week and your current fitness, and writes every session. Free account (or start as a guest), no card. You are about 51 weeks out.
Start your Big Shoulders planBig Shoulders distances
- 5K3.1 mi
- 2.5K2,500 m
The Big Shoulders course
Held from Ohio Street Beach in Chicago on Lake Michigan, with 5K and 2.5K distances. The organizers noted the 2026 course measured slightly long, at about 2.75K and 5.5K.
Race-day conditions
The 2026 edition had a water temperature of 71 F. Results are split into wetsuit and non-wetsuit divisions.
What to train for
Build continuous swims of 60 to 90 minutes and practice sighting on buoys over lake chop. Include some race-pace intervals, since mass starts in open water go out fast.
Registration and official details: Big Shoulders official siteRace facts checked against the official site on September 19, 2026.
Big Shoulders training questions
How long should I train for the Big Shoulders?
Most athletes give a open-water swim eight to sixteen weeks of focused training on top of an existing base. The coach counts back from your actual race date, so if you have less time than that it builds the best plan the remaining weeks allow rather than pretending you have longer.
What is the Big Shoulders course like?
Held from Ohio Street Beach in Chicago on Lake Michigan, with 5K and 2.5K distances. The organizers noted the 2026 course measured slightly long, at about 2.75K and 5.5K.
How cold is the water at the Big Shoulders?
The 2026 edition had a water temperature of 71 F. Results are split into wetsuit and non-wetsuit divisions.
Do I need an account to get a Big Shoulders training plan?
Yes, a free one. The instant browser builder only plans running races, so a open-water swim plan comes from the coach itself. You can start as a guest and save the account later. No card, and the plan adapts every week as you log your training.