We might not have a giant frozen river on which everyone can don their favorite footwear of winter and skate a blisteringly fast 6k in the frigid winter air.
But here in Boston, we made the most out of an EPIC idea and event that our friends at November Project Winnipeg created, called The Great Skate. We just made it amazing in our city, with our resources, and our incredible, wonderful, lovable (not exactly skate-regular) community members.
In years past, we’ve raced our frozen faces off around various courses for the Sunrise #ML6k…and this year we got inspired by Winnipeg–and let’s be honest–we got a little jealous too. Why do the Canadians always get to have all the winter fun? And Boston stepped up with the frigid temps and a slight snowy reminder that it’s winter, so our 6:30am workout was both ridiculous to show up for, and also exactly what we all needed to reinforce that we ARE #weatherproof, that we DO love #freefitness, and this shit IS good. So we threw down a good old hardcore workout, then we shifted over to the ice rink–thanks very much to @seaportbos for letting us on the ice and sharing those rental skates with us–and we threw down on ice.
The very casually-labeled “race” was roughly 75 laps around the rink, to get right up to 3.72 miles, or the traditional 6k distance. We had everyone from speed hockey racers, to axle-jumping former figure skaters, to beginners, to “I’ll just sit on this plastic whale seat thingy that’s made for kids and let someone push me around” skaters. It was the truest type of gathering that NP could have. And despite several bike helmets worn for #safetyfirstorsecondbutdefinitelynotthird, there were no head (or other body part) injuries. It was fun, only a little competitive, and absolutely what we needed on this bright, brisk, beautiful Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“Official” results:
Scott Yellow won the start.
Jessie got most photos taken (because figure skating tricks!)
Kelly spent the most time on her butt on the ice.
Johnson created the most perfect ice butt print on his pants.
Joev was most improved.
And Janet was the most determined to finish her 75 laps she rejected the referee’s call that the event was over. And Mike Pollio was most frustrated about that because he stopped when told…even though his GPS said 3.66 miles (and one more lap would have gotten him to the “finish.”)
Those winners received a free entry to the Super Sunday race, coming up on Feb 2…and all you need to do to win your own free entry to that race is show up to workouts –we’ll be giving out those entries for all kinds of different reasons in the next week or so.
next monday!
1/27 at 6:29am will be outside the Porter Square T station in Cambridge. BE THERE!!!!! Map here.
