UTICA – You’ve trained for months and now you’re ready to hear the sound of the gun to begin the 15K Boilermaker Road Race.

But some runners, especially those who are inexperienced, can spend more time in the medical tent and less time on the road if they are not careful.

If you never have to see the inside of the four medical tent walls during the race, you’re better off. Unfortunately, medical personnel do see quite a few people on race day, but there are easy things you can do right now to keep yourself out of the medical tent.

For most of the 15K runners, stepping over the finish line will be little to now swear, but for others, it could be much more difficult.

“The most prevalent thing we see is heat exhaustion,” said Dan Broedel, medical coordinator. “Folks just don't hydrate themselves well enough to prepare for the race and by the time they've sweat 2 liters of fluid its too late…they're dehydrated.”

Broedel said that dehydration can be a very serious problem.

“You don't realize how much you sweat,” he said.

A problem easily avoided if you start drinking a lot of fluids starting the night before.

“At the start line tomorrow just before the cannon fires another bottle of water stop at every station, take a water, drink one and wear one its that good advice that will keep you cool keep you hydrated.”

During the race, Broedel said runners should be paying close attention to their body’s signal that there’s trouble.

“When you start to feel confused and when your legs feel wobbly slow down or stop for a minute to rest, take a water and finish the race and then you won't see us down here,” Broedel said.

Now, Broedel stresses that before you drink one of Saranac’s finest brews at the post-race party, down a bottle of water.

You’ll be in much better spirits to party with thousands of your closest friends.