Chicago Shoreline Marathon set for Aug. 20

Staff Report

The Fifth Annual Chicago Shoreline Marathon — the only open-water kayak race in Chicago — is set for 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 20.

The full marathon is an 18-mile/28-k open-water race. Kayakers will begin at Leone Beach on the north side of Chicago. Competitors will race an out-and-back course along the shoreline between Leone Beach and Lloyd Beach in Winnetka. The two-beach course will run between Leone Beach and Gillson Beach in Wilmette.

The Chicago Shoreline Marathon is the only world-class race to paddle Chicago’s Lake Michigan and the shores of Chicago. The event includes a beginner relay (10:30 a.m. start), a 9-mile short course (11 a.m. start) that will start and finish at Leone Beach in Chicago.

Us TOO International is the charity partner for the third year in a row.

“We would like to help Us TOO with their goals to educate and create more awareness for prostate cancer,” said event co-founder Tim Flentye. “We even have survivors participating in our event.”

Tom Kirk, president and CEO of Us TOO International, said: “Us TOO strives to enhance the quality of life for all those affected by prostate cancer, so participating in events like Chicago Shoreline Marathon gives us a chance to reach an additional audience and encourage people to get checked and to learn more about what we do to help others.”

The 4-by-4 relay participants will be competing against the Chicago media team, which includes ABC7’s John Garcia, WGN-TV’s Dina Bair, WGN-TV’s Tom Barnas, Today’s Chicago Woman magazine contributor Christine Lock Garcia, WIND-AM radio host Amy Jacobson, Pace of Chicago and Chicago Athlete contributor David Wallach, writer for fit-ink.com and various other publications Kate Bongiovanni, and U.S. Department of Justice ATF Tom Ahern. The media team will compete against other relay teams participating in the 4-by-4 division.

Registration for the full marathon is $100, $100 per team for the four-person relay and $40 per person for the 9-mile race; all registration fees include admission into the post race lunch and award ceremony. Kayak rental and training are available for an additional cost.

First-place winner in the 18-mile race will receive $3,000, second-place $1,500 and third-place $750. Awards will be given to the top female, male and top double will receive $1,000.

Visit www.chicagoshorelinemarathon.org for more details.

From the Aug. 17-23, 2011, issue