Rush on Festa to run as scheduled Thursday night

Runners should plan to take the start line as scheduled for the annual Wheels and Heels Rush on Festa tonight on the Milwaukee lakefront.

Organizers plan to have an extra water stop and plenty of fresh fruit on hand for their part of the summer 5K festival season.

Dave Spano, chairman of Festa Italiana, said about 500 participants were signed up for the run and they have been alerted to hydrate well before the start, to moderate their pace and stop if they feel ill. The run is sponsored by the Spinal Cord Injury Association, a group particularly attuned to the potential dangers of high temperatures.

Based on the latest forecast, the conditions for the run along the Henry Maier Festival Park should be less intense than earlier in the week. The heat index has dropped below 100 and the humidity should be dropping throughout the day.