BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) — The extreme heat will be a challenge for runners at Friday night’s Subaru Buffalo 4 Mile Chase. The race kicks off at 7 p.m. in Bidwell Parkway on Elmwood avenue. Organizers are ready for this heat.
Keeping hydrated and avoiding any illness will be key for the runners participating in the race. They are encouraged to be drinking plenty of water before, during and after running.
Organizers have a plan in place for about 1,200 runners expected to participate. Everyone must go through this registration tent. They will be instructed...to stay hydrated.
Three water stops are set up along with spay stations for the four-mile run from Elmwood to forest to Delaware and back here to Bidwell parkway. In fact, race organizer Jim Nowick tells us they will have enough water on hand to quote "sink a battle ship".
We caught up with two runners who were picking up their packets earlier today. Ankit of buffalo and Jason from Snyder are experienced runners and say they will take advantage of the spraying stations.
7 Eyewitness News senior reporter Eileen Buckley asked them at what point does a runner would know they’re having trouble from the heat.
“It's a feeling really you just got to know how your body reacts in certain situations. You've got to know if you're over-excreting yourself. It's about familiarity. This shouldn't be your first hot run,” remarked Ankit.
“Exactly,” responded Jason. “You start to feel warm and overheated - like you can't cool down and that's probably where those cooling stations would be great.”
Volunteers will be watching all along the course keeping a close eye on the runners. There's a wide age range of runners expected - from 9-years-old to 80 and it will include international runners from Kenya, Ethiopia, Switzerlabd and Morocco.
Organizer Nowicki said the key is to hydrate take it easy and "don't go out and try to break a record.”
