There have been a few running challenges in the Salt Lake valley lately, and “Hats off” to all the participants. It is a fantastic way to encourage fitness training in the none swimsuit months, but beware of the hazards. Normal health hazards might be traffic problems or warming up well enough for the race. Where a sprained ankle or strained knee is obviously noticeable and makes life uncomfortable, but there is another that could be worse.
Everyone knows the air quality in Utah has been poor lately, and especially in the bowl of the Salt Lake valley, so much so that concerns have been issued about the quality of the air for breathing. When a person is running over any distance, they are breathing heavier and harder. The object of the body’s respiratory system is to nourish the body with the necessary extra oxygen. When the air is as smoggy as it has been the “parts per million” levels of pollution increase, it makes the air less than healthy to breathe. It is about as bad as if someone tried to run a 10k while puffing on a cigarette the entire way.
So, do your cardio and run your races with a healthy understanding of the air quality as you go.
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