Run of the Charles

I paddled in a canoe race this weekend. The Run of the Charles benefits the charles river watershead association. The race is a NUHOC tradition. This year the undergrads actually emailed the alumni list and challenged us to enter the race and see who wins. It was great NUHOC had 5 boats in total. 2 Boats organized by our alumni generation, 1 - young alumni boat, and 2 undergrad boats. I was in the mixed class race in which each leg of the race has to have 1 male and 1 female paddler racing. The race starts in Dedham and is a 26 mile relay race into Boston proper. I paddled the 5th and final leg with my friend Ralph Horak and we had a great time. Our boat finished 3rd out of 9 mixed boats. We beat the undergrads in time I think.

One great thing about our organizers is that they are a bunch of engineers and they rigged up a wheel system on both boats that helps us to portage the boat fast during the race. There are several portages that you have to do in order to avoid dams on the Charles.

Check out the photos of the race and the practice the day before (there is a few of the party after too!).