The following announcement was provided by the Charles River Watershed Association:
Paddlers from across New England have started to register for the 38th Annual Run of the Charles: Boston’s Premier Paddling Race, taking place on Sunday, April 26, 2020. Kicking off the paddling season, the event is the largest flat-bottom boat race in New England and draws over a thousand racers and spectators each year with the help of nearly 150 volunteers.
Run of the Charles is a signature event of Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), the leading science and advocacy organization for the Charles River and its watershed. The work accomplished by CRWA over the past 50 years has significantly improved the health of the 80-mile long Charles River. CRWA has played a major role in restoring the Charles River, re-establishing it as a destination for paddlers and nature lovers alike.
“Run of the Charles really allows you to see the Charles from a unique perspective,” said Emily Norton, Executive Director of CRWA. “We can talk all day long about the resources and benefits it provides and why we need to invest in a clean, healthy river. But at the end of the day, there’s no argument more convincing than an early spring day out on the river itself.”
Races include a 14-mile relay, which attracts many corporate, government and university teams each year, along with 12-, 6- and 3-mile races, open to paddlers of any skill level.
Today, the Run of the Charles carries on this legacy with new courses and a Finishline Festival at DCR’s Artesani Park, which hosts an award ceremony and welcomes paddlers and spectators alike with live music from Moose & the Mops, a raffle, food trucks, vendors, and the New Belgium Beer Garden. Picky eaters are sure to find something to eat with the delicious food options being offered from Wildfire Catering including tacos, bowls, salads, grilled cheese, pulled pork sandwiches, and more!
CRWA is excited to have a new live band at this year’s Finishline Festival. Born in the far reaches of Pioneer Valley, MA, Moose & the Mops rocked UMass Amherst before moving back east to start moppin’ Beantown in funkified fashion.
Sponsors of the 2020 Run of the Charles: Boston’s Premier Paddling Race include Paddle Boston (Gold Sponsor) with Boston Duck Boat Tours, CDM Smith, ESP Solutions, and New England Biolabs teaming together as the bronze sponsors. Supporting sponsors include Bergmeyer, Beta, Inc., BR+A Consulting Engineers, Horsley Witten Group, and Tetra Tech. In Kind sponsors include Belgium Brewing Company, Cultural Adventure Travel, and Marriott Boston.
There is still time to become a sponsorship of the Run of the Charles. For more information on sponsorship, registration or any other aspect of the race, please call Meg Rivett, Race Director at (508) 698-6810 x10, email rotc@crwa.org, or visit www.charlesriver.org/ROTC.