Category: Abigail K.

We all know about MarMon, but next weekend is another one of Boston’s biggest races – the Head of the Charles. But what is the Head of the Charles? Why do all those people come to Boston? Why are there so many boats on the river? What even is rowing? Well as a member of BU’s Women’s rowing team, I’m here to give you the inside scoop.

First, a crash course on rowing. There are two types of rowing boats: sculling, where each rower has two oars and sweeping, where each rower has one oar. Boats are classified by the number of rowers, an x indicates it’s a sculling boat, and a + or – indicates if the boat has a coxswain or not.

A coxswain (that’s me) steers the boat, motivates the rowers, and acts as the coach in the boat. They’re who you see lying down in the front of a four person boat or sitting facing the rowers in an eight person boat. The twists and turns of the Charles make the race particularly challenging for coxswains, as each one competes for the shortest course. This often means fighting for the inside on the big and sharp turns of the river.

The Charles is a head race which means that boats start one at a time, competing to get down the course in the shortest amount of time. The start line to the race sits at the corner of the balcony of BU’s DeWolfe Boathouse, so you don’t even have to leave campus to watch the race. From the starting line boats will race toward the BU bridge, continue 3 miles down the river through 7 bridges to the finish line which is just around the bend from Eliot Bridge.

Due to the large number of boats racing down the river at once, the race is known for crashes, especially at bridges like Weeks, Eliot, and Anderson. If you take the walk down to Eliot Bridge, listen for the reaction from the crowd. You’ll know when someone has taken the turn well or when an unfortunate crew has hit the bridge or another crew.

At the finish of the course you’ll find a ton of vendors. The mac and cheese and chili in a bread bowl are fan favorites especially in colder years. There’s also a Vineyard Vines Merch tent, as well as many other vendors giving out free samples or letting you test out new equipment

I hope this helps give you a little bit more information about rowing. If you need a study break October 18-20th, I highly recommend taking a trip over the BU bridge and down the esplanade to experience one of Boston’s biggest weekends.

As a student athlete, with limited time to get work done, I’ve had to develop my time management skills. Unfortunately, I’m also by nature a procrastinator. Nevertheless, I’ve picked up a few tips on how to best manage my time and productivity (most of the time). 

#1: Use A Planner 

At the beginning of the semester, I put all of my assignment dates from the syllabus on a calendar which I make in Sheets. This makes it easy for me to see my deadlines and edit them if necessary. As a procrastinator, being able to visualize my workload is vital so that I know how to best budget my time on assignments. 

#2: Stay Active 

Being “active” can take many forms, but whatever it is, get involved with something that isn’t directly related to schoolwork. As a transfer, I tried to get involved in as many clubs as possible, because it's an easy way to get out of my dorm and meet new people. Spending productive time away from work is key to maximizing productivity when it’s time to hit a deadline. 

#3: Find Study Spot Clusters 

I can’t sit for too long in one place, especially when I’m studying. I like to study in areas that have many study spots, so I can easily switch it up without taking too much time. Some of my favorite study spots are clustered in Central Campus, including the Beach, Law Cafe, and CDS. These spaces also offer varying levels of noise depending on what I need to get done. Plus, as a major snacker, being near so many great food options is a must. 

#4: Get Off Campus 

Sometimes, peak productivity means changing up my study spots. I live on East Campus, so Newbury Street is a quick scenic walk. My favorite spot on Newbury Street is Trident Booksellers and Cafe. It’s usually pretty quiet on weekdays and offers a variety of food and drinks, and lots of seating. Plus there’s many fun trinkets to look at when you’re done. On Campus, Life Alive is a great change of pace with good study vibes and good food. I highly recommend their Vanilla Honey Oat Cold Brew and Teriyaki Tofu bowl… just maybe not together. 

#5: Sometimes You Just Need to Sleep 

As someone who no one wants to be near if I’m low on sleep, I’ve learned that there comes a time when it's no longer productive to keep working. This may mean submitting an assignment that you are not entirely pleased with or letting an assignment continue to dangle over your

head for another day. It’s critical to understand when you’re most productive, and maximize that time in order to get the most done. As a perfectionist, I’m the first to admit I struggle with this advice; however, it’s super important to put assignments and grades in perspective, so that each and every assignment doesn’t feel quite so daunting.