History of Smoots

During my training walks I like to impart little bits of Boston trivia I've picked up along the way. Last year one of my walkers told me the history of "Smoots" as we crossed over the Mass Ave bridge. I usually only remember the highlights of the story and share it each time we walk over the bridge during our 18 mile walk. It's a fun bit of Boston lore, and now that I know we're crossing the Charles River at some point during the 3Day I wanted to look up the info so I would be ready to share it with whomever is around me on July 26th! Here's a picture of Smoot being measured for the first time!


Here's the official story I found online:

Oliver Smoot, MIT class of 1962, is retiring from his chairmanship of the American National Standards Institute. He lent his name, and not coincidentally also his height, to a unit of measurement which is now part of history.


As almost every MIT student knows, a smoot is a unit of length equal to five feet seven inches. Most students also know that the length of the Mass. Ave. bridge between MIT and Boston is precisely 364.4 smoots and one ear. (aimee addition - on the actual bridge it says 364.4 + 1 ear)


A fact that's not as widely known however, is what Smoot himself did after graduating from MIT. After receiving a law degree from Georgetown he went on to set high standards, quite literally as President of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). He has also been included in Google Calculator. If you enter "10 feet in smoots" into Google, the calculator will tell you that 10 feet equals 1.79104478 smoots. Google also uses the Smoot as an optional unit of measure in Google Earth.


Why smoots?This unique unit of measurement was developed in October 1958, Smoot's freshman year, and is one of the more famous MIT hacks. It came about as a way to measure the length of the Mass. Ave. bridge, and gauge the distance between the Boston fraternities and main MIT campus on cold days. The pledgemaster for Smoot's fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha, used Smoot as a measure because he was the shortest, and because the name sounded "scientific," like "meter" or "watt." They laid him down, end over end, and painted the markings that still bear his name. The name and legend have endured renovations to the bridge, 47 years of Lambda Chi Alpha Pledges, who repaint the markings every year, and two additional Smoots (son Stephen '90 and daughter Sherry '99). Alas, Stephen was too tall to follow in his father's footsteps, and the smoots almost became history.


Smoot himself is not yet history, however, despite any rumors. In an interview with the Washington Post, Smoot recalled the the first time he went to an MIT gathering of undergraduates. "I introduced myself to this young man, and he said, 'Oh, I thought you were dead.' "

The Route!

Some general info about the 3Day route was posted...

Looks like we're walking through downtown Boston! In fact, it looks like the route on Sunday will be VERY similiar to the routes I mapped out for my training walks! I love feeling at home on day 3!

Here's what they've told us:


"The Boston Breast Cancer 3-Day will begin with an emotional Opening Ceremony at Farm Pond in Framingham where we'll gather together to pay tribute to the many women and men who have lost their battle with breast cancer, and honor the survivors. We'll remember the reason we're walking as we make our way through several towns filled with interesting architecture, as well as many small shops and restaurants. We will enjoy a stroll through Waltham, the city known as “Watch City” due to the Waltham Watch Factory established here in 1854, before heading to camp for the night.

On Saturday morning, we'll rise and shine, ready to hit the trail. This second day of walking will feature many spots that are both beautiful and historic, including Arlington and Lexington. The route will travel along Mystic Lake and then Woburn Parkway, a walking path surrounded by a lake on both sides, before heading to lunch. We'll pass the Minuteman Statue, the Old Bury Ground and the Lexington Battle Ground before walking back to camp for another night of community, camaraderie and fun.


The final day of our journey will wind towards Cambridge. We'll walk through the neighborhoods of Brattle Street and the town center, then along the border of Harvard. From here, we'll head to MIT before crossing the Charles River. Once in the center of Boston, enjoy a stroll through the Public Gardens and the Financial District. Then it's on to “Southie,” located south of the Fort Point Channel and abutting Dorchester Bay. We'll walk along the bay as we make our way to our final destination, the University of Massachusetts, for a celebratory Closing Ceremony. "

Easy Peasy

Today was one of those great walks! The weather was perfect (high 70's, sunny, little breeze), the crowd was fun, and the walk felt easy. Well, as easy as walking 18 miles can feel! Today wasn't the biggest group yet: 17 walkers in total, and we all stayed together for the first 10 miles. So, like the mother hen I am, everytime we stopped to go to the bathroom or stop at a convenience store I was busy counting to 17 before starting to walk again....don't want to leave anyone behind! Got to meet some fun new walkers and reconnect with some folks I've met over the last few months. Not to mention I wore my new sneakers and they held up beautifully during all 18 miles. I feel ready to go! Now it's time to start thinking about packing! :-)

Only 2 weeks and it's the official 3Day!!!!

Closing Ceremony and BBQ

Have you been dying to see my new place? Well here's your chance! Come to the 3Day Closing Ceremony and I'll be hosting a BBQ for my private cheering section afterwards!! Hope you'll be able to come watch the Closing Ceremonies ~ truly a memorable experience according to past spectators!


Closing Details:

Sunday, July 26th 5:00 pm
*Plan to arrive about 3:30 pm to get parking, find a spot close to the stage to watch the ceremony and cheer on walkers as we finish the 60 mile journey! Don't forget to bring a folding chair for added comfort!

University of Massachusetts
100 William T Morrissey Blvd, Dorchester, MA 02125

Spectator Parking Directions:
University of Massachusetts is located off of 1-93. Off-site parking will be available, at no charge, at Boston College High School and Sovereign Bank, all located within walking distance to University of Massachusetts. Gear pick-up will also be located at Sovereign Bank. Please note that parking at Sovereign Bank and Boston College High School will be the closest parking lots to Gear Drop.

Map of Parking Sites and Closing Ceremony location

Driving Directions:


From the South - Take Interstate 93 North (Southeast Expressway) to Exit 14, Morrissey Blvd. /JFK Library/UMASS. Continue straight off the exit ramp onto Morrissey Blvd for one mile. Turn right into Boston College High School to access both parking lots at Boston College High School and Sovereign Bank. Follow event signage to the Closing Ceremony at University of Massachusetts.


From the North - Take Interstate 93 South (Southeast Expressway) to Exit 15, Columbia Road/JFK Library/UMASS. Turn left at the end of the exit ramp and proceed towards the rotary. Turn right the first opportunity out of the rotary and remain in the right lane descending the ramp onto Morrissey Blvd. Stay to the right of the curb at the bottom of the ramp and in the left lane. The first traffic light is in front of The Boston Globe plant. At the second traffic light, make a u-turn on Morrissey Boulevard. Turn right into Boston College High School to access both parking lots at Boston College High School and Sovereign Bank. Follow event signage to the Closing Ceremony at University of Massachusetts.



From the West - Take Interstate 90 (Massachusetts Turnpike) to Interstate 93 South (Southeast Expressway) to Exit 15, Columbia Road/JFK Library/UMASS. Turn left at the end of the exit ramp and proceed towards the rotary. Turn right the first opportunity out of the rotary and remain in the right lane descending the ramp onto Morrissey Blvd. Stay to the right of the curb at the bottom of the ramp and in the left lane. The first traffic light is in front of The Boston Globe plant. At the second traffic light, make a u-turn on Morrissey Boulevard. Turn right into Boston College High School to access both parking lots at Boston College High School and Sovereign Bank. Follow event signage to the Closing Ceremony at University of Massachusetts.

Cheering Stations!

The locations have been announced! If you're around Friday July 24th - Sunday July 26th, I'd love to see you along the 60 mile route. :-)

According to the 3Day site, here's what a Cheering Station is:"Cheering Stations are a great way to show your support along the route to encourage walkers and let them know that you are with them every step of the way. Seeing familiar faces cheering them on can provide that extra burst of energy that gets them to take that next step or go the next mile. Create banners, hold up signs, bring some music and make some noise - anything to make them smile, get energized and keep walking. "

My tips - bring a chair and/or cooler for comfy cheering! Also, give me a call the day you're coming and I'll give you a time range of when I should arrive at each Cheering Station...it will definitely NOT be early as I'm a slow walker! ;-)

Friday, July 24:

9:00 am - 11:30 am Hunnewell Playground, park at Stars Market, 448 Washington St Wellesley

11:15 am - 3:00 pm Learning Prep School, 1507 Washington Street Newton

Saturday, July 25:

10:15 am - 3:30 pm YMCA - North Suburban Family Branch, ‎175 Lexington Street Woburn

11:30 am - 5:45 pm Friendly’s Restaurant 1111 Waltham Street Lexington

Sunday, July 26:

8:15 am - 11:15 am Cambridge City Hall 795 Massachusetts Ave Cambridge

You've Got Mail

LOL

Here I am asking for letters on a blog I've barely updated this year and I don't think anyone reads! Oh well, it's part of my routine to post the address here, so I might as well. Not to mention I love, love, LOVE reading your cards while I'm on the 3Day!

So, if you want to drop me a note you have 2 weeks to get it in the mail:

Breast Cancer 3-Day Camp Post Office

ATTN: Aimee Floyd

P.O. Box 8534

Warwick, RI 02888

Deadline: July 14th