Sports
Storms, Heat in Race Day Forecast
Runners and walkers participating in Royal Oak's Oak Apple Run should take precautions to ensure a safe race.
With showers, thunderstorms and temps in the 80s in the forecast for Saturday's Oak Apple Run in downtown Royal Oak, runners and walkers should be prepared for wet racing.
"The race is run rain or shine," said Kim Frentz, the event director.
Tips for a wet race
Rain and heat can pose special problems for runners, according to Michelle Miller, owner of Enspire Fitness. Miller runs clinics for beginning runners and offers these tips for running in the rain:- Wear a cap to keep water out of your eyes.
- Wear a moisture wicking shirt and socks. "Your shirt needs to wick away water. If you wear a cotton shirt, it's going to collect the rain and get heavy," Miller said. Wicking socks will prevent blisters.
- Use Vaseline to prevent your thighs or other parts of your body from chafing on a hot rainy day.
- Good shoes with new treads are important on wet pavement. "You should always wear good shoes when you run," Miller said.
"If it's not raining, grab two cups at the water stops—one to drink and one to pour over your head," Miller said.
Be safe
A team from Henry Ford Health system will be in place along the course to help runners in need of medical attention."We have nine teams that will be located throughout the race from start to finish," said Maria Anna Tocco, a nursing supervisor at Henry Ford Health System. "We'll have shirts on that say Henry Ford Medical team and there will also be a team from the Hazel Park Amateur Radio Club on the course that will be able to communicate with us if someone goes down."
Should a runner become dizzy or experience shortness of breath or chest pains, he or she should stop and seek help, Tocco said.
"Know your limits," Tocco said. "There will be many races to come, so be safe."
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