CRWA'S RUN OF THE CHARLES CANOE & KAYAK RACE A SUCCESS

Weston, MA May 5, 2011—The 29th Run of the Charles Canoe & Kayak Race, the signature event of the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), saw over 1,100 paddlers race down Boston’s famed urban river on Saturday, April 30.  More than one hundred volunteers and thousands of spectators cheered on racers from Dedham to the Finish Line Festival at DCR’s Artesani Park in Brighton.
 
“It was great to see all the families, companies, paddlers and spectators fill DCR’s Aretesani Park for the Finish Line Festival,” said CRWA Executive Director, Bob Zimmerman.  “It’s amazing how many companies set up corporate picnics throughout the park.  People were excited, happy and into it.”

You can’t love what you don’t know, so increasing awareness about the Charles River is the key to maintaining its existence.  The CRWA does a wonderful job of showing people why it is so important to protect this river that means so much to everyone in the greater Boston area.

At the Finish Line Festival where all races ended, day-long activities for the public were held free of charge.  The Festival featured live music by the New New Orleans Band, raffle prizes, food and t-shirt distribution for the participants. Radio Disney AM 1260, part of the #1 radio network for kids, teens and families, joined in the fun at The Finish Line Festival hosting a special concert sponsored by Upromise.  Vendors such as Boston Duck Tours, Chained Reaction, Gatehouse Media, Jennifer Jaynes Massage, Owens Corning, Patch.com, and Charles River Apparel showcased their products and talents.

 Over 20 companies had picnics at the Finish Line Festival after their race was over, adding a sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship to the day.

Sponsors of the Run of the Charles Canoe and Kayak Race included Boston Duck Tours, GateHouse Media, Charles River Apparel, Charles River Canoe and Kayak, Weston Solutions, New England Biolabs, Keewaydin Foundation, GenOn, SignArt, Tetra Tech, CDM, Industrial Economics and Skanska.

 “Equally important are our volunteers,” said Zimmerman. “Each year they come out to support the CRWA and the Run of the Charles, and without their unwavering support, this event would not be possible.” Thanks to the generous sponsorship by Charles River Apparel, this year’s volunteers each received a free jacket.

The Run of the Charles featured a variety of races. In the 26-Mile Flatwater Canoe Marathon, the team of  Ryan Halstead from Grayling, MI and Josh Sheldon of Grand Ledge, MI paired up to take first place with a time of 3:16:56.

Among the most challenging features of the Run of the Charles are the six portages where boats must be carried around an obstruction.  The dams in Newton, Wellesley, Waltham and Watertown forced paddlers off the river and onto their feet, shouldering their boats while they ran to the spot where they could get back on the water and resume paddling.  Paddlers raced across Route 16 on the Newton-Wellesley line and across Moody Street in Waltham, running for nearly a ½-mile on each of these portages alone.

In the 24-Mile Relay Race, the Quinobequin Canoe Club of Ashland, MA posted the winning time for the eighth year in a row, finishing the 5-leg, 10 person relay in 3:48:24.  The Lakefrontliving.com Snoopers placed first in the Corporate Relay with a time of 3:55:15.

In the 19-Mile Races, the fastest boat was a kayak paddled by Borys Markin of Hackensack, NJ who crossed the finish line in 2:12:30.

In the 9-Mile Race, returning champion Eric Schulz of Johnson, VT posted the winning time by crossing the finish line in 1:14:00. The 6-Mile Race was won by defending champion Chris Chappell of Wayland, MA with a time of 51:19.

The Run of the Charles builds support for the CRWA, which seeks to protect and enhance the health, beauty and enjoyment of the Charles River and its tributaries.  CRWA’s prominent role in protecting and restoring the Charles River since 1965 accounts for a much healthier Charles River today.

The Charles River Watershed Association is a non-profit organization committed to protecting and enhancing the health, beauty and accessibility of the Charles River and its tributaries and watersheds.  Every government and private stakeholder in the watershed knows CRWA’s advocacy for environmental protection. The work of CRWA encompasses all 80 miles of the Charles River, which meanders through 35 eastern Massachusetts towns and cities within the 308 square miles of the Charles River watershed. The nearly 1.5 million citizens, who live in the watershed, totaling 23% of the state's population, benefit from a clean and healthy Charles River.  CRWA’s successes have led many organizations across the country to emulate its science methods and watershed management models.

For more information, please call (508) 698-6810, e-mail rotc@crwa.org or visit www.charlesriver.org.