As I left my home this afternoon at 2 PM, I noticed a 20-person or so, bunch of teenage boys, in shorts, running past my house. They were followed by other groups of boys, mostly running, but some walking, and they all looked hot to me.
I assumed they were students at Oak Park High School, as they were running in the direction of the school, and looked high-school-age. They did not have baseball caps on and I did not notice any of them carrying water. Why would I look for hat and water? Because the car thermometer read 96 degrees.
Ya know, I may be too tender-hearted, but I don’t think it was wise to have the boys run over two miles, at 2 PM in 96 degree weather, without a water source! If that were a normal activity for them, then no big deal, but ordinarily I do not see ANY teenage boys running down my street on a hot afternoon. So, it had to be an unusual activity for them, and I am wondering just how much further than two miles they had to run.
Heat strokes can happen, and I just hope all the kids made it to their destination OK.
Posted by Janna Orkney
eco-nerd // Sep 3, 2010 at 7:11 PM
I noticed both OP and Agoura High track teams running yesterday. What kind of an edge do they wish to obtain? Shame on the schools. We have too many tragic heat stories to contend with every year at this time.
Jeanne Cope // Sep 4, 2010 at 11:02 AM
While I see the need for afternoon school programs for the high-school student, running in the heat, without hats, and water is a risk. Maybe not so much a risk, as bad judgement. Perhaps, the focus should be on physical fitness, and weight loss for better health. Rather than risk the health of our youth, let’s make the foundation overall fitness. That way we can all be winners.