Mystic Herring Run and Paddle

Calling all runners, walkers, rollers, and paddlers to help us care for the Mystic River watershed! 

Here is how it works: For your $10 registration fee, you can run and/or paddle one or all four 5k courses (Malden River, Horn Pond, Somerville/Medford, Charlestown) or a 9-mile paddle route on the Mystic. Check out the four 5k courses below. See the PDF maps and walking instructions here. Don't want to do one of our courses? Out of town? You can participate by creating your own 5K course and submitting your time under the "Choose your Own Course" race.

If you do all 4 running routes you will be eligible for the Olympic Herring Award (top 3 male and female finishers). Add the paddle route and you will be eligible for the Iron Herring Award (top 3 male and female finishers). 

Want to do even more to help the “streak” of improvements along the Mystic, donate or fundraise $100 and you'll receive a 2020 Herring Run & Paddle t-shirt!

All runs and paddles must be done between Sept 19-26th. To compete, you must enter your times into the website for each race you participate in by Sept 26th--then check out how you ranked. For the paddle, note all boat classes (boat types and single/tandem) will be competing together for the 9-mile race. Do you want to paddle but don’t have a canoe, kayak, or stand up paddleboard? You can rent one from Paddle Boston. Call 617-965-5110 or see www.paddleboston.com/rentals.

Detailed instructions and race maps will be sent to you prior to the race week. You can practice in advance using the course maps below.

Why are we running? This will be the 24th year that the Herring Run and Paddle has happened in our communities. This corresponds with 24 years of improvements along the Mystic. We cannot afford not to run, walk, paddle and push for improvements--we hope that you agree and will participate with us again! Want to learn more about improvements happening on the Mystic River? Visit www.MysticRiver.org. 

Need accommodations, including disability related route changes? We're happy to help. Contact erica.wood@mysticriver.org / 781-316-3438. Note: Exciting renovations are happening now at Blessing of the Bay park in Somerville. Please use caution and your best judgment when starting and ending at this location. Also note there is no dock access, but you can still access the boat ramp at this location.

Photo: Patrick Meehan