1st Annual Boston Erging Marathon

[[old] Samroot]

You'd have a steep little 1 mile jaunt to really finish you off,before you could hop in your boat. The course crosses the Charles just past 16 mile marker.<br> <br> Samroot<br><br><br> <br>

[[old] Canoeist]

Here is a map of the course <a href='http://www.boston.com/marathon/course/' target='_blank'>http://www.boston.com/marathon/course/</a> There is a bridge going over the Charles River where the runners pass from the town of Wellesley to the town of Newton. Ideally, we would put our ergs in the middle of the bridge to row the race. I doubt the local constable would let us stay on the bridge for the race. He would tell us that if we wanted to row, to get in the water. Then we would have to inform him that "ergs don't float." <br><br>Cheers,<br><br>Paul Flack

[[old] Bayko]

O.K. Here's the situation. (At least as I remember it. I haven't participated in 17 years so I may now be different)<br><br>It generally is crowded where Route 9 goes under Route 16, just before the 15 mile mark, because ambitious spectators like to watch from there then jump into their cars on Route 9 to dash ahead to another spot. It is also crowded around mile 16 because the course crosses over Route 128 there, and again rabid spectators can watch there and dash down the embankment to their illegally parked cars and rush off to another spot.<br><br>My recollection is that between those two spots it is relatively low in spectator density. It is a two lane road through a neighborhood of nice houses with a sidewalk and front yards. Perhaps a scouting expediton is called for to determine if any friendly resident with a level driveway would be willing to let us set up our ergs. I'd say that any area from about 100yds east of the Rt. 16/Rt.9 crossing to the top of the big hill down into Newton Lower Falls (Where the Charles River would be) should be as reasonable a spot as possible.<br><br>A big coup would be to get 1976 (The Run for the Hoses) winner Jack Fultz to join us. When I saw him volunteering at CRASH-B's 3 years ago he told me that he no longer runs, but that he rows out on the Charles with one of the clubs. Community Rowing, I think. He could do a 7:04 2km as a 50+ skinny. You could probably get some publicity for the erging if he were to do it.<br><br>Rick

[[old] eparizeau]

Paul - Sorry for the delay...just catching up on some Forum reading.<br><br>Last year 3 of us rowed at a local private school in Dedham, MA that had a bunch of ergs. One of my buddies is a teacher/coach. Other than some music, it didn't have any atmosphere....my wife an kids stopped by to say hi but that was it. Little bit like running the Boston Marathon in 1896. Pretty quiet.<br><br>Did Digital Rowing ever respond to your idea? C2 Marketing Dept...any thoughts ?<br><br>Ernie<br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

[[old] FrankJ]

I'd like to dust off this thread to see if erging is a real possibility for this year's Boston Marathon. While at the CRASH-Bs I spoke to both Paul Flack and Rick Bayko about and it sounds like the real question is how to find the right location. Ideally we would find a sight that was away from crowds but easy to reach. Paul said he is already committed to helping 2 runners so that could impact his ability to participate. Rick had some ideas for a location but not a specific site. The site should be high and dry in case it rains and I believe I can come up with a canopy or 2 that we could use for protection from the weather. A driveway at about the half way point we be perfect but how do we get the word out that we're looking for a site?<br /><br />If we can't find a live site how about on online marathon on Patriot's day?<br /><br />Frank

[[old] Canoeist]

The Boston Marathon will be held next Monday. About a dozen rowers have expressed interest to participate in an erg marathon to be done in conjunction with the running race. <br /><br />I haven't had the time to nail down a spot to row where we won't be hassled by the local constables, that is level, that has a pit stop nearby, and where we can also have a decent view of the race that is not blocked by spectators. I think it is best if we wait until next year to do this. This year, I will watch the race for the first time and look at it with a marathon row next year in the back of my mind. Maybe then we can also have support from Concept (for some type of shelter from rain) and Digital Rowing (to connect the ergs to a TV and connect people from other parts of the world).<br /><br />I won't be rowing this year during the marathon because I will be support for a runner and scoping out the course for next year. But, if anybody still wishes to row a marathon, you can still park at my house and I can get you and your machine down to the race course.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Paul Flack

[[old] King0Gus]

Im definately up for another trip to Boston, count me in...

[[old] Samroot]

Thats too bad-I would have liked to have seen that running by.<br /><br /><br />If my memory serves me correctly in its heat adled condition of last year. While running under a goosenecked fire hose at the Lower Newton Falls fire station,I noticed a wide open blacktop area right before it.<br />

[[old] Bayko]

Like the Red Sox we will have to wait 'til next year. Oh, wait a minute, for us Red Sox fans next year finally arrived last year.<br /><br />I've actually been fading lately and would not have been in top form anyway, and would have had to do as Paul did at the OxBow Marathon and just put in a long workout of 42,195m. I do hope that we can eventually bring this idea to fruition as it seems like a natural. This year I'll watch the running on TV and try to get a decent rest from the rigors of this erging season so that I can have an equally good season in the 2006 ranking year.<br /><br />Rick