Build your Big Shoulders plan
Your coach opens with the Big Shoulders set for September 11, 2027, asks about your week and your fitness, then writes every session of your open-water swim plan. Free, and you can start as a guest. About 44 weeks to go.
Start your Big Shoulders plan- Formats
- 5K, 2.5K
- Sport
- Swimming
Big Shoulders distances
- 5K 3.1 mi
- 2.5K 2,500 m
Course
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.
- Formats
- 5K, 2.5K
- 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.
Also in Claude
Ask Claude for this plan
Add Athlete Space to Claude once, then paste this prompt and put in your own numbers.
Build me a open-water swim season for the Chicago Masters' Big Shoulders 5K & 2.5K Open Water Swim Classic on September 11, 2027. I train about [hours] hours a week, [days] days a week.
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.
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?
Start as a guest and save a free account later. Your coach writes your open-water swim plan and adapts it every week as you log your training. No card.