Chick’s rock the boat at Run of the Charles

Chick Stapleton, owner of Island Spirit Kayak, placed 3rd overall and was the first woman across the finish line in the 19-mile single sea kayak division.

The competition is a mix of paddling and portages beginning in Dedham and running the length of the Charles River, through Needham, Waltham and Watertown to Boston. Racers must portage around six damns, in which the paddlers must exit their boats, scramble up the muddy riverbed with boats on shoulders and run (or wheel) along the highway, through wooded trails and over bridges, to then re-enter and paddle again.

Boston residents and supporters cheered paddlers on, many volunteering at bridges with throw ropes, to help pull capsized paddlers to shore. Downed trees across the river and submerged logs were an added challenge this year.

This is Chick’s 3rd ROTC and she opted for wheels for the first time. “I didn’t have anything to prove, it was just a personal challenge.” But when the gun went off Chick found herself at the head of the pack and then trailing only 2 boats. That’s when her personal challenge changed in to a drive to win, bringing her in at 3rd place. “I kissed my wheels when the race was over, there was no way I could have done so well without them.”