Best Place to Swim for a Tri and Other Questions From A Newbie

I've been trying to muscle up the courage to actually train correctly for a triathlon.  I've signed up twice, and have yet been able to train correctly to even get to the start. 

My weak spot is swimming.  I went tonight to my public pool for a short swim.

Questions for the group:

1) Where is the best place to do open water swimming?  Oak Street Beach?

I live in Ravenswood.

2) Do I need a wet suit if I sign up for the super sprint in August?

Are their free swimming clinics for newbies similar to training rides?  I'm not sure I'd like to join a tri club, or at least just yet.

Maybe if I actually WRITE this here I will do it.  

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Permalink Reply by Michelle S on July 3, 2012 at 2:48pm

Julie, I swim a lot evenings and weekends in two spots near North Ave Beach as well as at Ohio St and maybe you'd like to join me sometime, since you work so close! I warn you though that I'm very slow. I've also done the super sprint tri. It's a relatively short quarter mile swim and the water is already a record-breaking 70 degrees now, so you will definitely not need a wetsuit in another 7 weeks. The year that I joined Chicago Endurance Sports' tri training program, Fleet Feet held a few free swim clinics at Ohio St Beach, with free use of their wetsuits, but I'm not sure they have that any more. 

Permalink Reply by MagMileMarauder on July 3, 2012 at 4:23pm

I like Gillson Park Beach in Wilmette (next to Bahai Temple). Much quieter and nicer than the city beaches, and I'm a city dweller.


Even if you're not training for a tri, it's worth just being in the lake!

Edit: Go around dusk, when less people are there, and catch the sunset (no other beaches in Chicagoland have that). Also swim on the eastern side because the other side is more crowded and charges $ if you go during the daytime.

Permalink Reply by MagMileMarauder on July 3, 2012 at 4:34pm

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on July 4, 2012 at 2:21am

Thanks for posting this question Julie! I dunno if I'll ever actually do a tri, but I really miss swimming and the lake seems like a great place to do some.

Does anyone know if there a place to train at or near the new 31st St beach? or anywhere else on the south side?

Thanks for the inspiration.

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on July 4, 2012 at 3:53am
It felt great to swim yesterday. I get great thinking done when I swim, ride and bike. No phones, no one walking to you. With swimming you don't even have the distractions of cars, other bikers, or people watching.

Tony Adams said:

Thanks for posting this question Julie! I dunno if I'll ever actually do a tri, but I really miss swimming and the lake seems like a great place to do some.

Does anyone know if there a place to train at or near the new 31st St beach? or anywhere else on the south side?

Thanks for the inspiration.

Permalink Reply by yaj 7.4 on July 4, 2012 at 6:00am
Good news on all fronts! You can easily swim from Ohio Street beach. There's even a lane line out there. That beach is crawling with triathletes, so you never have to swim by yourself. I've never done one of those newbie swims, but it seems like a great idea. On the south side, people swim at the Point. Try a tri - it's great fun.
Permalink Reply by yaj 7.4 on July 4, 2012 at 6:05am
And oh, you really do not need a wet suit. I swam last weekend at the lake it and it was already warm enough to swim without. Lots of folks use them, but don't let that fool you. All that said, you might be able to give one a test drive. Last time I was at Ohio St beach, one of the local stores had some wetsuits out there for rentals.
Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on July 5, 2012 at 5:29am

Per the Park District's page on the new beach:

 

Located at 3100 S. Lake Shore Drive (31st Street at Lake Michigan), this beach offer patrons incredible views of the Chicago skyline from the south. The beach house offers beach goers food concessions and restrooms. Distance swimming is available parallel from pier to tower. An accessible beach walk is also available. There is pay and display parking.
 

Yay! See you out there!

Permalink Reply by MJ Gasik on July 5, 2012 at 6:20am

Ohio Street Beach is where most triathletes swim in the city.  They do have buoys out there to mark the quarter mile and half mile marks.

Permalink Reply by Jeff K on July 5, 2012 at 10:22am

Ohio Street beach is tri-geek central in Chicago.

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on July 5, 2012 at 10:33am

so if I want to meet some tri geeks to hang with, I should start hanging there? :))

Jeff K said:

Ohio Street beach is tri-geek central in Chicago.

Permalink Reply by Michelle S on July 5, 2012 at 11:01am

It's a very friendly crowd, and questions about the water conditions or temperature are a natural ice breaker, no pun intended. Ratio of men to women is about 4:1, for any of the single ladies out there.

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