BikeWalkLee: Hot, hot, hot!

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, August 11, 2022
by Ken Gooderham

Heat has been hogging the headlines this summer.
Not here, of course… high temps in Southwest Florida is old news at best. However, other places around the globe have been breaking records – often in places not built for the heat.

Europe and the UK sweltered in record-setting temperatures. The U.S. Northwest and Northeast simmered in triple-digit degrees. Even Texas (no stranger to searings) saw the thermometer reach new heights.

Why should you care? Because the heat over there will have an impact over here.

First, if the overall temperature of the planet is creeping upward, we’ll eventually see the effects here as well. It might be hotter days, but it more likely going to be felt in other ways… such as longer high-temp seasons, stronger storms (both daily and the far-less-welcome tropical variety), more flooding (both storm-driven and sunny-day inundation) and, in general, more weird weather (not good news for an area that already gets more than its fair share).

On a more personal level, if things get warmer or wetter longer, those of us who like to get outside to ride, run or walk will face more challenges to our daily routine.

When the temperature barely gets below 80°, there’s no “cool part of the day” to opt for… and acclimatization simply can’t cope with heat and humidity that won’t let your body cool from even the slightest exertion.

And if the thunderstorms start early and stay late, being outside gets even more dangerous here in Lightning Central. (That’s not even considering the dangers inherent in rain-slicked roadways and reduced-visibility deluges.)

This goes double for folks whose jobs put them on the hot seat (literally). Working outside – or working inside at a job built around hot spots such as kitchens and attics – becomes even more dangerous as the degrees mount. It’s hard enough now to find and keep workers without also putting their lives at risk due to hotter workplaces.

Even the athletes of summer face challenges as temperatures climb. The stress of heat saps energy and muddles thinking… and can prove damaging and even deadly for the fittest of folks. When the people who ride the Tour de France or run ultra-marathons get hammered by the heat, how can we mere mortals motor through it?

Look up “heat-related illnesses” if you want graphic examples. In particular, look up “heat cramps, “heat exhaustion” and “heat stroke” if you plan to undertake even the mildest exertion during the heat of the day… which, if these trends continue, will just be called “the day” since it will be hot from pre-dawn to post-dusk.

It behooves us all to learn and watch for the signs of heat exhaustion and stroke, and to take the preventive measures of hydration and avoidance seriously.

The symptoms to watch for are:

• Heat exhaustion: Headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, heavy sweating, elevated body temperature and decreased urine output.
• Heat stroke: Confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech; loss of consciousness; hot, dry skin or profuse sweating; seizures and very high body temperature.

It’s also important to remember that not everyone has an air-conditioned option to beat the heat. (That’s why places not built for the kind of summers we routinely have feel the heat so severely.) You’re at greater risk from the heat if you can’t get away from it – especially if you’re older or dealing with medical issues that make coping with heat more difficult.

But we’re all at risk to some degree. All it takes is a good power outage – say, the kind that comes from a hurricane blowing in – to turn an uncomfortable situation downright dangerous when there’s no A/C to cool things down or even a fan to move the hot air around.

So know the signs, be prepared and do what you can to keep the heat at bay. Because the problem, unfortunately, is only going to get worse.

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EVENTS

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

• Tunnel to Towers 5K, Saturday, Sept. 10, FSW campus, Fort Myers.
• Downtown Dash 1 Mile Run, Friday, Sept. 16, downtown Fort Myers.
• Fort Myers Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
• Cape Coral Fire Department Fueled by Fire 5K, Saturday, Oct. 15, Tarpon Point, Cape Coral.
• 10K F.I.S.H. race, Saturday, Oct. 22, Sanibel Island.
  

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

• Friends of Foster Children Forever Labor Day 5K, Monday, Sept. 6, Lowdermilk Park, Naples.
• Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 22, Naples to Sanibel and back.
• Olde Naples 10K, Sunday, Nov. 13, Rodgers Park, Naples
  

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

• Naples Distance Classic Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
• Naples Rocktoberfest 5K and 10K, Saturday, Oct. 22, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.
  

CYCLING 

The Caloosa Riders are offering member rides, but some are open to non-members (and it wouldn’t hurt you to join the club); check their ride calendar (caloosariders.org) for a description of the distance and speed, and to see if the ride is open to all.

SW Florida Critical Mass is offering their usual slate of family-friendly rides. Check out their line-up online (www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/) for details and times (and to make sure the ride is still rolling).

• SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers. 
• Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
• NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
• Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
• Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.
  

TRIATHLONS

• Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Aug. 21, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
• Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Sept. 18, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
• City Island Tri, Sunday, Oct. 9, Sarasota (https://run941.com/ or runsignup.com)
  

 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RIDE

Have a favorite route you like to bike, or a unique walk you’d like to share with others? Tell us about it at info@bikewalklee.org, and maybe we can feature it in an upcoming column.

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Ken Gooderham writes this on behalf of BikeWalkLee, a community coalition raising public awareness and advocating for complete streets in Lee County — streets that are designed, built, operated and maintained for safe and convenient travel for all users: pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Information, statistics and background online at bikewalklee.blogspot.com.