FREEPORT

This year was a busy Independence Day for members of the Freeport Fire and Rescue Department, who responded to eight emergency medical service calls during the annual L.L. Bean-sponsored 10K road race.

All EMS calls during the race were heatrelated, said Freeport Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Paul Conley, who noted that mutual aid was used from Brunswick and Yarmouth to cover the calls. Five runners were treated on-site and three were transported to Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick and Maine Medical Center in Portland for further evaluation.

“The humidity snuck up on a lot of people,” said Conley. “It didn’t seem that it would be too hot and sunny, but it was overcast and humid,” which was sufficient despite temperatures in the low 70s.

The 10-kilometer, or 6.2- mile, road race draws a crowd of 1,600 participants annually, and all the proceeds go to benefit the Southern Maine Casco Bay branch of the YMCA. The run has raised more than $200,000 since 2001.

Stretching in a loop from Bow Street down South Freeport Road to South Freeport and back up Pine Street to Freeport, the 10K is a USA Track and Field certified course and was inducted into the Maine Running Hall of Fame in 2012.

“Runners should start hydrating 24 hours before the race,” said Conley. “Start drinking plenty of water, because you want to come in to the event well hydrated.”

Four water stations are located along the race course, as well as at the finish line.

“We saw a spike in a short period of time of runners that were overheated,” said Conley, “and we’ve had years where an ambulance was assigned to the detail and it wasn’t needed.

“There’s not strong predictable value to suggest there will be more this year or that year,” said Conley, noting that extra staff were on hand during the July 4 celebrations.

Jody McColman, of Portland, has run the 4th of July 10K road race for several years and said the dew point, more than temperature, can affect runners.

High humidity “can cost you a minute, or maybe more, off your pace,” said McColman. “You sweat, but you can’t cool yourself down,” under those conditions, he said.

“You have to listen to your body and if you’re overexerting, slow down — take time off your pace — and hit every water stop,” McColman said.

The 4th of July 10K occurs mid-summer while most marathons and half marathons are scheduled in the spring or fall, said McColman. Additionally, the route starts off downhill and the fast start can lure runners into pushing their pace despite external conditions, he said.

“The human mind is amazing. You can push your body past its limit,” said McColman. “It’s hard to recognize when you’re running, and people are running around you and passing you — you feel that adrenaline rush.

“The only way to avoid it is to be honest with yourself,” he said. “Slow down, stop if necessary, and try to accept that that day you may not be setting any personal records.”

This year, Chris Harmon, of Portland, came in first at 33:06 minutes. Michelle Lilienthal, of Portland, was the first female runner to cross the finish line at 35:16 minutes.

rgargiulo@timesrecord.com