Registration Process Details
34th Annual Chicago Masters' Big Shoulders 5K and 2.5K Open Water Long Distance Swim Classic
Eligibility for Early Access to 2025 Big Shoulders Registration
Dates: February 7 through February 15, 2025
Standard Big Shoulders 2025 Registration: LOTTERY
Dates: March 1 through March 7, 2025
If you are not eligible for early access registration (or you missed it), then we invite you to sign up for the 2025 Big Shoulders Lottery.
DO NOT RUSH to register the first 10 minutes on March 1!!! The Lottery has been implemented so that all interested swimmers may register March 1-7 without any urgency.
The Lottery is exactly like traditional event registration except that we will not charge your credit card until you are in fact granted a spot in the event. NOTE - DO NOT REGISTER FOR THE LOTTERY UNLESS YOU ARE CERTAIN YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SWIM. IF YOUR NAME IS SELECTED, YOU WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERED.
Spots will be assigned randomly from the lottery on March 11, 2025, followed by announcements of who won the lottery.
34th Annual Chicago Masters' Big Shoulders 5K and 2.5K Open Water Long Distance Swim Classic
- Race Day: September 6, 2025
- Early Access Registration for Eligible Categories: February 7-15, 2025
- Lottery Registration: March 1-7, 2025
- Lottery Results Processed, Results Announced and Winners Entries Automatically Processed: March 11, 2025
Eligibility for Early Access to 2025 Big Shoulders Registration
Dates: February 7 through February 15, 2025
Legacy Swimmers
If you participated in Big Shoulders Open Water Swims 5 times between 2014 and 2024 (excluding 2020), then we have granted you the status of Legacy Swimmer! And we offer you early access to 2025 Big Shoulders Registration. Check this Legacy Swimmers Roster to find out if you are eligible to register early for 2025 Big Shoulders.
Chicago Masters
If you are a 2025 member of US Masters Swimming, registered with Illinois Masters and Workout Group Chicago Masters, then we offer you early access to 2025 Big Shoulders Registration. Check this USMS Report to find out if you are eligible to register early for 2025 Big Shoulders.
Fossil Fish Masters
If you are a 2025 member of US Masters Swimming, registered with Illinois Masters and Workout Group Fossil Fish, then we offer you early access to 2025 Big Shoulders Registration. Check this USMS Report to find out if you are eligible to register early for 2025 Big Shoulders.
Relay
If you wish to swim the 2025 Big Shoulders 5K as a two-person relay, you are invited to register during the early period until the relay reaches max capacity of 200 swimmers (100 teams). Each swimmer must self-register for a 2.5K at this RELAY Registration.
If you participated in Big Shoulders Open Water Swims 5 times between 2014 and 2024 (excluding 2020), then we have granted you the status of Legacy Swimmer! And we offer you early access to 2025 Big Shoulders Registration. Check this Legacy Swimmers Roster to find out if you are eligible to register early for 2025 Big Shoulders.
Chicago Masters
If you are a 2025 member of US Masters Swimming, registered with Illinois Masters and Workout Group Chicago Masters, then we offer you early access to 2025 Big Shoulders Registration. Check this USMS Report to find out if you are eligible to register early for 2025 Big Shoulders.
Fossil Fish Masters
If you are a 2025 member of US Masters Swimming, registered with Illinois Masters and Workout Group Fossil Fish, then we offer you early access to 2025 Big Shoulders Registration. Check this USMS Report to find out if you are eligible to register early for 2025 Big Shoulders.
Relay
If you wish to swim the 2025 Big Shoulders 5K as a two-person relay, you are invited to register during the early period until the relay reaches max capacity of 200 swimmers (100 teams). Each swimmer must self-register for a 2.5K at this RELAY Registration.
Standard Big Shoulders 2025 Registration: LOTTERY
Dates: March 1 through March 7, 2025
If you are not eligible for early access registration (or you missed it), then we invite you to sign up for the 2025 Big Shoulders Lottery.
DO NOT RUSH to register the first 10 minutes on March 1!!! The Lottery has been implemented so that all interested swimmers may register March 1-7 without any urgency.
The Lottery is exactly like traditional event registration except that we will not charge your credit card until you are in fact granted a spot in the event. NOTE - DO NOT REGISTER FOR THE LOTTERY UNLESS YOU ARE CERTAIN YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SWIM. IF YOUR NAME IS SELECTED, YOU WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERED.
Spots will be assigned randomly from the lottery on March 11, 2025, followed by announcements of who won the lottery.