This year, Boston’s Head of the Charles Regatta, the largest of its kind in the world, is celebrating its 50th run down the Charles River. In honor of the historical race, the event will host the 50th Gala, and more upcoming anniversary festivities are in store for Head of the Charles spectators and participants.
In addition to the celebrations, a specialty New Balance shoe is hitting the shelves in honor of 50 regatta runs. The Brighton-based company is no stranger to crafting shoes that play off of – and pay homage to – its Boston roots, and this year, for the first time, they’ll be rolling out a Head of the Charles themed shoe: The New Balance 990v1 “Regatta.” Blue-gray with neon yellow laces and accents (a popular color in rowing), this remake of the 990 running shoe is emblazoned with an “HOCR 50” logo and complemented by a rower’s silhouette on each heel, as well as the years that the race has been taking place.
A gray-speckled midsole finishes off the shoe’s exterior, but the finishing gem of the brand’s first Head of the Charles-themed shoe lies inside the sneaker. Each sole insert is printed with half of the race’s course map, and when lined up next to each other, the course map is completed.
About the specialty shoe, New Balance President and CEO Rob DeMartini said in an official release:
New Balance is excited to partner with The Head Of The Charles, one of the world’s pre-eminent rowing competitions, to create the official athletic footwear and athletic apparel for its competitors and fans. Both The Head Of The Charles Regatta and New Balance share longstanding histories in this region, and are committed to providing innovative products and initiatives for today’s performance athletes.
The shoe is currently on sale exclusively at The Tannery, located in the Back Bay, but next week on October 13, the shoe will be available on New Balance’s online store as well as in the company’s Boylston Street store. The retail price is listed as $159.99 a pair.
As an official apparel partner for the Head of the Charles Regatta, the brand will also be selling specialty, limited edition HOCR 50th Anniversary gear during the regatta, which takes place this year on October 18 and 19, 2014. The items, which include a windbreaker and tee shirts, will also be available at The Tannery and New Balance on Boylston Street.
Images via New Balance
