Today's blog was written by Tim Flentye, Co-founder of the Chicago Shoreline Marathon
I came to appreciate Lake Michigan throughout my life. I was born and raised in the Chicago area. As a kid, I played on many of Chicago’s beaches. Later in life, I got interested in kayaking. What a great sport for this city! So many miles of rivers and access to a ever-changing Lake Michigan. As I became more involved in the local kayaking community, I served as a board member to Chicago Area Sea Kayakers Association (CASKA). One of my roles was as water trail chairman. We successfully opened many of Chicago’s beaches to kayaking. This allowed paddlers to launch year round on Lake Michigan and have a safe place to land if needed. Today, you can easily paddle much of Illinois’s lake front.
One interesting thing I have noticed outside the Midwest is the lack of understanding people have about just what a great lake is. Most paddlers who paddle on ‘lakes’ are speaking of relatively shallow bodies of water. They have waves when winds kick up but no true wave pattern. Paddlers who haven’t been on one of the Great Lakes might have an impression that it is like any other lake you can see across. In truth, the Great Lakes can be quite challenging for boaters. The lakes have a significant wave pattern affected by winds but can develop quite challenging waves. Since the Great Lakes are shallower than the oceans, the waves tend to be sharper with a higher frequency, requiring more attentive paddling.
Photo credit: Copyright 2007 Scott M. Fincher
Today's blog was written by Tim Flentye, Co-founder of the Chicago Shoreline Marathon
It takes great skill and strength to paddle 26 miles on Lake Michigan so the Chicago Shoreline Marathon will be no easy task. What is the marathon you might be thinking? It is a kayak marathon that begins at Calumet Harbor and ends at Leone Beach. We are partnering with Listen to Your Lakes and I thank them for all their hard work to raise awareness for the region's most precious natural resource: freshwater.
No such race had existed on open water near Chicago in many years. It took a lot of planning and risk-taking to get a real plan in place to hold such an event. With much time and hard work; this race was launched in 2007. With the help of my wife Kristin, and friends and fellow paddlers, Peg Cipolla, Rich Hodgkins, Steve Quinn and Dianne Gaffney, the event was a huge success. We offered paddlers from around the region a chance to see our city and Lake Michigan in a whole new light. In 2008, we have the honor of hosting an international group of competitors. And since it is not an easy task we also have a shorter version, an 8 mile short course and a four person beginner relay option where each team member paddles four miles. We anticipate this year being bigger than last year!
If you care as much about the great lakes as I do, you’ll want to take part in this event. I feel very strongly, as I’m sure many of you do, that the Great Lakes are an amazing resource that need to be protected. Living so close to them, we sometimes take for granted just how much we rely on them for our drinking water, economy and recreation. Having such a large natural source of fresh water is something very special and makes them worth studying and conserving. Very few people, outside the Midwest realize just how great a Great Lake is.
Photo credit: Copyright 2007 Scott M. Fincher
Here are the logistics for the Chicago Shoreline Marathon:
Who: YOU! And your adventurous friends who love a challenge.
What: Participate in one of the three courses for the kayak marathon. The registration for the full marathon is $75 per person; the four-person relay costs $100 per team and the 8-mile race is $35 per person. All registration fees include a shirt and admission to the post-race dinner.
When: Saturday, September 27. Start times vary by course.
Where: Leone Beach or Calumet Beach. Launch locations vary by course.
Why: Because this is the only kayak race of its kind on Lake Michigan. Plus there is a chance to win some cash! First place winner in the 26 mile race will receive $3,000; second place receives $1,500 and the third place winner receives $750. Awards will also be given to the top male and female and the first double kayak finisher. For more information and to register please visit Chicago Shoreline Marathon or email Kristen directly at info@Chicagoshorelinemarathon.com.
Picture credit: Copyright 2007 Scott M. Fincher
Get your paddles ready for the second annual Chicago Shoreline Marathon on Saturday, September 27 that runs along the beautiful beaches of Lake Michigan! This unique kayak experience is sure to challenge racers of all skill levels. Sign up for the full 25 mile marathon, the eight mile course or the four-person relay. The Listen to Your Lakes relay team has already started practicing for the 16 mile relay race. Does anyone out there care to challenge us?
