Anyone have suggestions on how to train while dealing with intense wildlife smoke pollution? I’m in the Midwest and recently the air quality got really really bad, so I’ve been taking a break on outdoor activities. The bad air quality will continue for at least a week if not longer, so I do still want to train. What do people recommend? Just treadmill for the time being? Easy runs with a mask?
Californian here, so we deal with this too often. Trust me, stay indoors on the treadmill. Even with a mask you’ll be feeling it, and its not worth it.
Indeed - you only have one set of lungs, you lose more by getting them dirty than you lose by not enjoying the outside temporarily.
We were well over 200 AQI for two days here. As much as I wanted to train I value my lungs too much to mess around.
I ran 10k in it this morning, we’re in the yellow/“poor quality” zone right now. I hadn’t realized but found myself coughing a lot during it then put 2 and 2 together. sucks but I don’t have access to a treadmill.
I’m curious how much better inside air is. I’m guessing HVAC does a decent job via the filters but even days where particulates turn to ozone not much to be done about that except run in morning?
I’m also in the Midwest and have opted for the treadmill. Not ideal but neither are the conditions!
I would suggest wearing an N95 mask if you intend on going for a run outside, and make sure it fits snug too. A surgical mask or cloth mask may help a bit, but they are not as effective at filtering out particulates, especially the smaller particles less than 2.5uM in diameter which can enter your bloodstream! Stay safe, I am also in the Midwest and haven’t been able to go for a bike ride yet this week as the AQI here hasn’t dropped below 200
yeah last year when the aqi was insane in washington i opted to just treadmill. i generally not a big fan of the treadmill but preferred that over running in the smoke even with a mask.
