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 compete in the Somerville/Medford 5K course and/or a 9-mile paddle route on the Mystic! If you complete the 5K and paddle race you will be eligible for the Iron Herring award (male and female). Want to do even more to help the “streak” of improvements along the Mystic, donate or fundraise $100 and you'll receive a 2021 Herring Run & Paddle t-shirt!

All runs and paddles must be done between May 9th--23rd. To compete, you must enter your times into the website for each race you participate in by May 16th--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.

Three-Rivers Challenge

In partnership with the Charles River Watershed Association and the Ipswich River Watershed Association, we are bringing you the 3 Rivers Challenge! This spring, get excited to get outside and enjoy the Charles, Mystic, and Ipswich rivers. Whether you paddle, walk, bike, fish, or just skip rocks, make sure to track your hours on and by the river in our tracking spreadsheet coming soon. The individual with the most number of hours wins! Prizes include a Lincoln Hide-a-way solo forest green fiberglass canoe, watershed group swag, adult craft beverages, and more. The challenge will launch on Sunday, April 25 with CRWA’s Run of the Charles, it will run through the Mystic’s Herring Run and Paddle (May 9th - 23rd), and will end on the Ipswich’s Paddle-a-thon on Saturday, June 19.

Why are we running? This will be the 25th year that the Herring Run and Paddle has happened in our communities. This corresponds with 25 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. 

Will the cost of participation prevent you from joining? Use the coupon code FISH21 for a 100% discount. Need accommodations, including disability related route changes? Contact michelle.liebetreu@mysticriver.org / 781-316-3438.