Diamond Lake Triathlon, Run Eddie Run will go on as planned despite heat

Published 8:27 am Thursday, July 18, 2019

CASSOPOLIS — The weather forecast is anything but ideal for area triathletes and runners on Saturday as the fifth annual Run Eddie Run 5K and the Diamond Lake Triathlon are set to go on as scheduled according to organizers.

With temperatures expected to soar into the mid- to upper-90s, and heat indexes topping 100 degrees, participants should plan in advance to battle the heat and humidity.

Registration continues for both events.

The Diamond Lake Triathlon is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m., while Run Eddie Run will start 30 minutes later at 8 a.m. Due to the early start times, organizers feel that their participants should be safe from the extreme heat expected later in the day.

“I think we will be good,” said Diamond Lake Triathlon race director Joe Fazzini. “It is early enough.”

The sixth annual triathlon, which raises money for former triathlete Alex Stscherba, who was injured during a triathlon and is now a quadriplegic, has already set a new record for registered participants at 137 as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Fazzini.

Over the past five years, the event has donated $15,000 to Stscherban. Donations have provided Stscherban with a computer he can talk through by blinking his eyes and a new mechanized wheelchair.

Part of the increase in numbers may be due to the addition of a Southwestern Michigan TriClub Challenge.

Multiple teams have already signed up to compete for the prize of a traveling trophy. Scores will include the top three competitors from each team: two males and one female. The team with the lowest score will win the trophy.

Weather has played a factor in Run Eddie Run before. From heat and humidity to last year’s steady drizzle and cool temperatures, runners still come to help raise money for the Edwardsburg Public Schools Foundation.

The money is used to provide scholarships and classroom grants.

Online registration for the race ended Wednesday at midnight. Late registration will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at Leo Hoffman Field at the high school, and again Saturday starting at 7 a.m.

Efforts to contact Run Eddie Run organizers were unsuccessful.

Runners should start hydrating early, eat a cool breakfast, reduce their warm-up and drink early and often during the race.