2010 Search for Monongy 1.2 & 2.4-Mile Open Water Swim
Sunday, July 11, 2010 8:00 am
Allegheny River, North Side Riverfront Park, North Shore Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Sponsored by: Allegheny Mountain Masters (AMAM)
Sanctioned by Allegheny Mountain LMSC for USMS
Sanction #110-OW-001
Part of the USMS GLOWS Series
The start & finish line are in front of the Heinz Stadium under Fred Rodgers' monument and across the river from Point State Park. The course takes swimmers under two bridges and past the PNC Park field. See the course map
CATEGORIES: Non-Wetsuit, Wetsuit & White Knuckle
WHITE KNUCKLE The use of fins, snorkels, wetsuits, hand paddles, floaties, etc. will be permitted in this category. The meet director shall have the final say on aides permitted on the course. This is a non-competitive category and all participant finishers will receive completion awards.
River Lore
Legend Shas it that “Monongy”, the man-fish lives in the river. There are records that go as far back as the French and Indian War that describe encounters between British soldiers and strange aquatic creatures. The local Indian tribes referred to this creature as "Monongy". There was even a Monongy craze in the early 1930's through the late 1950's. Sightings occurred on a weekly basis and the police department created a task force whose sole purpose was to investigate sightings of the creature. No evidence was ever produced to lend credence to the claims until May 12, 2003 when a privately owned fishing vessel was the first to take photos of the creature. The photos were available on line for a short time until they were inexplicably taken down. Speculation persists that the government has procured the photographs and are covering up the existence of Monongy. Crypto zoologists from around the world still frequent the Monongahela every year to catch a glimpse of the elusive water beast.
REGISTRATION WILL BE ON CLUB ASSISTANT - DETAILS TO FOLLOW
GLOWS = Great Lakes Open Water Series, a new initiative of the Great Lakes Zone that seeks to include a swim in each Great Lakes LMSC. Series participants earn points and get swag at end of series, after Big Shoulders in Chicago in September. Some details remain to be finalized, but it looks as though there will be a nice mix of longer and shorter swims, lake and river swims. Participants do not have to swim all swims to acquire points.
I'm fetched by the "white knuckle" category.
:)
GLOWS = Great Lakes Open Water Series, a new initiative of the Great Lakes Zone that seeks to include a swim in each Great Lakes LMSC. Series participants earn points and get swag at end of series, after Big Shoulders in Chicago in September. Some details remain to be finalized, but it looks as though there will be a nice mix of longer and shorter swims, lake and river swims. Participants do not have to swim all swims to acquire points.
I'm fetched by the "white knuckle" category.
:)
White Knuckle is only planned for the Allegheny Mountain "Search for Monongy" swim . . . you'll have to plan a trip here to swim it!
To sweeten the pot for our swim:
Dave Matthews Band is playing @ PNC park on Saturday, July 10 . . .
I'm working with Jerome Bettis' Grille (Steelers #36) to put together a breakfast for our swimmers on Sunday, July 11 (during & after our swim event) . . .
I'm contacting nearby hotels for special discounts.
So - It could be an awesome weekend package!!!
Pittsburgh is also hosting World Environment Day The United Nations picks host cities every year and Pittsburgh is the North American host city this year. Their focus/emphasis is Water.
White Knuckle is only planned for the Allegheny Mountain "Search for Monongy" swim . . . you'll have to plan a trip here to swim it!
To sweeten the pot for our swim:
Dave Matthews Band is playing @ PNC park on Saturday, July 10 . . .
I'm working with Jerome Bettis' Grille (Steelers #36) to put together a breakfast for our swimmers on Sunday, July 11 (during & after our swim event) . . .
I'm contacting nearby hotels for special discounts.
So - It could be an awesome weekend package!!!
Pittsburgh is also hosting World Environment Day The United Nations picks host cities every year and Pittsburgh is the North American host city this year. Their focus/emphasis is Water.
dave matthews at the park but no Pittsburgh Pirates! - what a sacrilege?
looks like a fantastic destination swim... good swimmin'
Eh - we don't go to the games to actually watch the Pirates . . . we go to watch the other teams. The Pirates will be away @ Milwaukee.
Dave Matthews is playing at Heinz Field - not PNC park as I previously thought.
Room rates: the Pittsburgh Renaissance Hotel www.marriott.com/.../
is willing to offer me a block of rooms for the swim participants. The rate is $269. Anyone interested?
LPGA is also in Pittsburgh that weekend.
This sounds like a great event! I grew up in the Pittsburgh area, so maybe this could be a kind of homecoming... only thing is, I don't remember that river being especially clean (but that was in the days of "still mills" and that).*
*I must start practicing my "Pittsburghese."
Pittsburgh Water Quality:
Historically speaking, the steel mills and other heavy industries did significant damage to the rivers. Industry run-off killed river habitats, both in and along the river. The "odd" color and odoriferous smell of the river became legendary. Myths and legends of man-size, man-eating catfish (such as the Monongy) were created. The lore kept folks from using the river for anything other than boating. In fact, when I started talking about this project in December 2009, everyone scratched their head and asked me "Why would you want to swim in the river?". I reminded folks that they jet-ski, water ski, kayak, and canoe on the rivers - why not swim?
I have been following the bacteriological reports, talking with river monitoring groups (US Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA, Clean Water Action) about the quality of the river water. I've taken the reports, studies & findings to an independent water testing facility. B & R Pools assures me that there is nothing unusual or alarming about the reports with respect to water quality and swimming.
In addition to the actual water monitoring groups, the PA Fish & Boat Commission studies and monitors the fish and indigenous species of the rivers. They note an increase in the numbers and variety of species of fish and beaver have been spotted along the banks of the rivers. View biologist reports here: www.fish.state.pa.us/.../8x10_25allegh.htm
I'm certain that the river is safe and the event will be enjoyable!
Amanda: I'm still trying to find river current speed. Seems no one monitors that???!! I have a few ideas of folks to ask . . . as soon as I have an answer, I will post.
Pittsburghese (spoken like you have a mouth full of marbles):
Yinz will be swimming dahn-tahn, in front of Heinz filld where the Stillers play. (bring your terrible towels) Here we go Stillers! (We bleed black-n-gold.)
Please don't be ascared of the Allergayney Whitefish.
After warshin up from swimmin, we can go dahn-tahn to go get some beers n'at.
Popular Pittsburgh
Barbara Johnstone, Professor of Rhetoric and Linguistics in Carnegie Mellon University's Department of English
This looks like a really fun event! I used to dream of swimming in Pittsburgh's rivers many years ago.
I am going to try to make it -- take off Friday and Monday from work and visit my folks too.
What do you know about the water temperature in that time of year?
