About US

Open Water Chicago

Open Water Chicago™  is a physical and virtual community of outdoor swimming, fitness, and endurance sports enthusiasts.  Here in Chicago, we are known as the “Lake Monsters.”

Founded in 2007 by Steve Hernan, our mission is to provide you with the best information and opportunities you need to optimize your fitness and to fully experience the joy and adventure of being in the elements.

Our Swim Meetups

We meet semi-regularly on the weekends – Saturday or Sunday morning at sunrise – out at Ladder 1 (L1), the bright orange safety ladder located right off of the Chess Pavilion south of the North Avenue Beach boathouse:

How to Get Involved

New to OWC or to this page? Here are the basics on how you can get involved with the group:

1) Sign the swim waiver or you don’t swim with OWC. Period.

2) You must be 18 or older to participate in our meetups.

3) There are no lockers at the L1 swim site. Please plan accordingly.

4) If there is an OWC meetup on the weekend, I will post the details on the OWC Facebook page and on the OWC website by Friday. If it’s not posted by that time, then assume there is no meetup.

5) If there is no scheduled OWC meetup, you can always go to Ohio Street Beach during the summer months. It’s the official open water swim venue in Chicago, and all the local training groups congregate there. [Note – for winter swimming (November – March) please contact OWC directly as specific meetup dates/times will not be posted]

6) Support OWC – Unlike the rapacious multisports industrial complex, we don’t charge you anything to swim with us. So click here to donate to us!

172 Replies to “About US”

  1. Thanks for encouraging words, I guess being only the 2nd time out, I have got something to shoot for next time. I will have to work on looking up in the pool tomorrow when I do my swim. Also, when do you get better range of arm movement with the wetsuit. I imagine when that comes off, huh?

  2. CHRIS SHOWED ME THE MANY BRUSES AND BROKEN BONES FROM HIS SWIM DATE WITH YOU ON SUNDAY MORNING. TRUTH BE TOLD IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SWIM A STRAIGHT LINE BUT IF YOU PICK A LAND MARK AHEAD OF YOU LOOK UP FOR IT AS YOU GO OR SWIM ALONG THE WALL AND USE IT A A REFERANCE TO PLOT YOUR WAY. WHEN THE WAVESA BIG IT TAKES MORE WORK TO FOLLOW A LINE AND NOT SWIM A ZIG ZAG PATTERN. WITH 34 YEARS IN THE LAKE AND THOUSANDS OF MILES I STILL HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO SWIM A STRAIGHT LINE

  3. Any tips you can offer on how to swim straight? Chris knows I am not capable now of swimming straight, I move to the left. I am working on my right side breathing, so I can hug the wall better and know if I am drifting. Thanks

    1. If it’s a race or an event, I usually follow someone who looks like they know what they’re doing. That way I can also “draft” them and save energy. But otherwise I just do what Dave suggested (i.e. “sight” off of a landmark). Also, bi-lateral breathing is a great way to balance out your forward movement.

  4. I MADE IT @ 10A.M. SO I MISSED THE SUNRISE SO I DECIDED ON TAKING THE 3 MILE TOUR SWIMMING LADDER #1 TO OHIO STREET AND BACK. THE WATER WAS 52 TO 54 DEGREES ALONG THE WAY AND MIRROR FLAT. I TOOK ME ONE HOUR EACH WAY ALONG WITH A .15 MINUTE REST AND WARM UP @ OHIO STREET BEFORE SWIMMING BACK. MY BIGGEST MISTAKE WAS NOT EATING OR DRINKING ANYTHING BEFORE THE SWIM AND I WAS CRAZY HUNGRY THE WHOLE TIME. STILL IT WAS VERY NICE..

  5. How early? I was going to leave my house around 5, I’m not sure how long it will take, I figure about an 1 hr, traffic should be light and I have been known to have a lead foot.

    1. Okay, y’all have convinced me to get there early. Sunrise is at 5:46am (yikes!), but the cold water will keep you from nodding off!

  6. Hi guys,
    I plan on joining you on Saturday morning. So wait for me, I need help zipping up. I have not mastered that skill yet.
    Carol

    1. I will have to swim early in order to attend my niece Jellys first Communion saturday morning and of course hope to see a perfect sun rise! ! ! so come a little earlier…….
      diver dave

  7. I HEAR THAT DANNY BOYLE THE DIRECTOR OF SLUM DOG MILLIONAIR WAS DOING AN AUTOGRAPH SIGNING AND PHOTO OPP AFTER WINNING BEST DIRECTOR OSCAR !!!

  9. Hey Carol. What size t-shirt do you wear? I have a few left over from the summer that might fit.

  10. Hi guys:
    It was great meeting you, Chris. Is anyone up for a swim on Sunday morning, I can’t make it on Saturday, and I’m really bummed about it. BTW, Steve, I would like to get a Lake Monster shirt if you still have some, just let me know how much. Looking forward to meeting you, Diver Dave and Steve!!!

  11. ??? when is the comment how chris wears a lime green bikini and thigh high red leather boots to swim in???

  12. Weather forcast, Marine forecast and all other
    mumbo jumbo is wrong the only way to know
    the true lake michigan conditions is by visual
    verification. The marine forcast called for two
    to three foot waves today, well guess what,
    almost a perfectly flat surface. See what you
    can do about getting a video camera attop the chess
    pavillion. Anyway got in another 1 mile in today,
    with a light rain falling, water temp 42 1/2 .
    33 days till the beaches open!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Aquaman Christopher
    Just 33 days till the beaches open.

  13. Hey steve the weekend update is as follows
    diver dave pulled off an early 1 mile swim
    saturday, just missing carol who now has
    joined the ranks of cold water, lake michigan
    swimmers, her freind took photos and action
    shots, maybe she’ll send them in to be posted.
    Anyways as i returned from my 1 mile swim,
    carol and her freind had just arrived so back
    in i went for another 1/4 mile. Oh by the way
    welcome aboard carol!!

    Aquaman Christopher

  14. ? STEVE, WILL SPRING TIME EVER ARRIVE OR WILL WINTER CARRY ON THROUGH UNTILL FALL?
    I AM BETTING WE WILL BE SWIMMING IN ICE FILLED WATER AND WATCH IT SNOW UPON US BEFORE A BREAK IN THIS WINTERS WEATHER.

  15. my my my according to the marine forecast the pool will be closed untill tuesday afternoon…. due to heavy winds from the east… when will this washing machine ever cool down to allow some swimming?

  16. SKUNKED AGAIN AT LADDER #1 TO MUCH CHOP AND SUNDAY LOOKS THE SAME …BOO HOO
    CHRIS GOT THE TEMP AT 41 DEGREES

  17. SPRING TIME IN CHICAGO MAKE THE FLOWERS LOOK SO BEAUTIFUL WHEN COVERED WITH SNOW ! ? WHERE IS THE HOT SUNSHINE WHEN WE NEED IT ? ONLY 47 1/2 DAYS TILL THE BEACHES OPEN………..

  18. 4/2/2009
    OAK STREET WAS MIRROR FLAT AND 38 DEGREES AND 50 DEGREE AIR. ? ?? WHAT COULD I DO??? I SWAM OF COURSE TO GET ANOTHER COOL MILE IN . IT WAS GREAT !!!!
    DIVER DAVE

  19. THE SAINT PATRICKS DAY ONE MILE SWIM HAD TO BE ONE OF THE BEST ALL WINTER LONG ,WITH THE 60 DEGREE AIR AND BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINE. THE WATER WAS ALMOST MIRROR FLAT ALSO. SPRING WILL BE HERE ON FRIDAY AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BRING MANY PERFECT DAYS TO SWIM
    DIVER DAVE

  20. 3-14-2009
    ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY AT THE BEACH… THE SUN WAS SHINING, WARM AIR…VERY FLAT WATER !!! THATS BECAUSE IT WAS COVERED WITH THIN ICE!!!! OH WELL STEVE AND I SWAM TO THE 1/8 MILE MAKE BREAKING THROUGHT THE ICE AND BACK TWO TIMES. THE ICE SURELY WOULD HAVE HURT IF NOT FOR THE 3MM WET SUIT ,GLOVES AND HOOD. ALTHOUGH IT WAS A HARD TO GET UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED IT SURE WAS FUN TO ENJOY OAK ST ON THIS VERY SUNNY DAY.
    DIVER DAVE
    P.S. STEPHANIE TOLD ME THAT SWEET LITTLE FERNANDA LOVES TO DANCE AROUNG THE HOUSE WITH HER NEW MP3 PLAYER.

  21. Hey Steve since you,ve taken away
    the next meet-up feature and switched
    to the tweeter which for some reason
    i can not access, all i get is pale
    green background and two clouds.
    Iv’e tried the light blue t icon and the
    twitter link bars cannot get through
    maybe because i’m using dial-up???
    I hav’nt seen the new(twitter) but i
    sure liked the old.

    Aquaman Christopher

  22. Just click on the Twitter icon on the right hand side (it’s the light blue box with the T). That will take you directly to this link:

    http://twitter.com/lakemonsters

    This is a more “real time” update on upcoming swims and lake conditions.

  24. Hi Mike. Great comment.

    Chicago is the only major city in the U.S. that imposes a swim ban outside of the official open beach season (late May to early September). And even during these summer months, the city criminalizes all non-motorized water activities (i.e. swimming, kayaking, surfing, etc.) outside of the hours where beaches are patrolled by lifeguards.

    We’re working on getting this swim ban changed to a “swim at your own risk” policy – which is what you have in place at the UK. And yes, “bossy” is a very appropriate way of describing the notice.

    Thanks!

    Steve

  25. Hi – intrigued to read this. I am from the UK and was in Chicago a few weeks ago – mid-Feb 09 – and a collegue and I braved the waters, WITHOUT a wetsuit, at the little beach near the Museum of Science and Industry. The water was cold – I’d say about 1-3C – but quite bearable. We stayed in for five minutes or so.
    What was intriguing were the bossy notices on the beach saying that what we were doing is illegal. Is this really the case – is swimming in open water in the winter illegal in the US?? It certainly isn’t in Britain.

  26. HELLO DIVER DAVE.
    I JUST SAW THE NEW PHOTOS OF YOU BRAVING THE VERY COLD DEEP SHARK INFESTED WATERS AND I CANNOT WAIT TO MEET YOU. I SHOULD BE IN CHICAGO THIS COMMING SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AND I WILL BRING ALONG A NEW TASTEE LITTLE TINY BIKINI AND WILL SWIM ALONG SIDE YOU TO HELP KEEP YOU WARM AND TOASTEE….
    LOVE
    JESSICA ALBA
    XOXOXO

  27. OK LAZY BONES! ! ! CHRIS AND I PULLED THE 50 MILE ROUND TRIP TO PLAY AT LADDER #1 TODAY AS VISIONS OF SUGAR PLUMS DANCED IN YOUR HEAD.
    MARCH 8 2008 SWIM REPORT. RAIN STOPPED AND HEAVY FOG STALLED OVER THE BEACH. AS WE MADE OUR WAY TO OAK ST WE RAN INTO ICE CUBE SIZE PIECES OF ICE THAT HAD SHARP EDGED AND THE WAVES WOULD BEAT THEM INTO YOU SO WE WENT WITH PLAN B AND STAYED AROUND THE AREA NORTH OF LADDER #2 AND ENJOYED THE COOL WATER.
    CHRIS TOOK SOME ACTION SHOTS ON HIS CAMERA AND WITH LUCK HE WILL SEND THEM IN.

  28. Hi Sarah! I haven’t really done much swimming up at Montrose or Foster Beach. The water tends to be shallow for a long way out (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing). But they’re both pretty big beaches, so I would imagine you could go parallel to the shoreline and get a good distance workout.

  29. Would you recommend any swim areas up north? I used to swim at Ohio street during the summer, but I just moved up to Lincoln Square, and won’t be able to get there in the morning if I want to get to work on time. Anything up near Montrose?

    thanks!

    Sarah

  31. Steve,
    I was turned on to your site and Mark’s Daily Apple by your brother Chris in Phoenix. Being originally from Chicago, and recently gone primal I really enjoy all that your and Mark’s website have to offer.
    Great site!
    Mahalo,
    Terry

  32. I don’t see why not! Ladder #1 has always been a dog-friendly zone. But can she climb up it unassisted?

  34. I have a great photo of you from Sunday a.m.
    so send me your e-mail address so i can send it to you…………

  35. I have a great photo of you from Sunday a.m.
    so send me your e-mail address so i can send it to you…………

  36. I have a great photo of you from Sunday a.m.
    so send me your e-mail address so i can send it to you…………

  37. I have a great photo of you from Sunday a.m.
    so send me your e-mail address so i can send it to you…………

  38. I have a great photo of you from Sunday a.m.
    so send me your e-mail address so i can send it to you…………

  39. Hi Walt! We’re out mostly on Sunday mornings. However, just keep checking the “Next Meetup” page. Every so often, we’ll post a get together during the week.

  40. Hi Steve I m a 59 yr old Y trainer and I swim off Gilson beach. I would love to come down and join you guys next week. Do you swim any other days besides sunday? I can do sundays in August.
    Walt.

  41. Hi Meredith! I only use my wetsuit for colder water temperatures. Whenever it gets warm enough (which for me is around 65F), I actually prefer to go without it. So you definitely do not need to get a wetsuit unless you plan to use it a lot. If you’re comfortable in the water without one, that’s perfectly fine.

    Steve

  42. Hi,

    I haven’t had any experience yet swimming in lake Michigan, and I’m wondering if it’s ok to just wear a regular bathing suit or if there’s some sort of option between that and an all-out wetsuit. I imagine it’s quite chilly, but I’m not sure I’m ready to invest in a wetsuit just yet. Hoping to come out and give lake swimming a try sometime soon.

    Thanks!

  43. Hi Al. Unfortunately not on either day this week. But given that I get a lot of these inquiries, I’ll look into setting up some type of message board on this site. If there are any WordPress gurus out there who can advise me on this, I would be much indebted!

  44. Hello:

    I’m a triathlete travelling on business this week to Chicago and was wondering when/if your group would be swimming at OSB on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning?

    Many Thanks!

  45. Steve,

    You are amazing! To think, I knew you before you were a fish.
    I loved the SFB swim and look forward to seeing much more of you.

    Love ya

  47. Steve,
    I have returned, alive and well, from the ‘Escape from Alcatraz’ triathlon. Thank you so much! I wound up with a nasty cold a few days before the race which really messed up my breathing (and strangely enough, my balance) but the temperature was really not a big deal. Our last Lake Michigan morning was much tougher than the San Francisco Bay.
    I’ll see you for a training swim soon,
    Colin

  48. Hi Bill! Feel free to come on out anytime. Just keep checking the web site for new updates on swim meetups. Hope to see you soon!

  49. Hi!

    I’m a former college swimmer and I’ve stayed in shape since graduating with some pool swimming and a triathlon here and there. I’d like to get involved in open water again, having done a bit of it in college and since then, and I’ll be moving to Chicago in mid-July. I’d like to find out more about your organization and hopefully get involved, so I’ll search around the site a bit–just wanted to introduce myself first.

  50. Could you keep me updated when your workouts start? I have never done open water swimming. I started pool swimming about a year or so ago and would like to be a decent open water swimmer since it seems to be a whole other universe of swimming and it is getting a little tedious in the pool at times. Thanks

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