A group of runners are out following the flow of Lake Okeechobee discharges being released from the Port Mayaca Locks to the ocean.
Even in 90 degree morning heat, Addie Green, of Port St Lucie was out running. “Pretty miserable,” she said. “I’m dripping. It's hot. It's gonna get hotter.”
She’s running with a group in green to raise awareness about the toxic algae flowing into our waterways.
“It's affecting our kids, too,” said Addie. “I can't take my kids to the beach. It's everything. It affects everyone.”
They're running about 37 miles along the St Lucie Canal from Port Mayaca to Stuart Beach.
“People assume it's a far distance but the water travels fast and so we’re just trying to bring awareness,” said Will Glover, of Stuart, who organized the run.
He named it the Toxic Trail Run to send a message to lawmakers.
“I feel we need to close the locks for a length of time to give us some relief to recover,” said Will.
Every few miles they stop to rehydrate. The run is difficult.
“Hot sticky like you got out of a swimming pool,” said Will.
But these Treasure Coast runners are determined to be heard. They’re sick of the blue-green algae destroying their quality of life.
“I moved here to raise my kids in paradise,” said Michael Peragine, of Port St. Luie. “The smell and the look of it isn't paradise.”
The group will end the run at Stuart Beach on Hutchinson this afternoon.