Hood to Coast racers likely to face extreme heat, prompting safety recommendations

Oregon’s Hood to Coast relay race on Friday and Saturday might see the highest temperatures since the event’s inception in 1982.

That’s because western Oregon will be under an extreme heat watch during the entirety of the race, a drastic change from the rainy conditions racers faced last year .

Previously, the hottest year for Hood to Coast runners came in 2016, when temperatures officially reached 97 degrees. On Friday, the highs could crack 100 degrees just as runners are hitting Portland from the starting line at Timberline Lodge, on their way to Seaside.

The expected heat prompted race organizers to issue recommendations to runners on how to remain safe while sweating under the sun.

These include hydrating well before the race begins, drinking small amounts of water frequen