River Dogs Half Marathon

River Dogs Half Marathon

The river dog's paw print
Vital Statistics
When	Second Saturday in March, 10:00 AM
Town	Woods Hole
Where	The Old Fire Station
Distance	13.1 mile
Status	Inactive - last running in 2005
First Running	2003
Current Certification	None
Sanctioned	Yes
Typical Field	150-225
Contact Information
Contact	Brenda Behling, (781) 899-3010

Special Notes

A fundraiser for the MS Society and Camp Sunshine, this race doesn’t skimp on the necessities. Great long sleeve t-shirts from “Life Is Good” for all competitors and liberal awards round out the day. The course combines the difficult pieces of the Falmouth Road Race and the Seagull 6 and serves them up with some nice late winter weather. Plan on a hilly start, a relatively flat middle section and several challenging hills from mile 11 to 13. Falling at approximately the half-way point in a 16 week marathon training schedule targeting the Boston Marathon, the race serves as an excellent tune up and training checkpoint. The race is the brainchild of River Dogs Athletics, a loosely bound group of “thirty-something” women who meet weekly to run along the Charles River in Boston. Realizing that they all were involved in fundraising efforts of one form or another, they decided to pool their resources and created their own fundraising events including this race, a River Dogs golf tournament and a cycling team for MS charity rides. The post race party is held at the Lee Side Bar and Grille next to the ferry terminal. Although the police are typically lenient on race day, bring along a few quarters for the parking meters just in case. Free parking is provided at the Steamship Authority parking area in Falmouth with buses to the start. Although cash awards were presented the inaugural year, awards are now limited to merchandise provided by various sponsors including Puma and Life Is Good.

Course Records

Open Men - Ken Gartner: 1:18:18 (2004)

Open Women - Marjorie Shearer: 1:29:03 (2004)

The Course

Start at the corner of Luscome Road and Water Street facing downtown Woods Hole. Pass through Woods Hole and turn right on Albatross Street past the aquarium. Turn right on Millfield Street to a left on to Quisset Avenue. Follow Quisset Avenue to Quisset Harbor Road. Turn right on Quisset Harbor Road, cross over Woods Hole Road at the stop lights on to Oyster Pond Road. Follow Oyster Pond Road to a left on Surf Drive and then take your next left on to Elm Road. Take a right on to Woods Hole Road followed by an immediate right on to Mill Road. Follow Mill Road to the end and take a left on Surf Drive. Take Surf Drive to Shore Street and then turn right on to Clinton Avenue. Follow Clinton Avenue to Falmouth Harbor and bear left on to Scranton Avenue to a left on Queen Street. Follow Queen Street to the end and turn left on to King Street. At the end of King Street turn right on to Clinton Avenue and retrace your steps back to Oyster Pond Road. At the intersection of Surf Drive and Oyster Pond Road, continue straight on Oyster Pond Road until it turns into Nobska Road. Follow Nobska Road around the lighthouse on to Church Street and take a left on Woods Hole Road. A left at the top of the hill leading into Woods Hole will take you on to Railroad Avenue and the finish in front of the Lee Side Bar and Grille at the bottom of the hill.

Getting There

Take Route 28 to Falmouth and pickup Woods Hole Road on the west side of town. Follow Woods Hole Road into downtown Woods Hole. The Old Fire Station is on the left side of the road next to the Community Hall. No free parking is available but there is adequate metered parking and a few lots which charge $10-$15 per day. Avoid parking in WHOI lots since they aggressively tow year round.

Maps

Source:Geof Newton