The Hammerhead Adventure Race comes to Boca Grande July 28 covering 3.5 miles of hard-core obstacles.
The Boca Grande Firefighters Association benefit lists such runner tests as a "hydrant hose down, an ice-cold mystery obstacle, tire field, wall of brick, long crawl, torture beach, sandbag drag and shark tunnel."
Lt. Peter Kirwin of Boca Grande said he expects to attract 500 participants to the benefit, which has a $55 entry fee. He said he's seen participants ages 8 to 80 take part in such tests of physical skill and will.
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"It's the first time we've ever put anything together this big," Kirwin told the Boca Grande Fire Department Board at its May 16 meeting.
Kirwin said he's taken on such obstacle courses before and the icy plunge into water tested him most.
"That's actually the worst one. I jumped in- most people just stepped in - and all my muscle contracted," he said wrapping his arms around his chest recalling his plunge into a 5-foot tank. "I had to tell myself to start swimming back up."
Fact Box
To Go
What: Hammerhead Adventure Race
When: 8 a.m. July 28
Where: 3.5 miles of Boca Grande obstacle course
Why: benefits Boca Grande Firefighters Association
Cost: $55 entry fee
Register: active.com
To Go
What: Boca Grande Fire Department Board meeting
When: 5 p.m. June 13
Where: BGFD, 360 E. Railroad Ave.
Why: fire control-related matters
Contact: 964-2908
The Boca Grande Firefighters Association was done no favors by the statewide firefighters association webmaster, who botched the date and location in its original mention. It's been corrected but it still may cause confusion, Kirwin said.
"Some people might head to Boca Raton," he said.
In other BGFD Board action:
Nancy Coleman said roughly 1,000 new hurricane tags have been issued. She reminds that the tags can only be renewed between 10 a.m. and noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.
"I was very pleased with the response to the hangtag renewals," said BGFD Chief C.W. Blosser. "It's going very well.
A sewer backup would have caused more first-floor damage had not Bill Held of the Lee County Sheriff's Office discovered it in time. Blosser said flushed hand towels clogged the toilet. The BGFD will consider installing hand dryers to avoid a recurrence.
Through March 9, the BGFD has responded to 226 calls, which matches the same number served in the 2011 timeframe.
