Urban Raid Boston

14.02    

Sure, running a 5k might be fun for some, but do you know what would be better? Throwing in some hurdles, balance beams, and a giant net to climb over. An obstacle course race like that would usually take place in rural areas where there’s s plenty of space to set them up, but Urban Raid drops its 10 challenges into major cities. For the first time ever, they managed to corral 3.1 miles of downtown Boston into their personal track.


Runners ages 16 and over ran, jumped, and climbed through Faneuil Hall, parts of the North End, Christopher Columbus Park, and Long Wharf.


The race benefited Camp Sunshine, which provides support programs for children with life-threatening illnesses, and the Family Reach Foundation, which helps families fighting cancer.


Take a look at some of the beautiful places and arduous obstacles that these brave runners managed to speed through on Saturday morning.



Sure, running a 5k might be fun for some, but do you know what would be better? Throwing in some hurdles, balance beams, and a giant net to climb over. Most obstacle course of these obstacle course races take place in rural areas where there’s s plenty of space to set them up, but Urban Raid drops its 10 challenges into the downtowns of major cities. For the first time ever, they manage to corral 3.1 miles of downtown Boston into their personal track. Runners ages 16 and over ran, jumped, and climbed through Faneuil Hall, parts of the North End, Christopher Columbus park, and Long Wharf . The race benefitted Camp Sunshine, which provides support programs for children with life-threatening illnesses, and the Family Reach Foundation, which helps families fighting cancer. Take a look at some of the beautiful places and arduous obstacles that these brave runners managed to speed through on Saturday morning.


Sure, running a 5k might be fun for some, but do you know what would be better? Throwing in some hurdles, balance beams, and a giant net to climb over. An obstacle course race like that would usually take place in rural areas where there’s s plenty of space to set them up, but Urban Raid drops its 10 challenges into major cities. For the first time ever, they managed to corral 3.1 miles of downtown Boston into their personal track.


Runners ages 16 and over ran, jumped, and climbed through Faneuil Hall, parts of the North End, Christopher Columbus Park, and Long Wharf.


The race benefited Camp Sunshine, which provides support programs for children with life-threatening illnesses, and the Family Reach Foundation, which helps families fighting cancer.


Take a look at some of the beautiful places and arduous obstacles that these brave runners managed to speed through on Saturday morning.


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From left: Heather Di Rocco, Robyn Logan, Rob McCollum, Alex Pasternak, and Dan Stevens ran with the Lowell Mud Dogs race club.

From left: Heather Di Rocco, Robyn Logan, Rob McCollum, Alex Pasternak, and Dan Stevens ran with the Lowell Mud Dogs race club.


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The race began in historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace and wove through 3.1 miles of downtown Boston.

The race began in historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace and wove through 3.1 miles of downtown Boston.


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From left: Becki Ledford, of Charlestown; Erin Madore, of Quincy; and Dani Holmes-Kirk are fitness bloggers who decided to run the obstacle course together. This was Ledford’s first race. Madore said that she had done a “Diva Dash” race before. “It was kind of easy, so I was looking for more of a challenge,” she said.

From left: Becki Ledford, of Charlestown; Erin Madore, of Quincy; and Dani Holmes-Kirk are fitness bloggers who decided to run the obstacle course together.


This was Ledford’s first race. Madore said that she had done a “Diva Dash” race before. “It was kind of easy, so I was looking for more of a challenge,” she said.


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Brian Carraggi, left, of Taunton, and Kristian Demarino, of Westbridge, had both competed in Tough Mudder races before Saturday’s run. “We just like to be active,” Carraggi said.

Brian Carraggi, left, of Taunton, and Kristian Demarino, of Westbridge, had both competed in Tough Mudder races before Saturday’s run.


“We just like to be active,” Carraggi said.


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We do a ton of these races,” said Elena Hammond, of Salem. She and Rob Fournier, also of Salem, were also competing in a scavenger hunt later in the day in which participants had to wear costumes. “We figured, why not just wear them to both?” Hammond said.

“We do a ton of these races,” said Elena Hammond, of Salem. She and Rob Fournier, also of Salem, were also competing in a scavenger hunt later in the day in which participants had to wear costumes. “We figured, why not just wear them to both?” Hammond said.


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Trainers from Boston Boot Camp led a pre-race warmup before the first wave of runners took off at 9 a.m.

Trainers from Boston Boot Camp led a pre-race warmup before the first wave of runners took off at 9 a.m.


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From left: Stephanie Flanagan, Scott Haavisto, Brian Malone, Cassie Taylor, and Scott Gifford (front) ran to raise money for the Great American Foundation and the Family Reach Foundation, which provides financial support for families with children who have cancer.

From left: Stephanie Flanagan, Scott Haavisto, Brian Malone, Cassie Taylor, and Scott Gifford (front) ran to raise money for the Great American Foundation and the Family Reach Foundation, which provides financial support for families with children who have cancer.


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Lea Trefon of Brussels, Belgium; Lauren LaPointe of Arlington, and Basil Trefon, of Brussels, were originally going to run a“Run for Your Life” zombie-themed race. “That got changed to September, and they’re not going to be here!” LaPointe said of her visting friends. “We looked online and found this instead. It’s just for fun, we’re not trying to break records here.”

Lea Trefon of Brussels, Belgium; Lauren LaPointe of Arlington, and Basil Trefon, of Brussels, were originally going to run a“Run for Your Life” zombie-themed race.


“That got changed to September, and they’re not going to be here!” LaPointe said of her visting friends. “We looked online and found this instead. It’s just for fun, we’re not trying to break records here.”


After the race, all three agreed that the challenging course was well worth it. “It’s very motivating to run through the city,” Basil said.


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The first wave of runners took off from the starting line.

The first wave of runners took off towards the first obstacle.


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Cara and Addison Rich stood by the starting line to cheer on their Uncle Richard.

Cara and Addison Rich stood by the starting line to cheer on their Uncle Richard.


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Elena Hammond and Rob Fournier of Salem began their race with the third wave of runners.

Elena Hammond and Rob Fournier of Salem (in costumes) began their race with the third wave of runners.


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Two competitors enthusiastically leapt over a hurdle.

Two competitors enthusiastically leapt over a hurdle.


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Runners jumped through a circuit of hurdles twice before continuing down Congress Street.

Runners jumped through a circuit of hurdles twice before continuing down Congress Street.


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The course wound through historic Quincy Market, among other picturesque locations throughout downtown Boston.

The course wound through historic Quincy Market, among other picturesque locations throughout downtown Boston.


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Participants ran a lap around Columbus Park while carrying a sandbag.

Participants ran a lap around Columbus Park while carrying a sandbag.


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Runners scampered across balance beams in Columbus Park.

Runners scampered across balance beams in Columbus Park.


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Instead of walking across the beams, some runners catapulted themselves over the cross bars.

Instead of walking across the beams, some runners catapulted themselves over the cross bars.


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Participants scrambled across a set of monkey bars near Long Wharf immediately after they faced the balance beams.

Participants scrambled across a set of monkey bars near Long Wharf immediately after they faced the balance beams.


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A pair of runners dodged tourists as they ran across the wharf.

A pair of runners dodged tourists as they ran across the wharf.


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Near the New England Aquarium, runners were ensnared in a giant net. They had to climb over and down before continuing the race.

Near the New England Aquarium, runners were ensnared in a giant net. They had to climb over and down before continuing the race.


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Two runners continue their trek after tackling the net.

Two runners continue their trek after tackling the net.


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Runners looped through downtown before heading back towards Faneuil Hall.

Runners looped through downtown before heading back towards Faneuil Hall.


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To get through the last obstacle, runners climbed up a rope on one side of a slope and then lowered themselves down the other side.

To get through the last obstacle, runners climbed up a rope on one side of a slope and then lowered themselves down the other side...


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...then climbed a small rock wall before dashing to the finish line.

...then climbed a small rock wall before dashing to the finish line.


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A runner sped past the popular Cheers bar in Quincy Market.

A runner sped past the popular Cheers bar in Quincy Market.


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Mark Sweet and Emily Fiorentino held hands as they crossed the finish line. “It was pretty cool,” Sweet said. “It’s not so often that you get to do something like this in the city.” “It was hard, but fun,” Fiorentino said. “We’re always up for a challenge.”

Mark Sweet and Emily Fiorentino held hands as they crossed the finish line.


“It was pretty cool,” Sweet said. “It’s not so often that you get to do something like this in the city.”


“It was hard, but fun,” Fiorentino said.


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Arielle Crocker of Burlingame triumphantly threw her hands in the air as she crossed the finish line with John Connolly, Jr. of Waltham. “It was so much fun!” Crocker said. She and Connolly plan on competing in another obstacle course race, this time at a beach, later this year.

Arielle Crocker of Burlington triumphantly threw her hands in the air as she crossed the finish line with John Connolly, Jr. of Waltham.


“It was so much fun!” Crocker said. She and Connolly plan on competing in another obstacle course race, this time at a beach, later this year.


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Iryna Yakimovich and John Connolly, Sr. also ran the race. “It was fun to do this as a family team,” Connolly said.

Iryna Yakimovich and John Connolly, Sr. also ran the race. “It was fun to do this as a family team,” Connolly said.


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Dennis Michaud of Lawrence celebrated as he finished the race. “Look, last year I weighed 280 pounds,” he said. “I got off the couch to do races with the New England Spahtens, and I keep signing up.” The Spahtens are an obstacle course racing team that competes in courses throughout New England.

Dennis Michaud of Lawrence celebrated as he finished the race. “Look, last year I weighed 280 pounds,” he said. “I got off the couch to do races with the New England Spahtens, and I keep signing up.”


The Spahtens are an obstacle course racing team that competes in courses throughout New England.


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A few racers with extra energy-- and some serious skills-- flipped out afterwards.

A few racers with extra energy-- and some serious skills-- flipped out afterwards.


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From left: Diana White of Weymouth, Celine Francois of Boston, Stephanie Heil of Boston, and Mary Nguyen of Quincy jumped for joy after the race. “It was fun and challenging, but not too much,” Heil said. “That last obstacle was a doozy!”

From left: Diana White of Weymouth; Celine Francois of Boston; Stephanie Heil of Boston; and Mary Nguyen of Quincy jumped for joy after the race.


“It was fun and challenging, but not too much,” Heil said. “That last obstacle was a doozy!”


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