MBCC's Against The Tide Event is a Hidden Gem

HOPKINTON, MA — On June 15, I participated once again in the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition’s Against the Tide 1-mile open water swim at Hopkinton State Park.

I have to admit that as I write this article, I am bewildered by how few of my fellow masters swimmers opt to participate in this race. I always thought MBCC ran a good event. After helping them with some suggestions over the years, I now think they run a GREAT event. Here are just a few things that make this race worthwhile:

Al Prescott is recognized by MBCC for his efforts in helping the race director.

• They offer a competitive 1-mile race, one loop around an island, that is the SAME distance every year.

• They offer a completely separate non-competitive race for beginners and folks who just want to take it easy or try it out.

• You get free access to the Hopkinton State Park and can stay all day.

• They have free HOT breakfast for EVERYONE.

• They offer events for the whole family including running races, a paddle board race, a kayak race, and more.

• I got a free 15-minute massage after the race.

• Your entry fee helps support research and prevention of a deadly disease.

“If you are looking for a good early—but not too early—season event, come to Hopkinton next year and try to knock me out of the Top 10. Win or lose, I’ll meet you for a hot egg and cheese sandwich after the race.”

— “Big” Al Prescott, NEM-MAMA, NELMSC Treasurer

Al Prescott, Jocelyn Noakes, and Frank Reinhold celebrate their efforts in the 1-mile swim

Despite this, the race director has confided in me confusion. Years ago, it was normal to get 60 to 100 people in the swim race. Now the numbers are in the 30s. While I plan to do this race into the foreseeable future, that future looks murky. I'm not sure what more the race director can do to promote this race, and I have promised to help them brainstorm.

In the meantime, let me try this: I have won my age group and finished in the top 10 each time I have done this race. This year, I challenged one of my teammates to compete with me. She beat me and won her age group. So to the rest of New England: if you are looking for a good early—but not too early—season event, come to Hopkinton next year and try to knock me out of the Top 10. Win or lose, I'll meet you for a hot egg and cheese sandwich after the race.

- “Big” Al Prescott, NEM-MAMA, NELMSC Treasurer

MBCC will host their second event of the summer, Against the Tide - Brewster, on August 17 at Nickerson State Park.

Ninth Charles River One Mile Swim: A Fun Morning on the Esplanade

Results

Contributed by Kate Radville, Race Director

BOSTON, MA -- On June 3rd, 2017, the Charles River Swimming Club hosted its Ninth One Mile Swim in the Charles River Basin. The race, which took place on a single loop course between the Massachusetts Avenue and Longfellow bridges, was the largest in the club’s history. 

View fullsize

Wave 2 prepares to start a few minutes behind Wave 1

This year's edition drew a large, enthusiastic crowd to the river, and sold out at 200 swimmers. Electronic chip-timing allowed for accurate, real-time results despite the race’s unique in-water finish. Conditions were challenging given cool air and water temperatures, a steady head-wind during leg one, and considerable chop. Regardless, many fast times were posted by local masters swimmers. Trent Staats of Charles River Masters was the overall winner in 23:12.1. Sarah Weas of Boston University Masters was the first female finisher with a time of 25:42.5.  

View fullsize

Swimmers complete the loop and finish at the dock

The Charles River Swimming Club is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2005 with the dual purpose of organizing competitive swimming events in the river and facilitating the return of public river swimming to the Charles. After a long history of pollution, the Charles has benefited tremendously from the Clean Charles River Initiative, which began in 1995. The river is now clean enough for swimming on most summer days, and the club hopes to raise awareness of this fact.

View fullsize

Award winners received an 'I Swam the Charles' pint glass and a day of kayaking, SUPing, or canoeing on the Charles, courtesy of Charles River Canoe and Kayak

Swimmers who are interested in either participating in next year’s event or in volunteering should visit the club’s website at www.charlesriverswimmingclub.org. Those with specific questions about getting involved should contact Kate Radville, Charles River Swimming Club Vice President, Race Director, and Charles River Masters swimmer.

The Club, which is run entirely by volunteers, would like the extend its gratitude to the swimmers and volunteers who made this year’s event such a success.  We look forward to celebrating our tenth swim race in 2018!

Eighth Annual Charles River One Mile Swim Recap

Contributed by Kate Radville, Race Director

Results

View fullsize

Competitors at the start of the Eighth Annual Charles River One Mile Swim

On June 11th, 2016, the Charles River Swimming Club hosted its Eighth One Mile Swim in the Charles River Basin. The race, which took place on a single loop course between the Massachusetts Avenue and Longfellow bridges, was the largest in the club’s ten-year history.

This year's race drew a record number of swimmers to the river. The introduction of electronic, chip timing allowed for real-time results and an expanded field of 144 athletes. Conditions, including bright sun and flat water, were ideal for an open water competition. For the second year in a row, the top finisher was a woman. Alana Aubin (26) of Watertown, Massachusetts narrowly edged out Frank Wuest (56), of Boston, Massachusetts to earn her victory. Overall and age group winners earned gift certificates for a day of canoeing, kayaking, or stand up paddle boarding with Charles River Canoe and Kayak, one of the club’s generous sponsors, as well as "I Swam the Charles" pint glasses. 

The Charles River Swimming Club is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2005 with the dual purpose of organizing competitive swimming events in the river and facilitating the return of public river swimming. After a long history of pollution, the Charles has benefited tremendously from the Clean Charles River Initiative, which began in 1995. It is now clean enough for swimming on most summer days, and the annual swim race is organized in part to raise awareness of this fact. 

Overall winner Alana Aubin receives her prizes from race director Kate Radville

If you are interested in getting involved with the club as a volunteer or participating in upcoming events, please visit the club’s website at www.charlesriverswimmingclub.org. The club is run strictly by volunteers and would like to extend its gratitude to the swimmers and volunteers who made this year’s event such a huge success.

4th Annual Boston Sharkfest Draws Large NE-LMSC Contingent

Results

Congratulations to all who participated in the Boston Sharkfest earlier this month. Nearly 500 swimmers covered the one-mile distance across Boston Harbor from east Boston into the Seaport on calm waters under sunny skies. Members of the NE-LMSC made a great showing, taking age group honors in almost every age group in both the wet suit and non-wet suit categories. 

A special shout out to CMSC member Franny Cohen who celebrated her 60th birthday by swimming Sharkfest - her first open water race! - and taking silver in her age group.

Penny Palfrey Wins 2015 Boston Light Swim

Results

Legendary open water swimmer - 53-year-old Penny Palfrey of Seventeen-Seventy, Queensland, Australia - handily won the 8-mile Boston Light Swim across Boston Harbor on August 15th with a time of 2:56:48. Palfrey maintained an amazing 85 strokes-per-minute pace throughout the eight-mile course.

Finishing second overall, and winning the men's competition, was 63-year-old James Clifford of Poolesville, MD, the oldest male competitor in the race. Clifford finished in 3:08:22, edging out third place finisher Jennifer Olsen, 44, of Natick, MA, who finished in 3:11:28.

The Boston Light Swim is the oldest open water marathon swim in the U.S. and has been a local tradition since 1907. Participants begin in the water at America's first lighthouse, the Boston Light on Little Brewster Island in the outer Harbor. The course continues past George's Island and Rainsford Island, then along Long Island (and past where the Long Island Bridge used to stand), and around Thompson's Island. Swimmers come ashore at the historic L Street Bathhouse in South Boston, home of the world famous L Street Brownies and the L Street Ice Swimmers.

Females Take Top Three Spots at Charles River Swim

Results

Congratulations to Jessica Stokes, Alana Aubin, and Katharine Dunn who took the top three spots overall at this year's Charles River Swim. They are pictured here with Race Director Kate Radville. Way to go ladies!

Charles River Swimming Club

NE LMSC Swimmers Compete at US Winter Swimming Championships

NE-LMSC swimmers Helen Lin, Elaine Howley, Paula Yankauskas and Rich Born recently competed in the Inaugural U.S. Winter Swimming Championships. Swimming in a "pool" carved into the frozen Lake Memphremagog in Newport, Vermont, competitors raced in the 25 breaststroke and the 25, 50 and 100-meter freestyle. Way to go ice swimmers!!