Today was rediculously hot...98 degrees or something. The Liberty Bank in Portland was reporting 101.

I absolutely hate the heat and humidity, so I did not looki forward to covering the Shorline Track & Field Championships at all!

When I arrived at East Hampton High School, I was greeted by East Hampton Athletic Director Sean Russell. Sean and I go back a few years and he is always extremely helpful.

He was quick to point out that he had red and black water coolers filled with ice water throughout the campus and I should feel free to fill my water bottle as often as I needed to.

That was good to know since I have a habit of dehydrating hard and fast. Unfortunately, it's a side effect to a medication I take to control my high blood pressure. A year ago or two, I was covering the Deep River Muster and found myself in ambulance heading to Shorline Middlesex. Three bags of saline later, I went back to the Press for deadline. Don't let me kid you though, I felt sick, really sick. My blood pressure dropped to 60/30.

I warned my wordsmith side kick, Jake Grossman, our upbeat, rugby playing intern from Keene State about my health issues and he said he keep an eye out for me.

I began the assignment shooting a few  running events and eventually made my way over to the girls shot put. After standing in the hot sun for some time, I felt faint. I decided to check in with the athletic trainer on site. She was awesome! She gave me a bag of ice for my neck, took my pulse and filled my water bottle several times and kept tabs on me while taking care of a few overheated athletes.

About twenty minutes later, Jake came by and was happy to see that I was o.k. We hung around for a bit and then he insisted on carrrying my gear back to the Jeep.

I am grateful to the athletic trainer from Valley Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine and Jake! With a little rest, I should be good as new.