At present most areas of Taipei have PM2.5 readings of >125 and I’m worried about running.
At which PM2.5 level is it safe to do medium or long distance running?
Andy
[quote=“andyj”]At present most areas of Taipei have PM2.5 readings of >125 and I’m worried about running.
At which PM2.5 level is it safe to do medium or long distance running?
Andy[/quote]
thebeijinger.com/blog/2015/0 … luted-days
This article might be helpful.
“A lot of people will think, ‘Oh, the AQI is only 100 so I can go for a jog. What many of them don’t know is that jogging when the AQI is 100 is the same as walking when the AQI is 250. If you wouldn’t walk without a mask on such heavily polluted day, then don’t go running when it’s lightly polluted out.”
Here’s another post I found on the internet:
globaltimes.cn/content/745744.shtml
“Deciding whether running is too dangerous or not is tough, because there is very little concrete information or clear advice available. Running feels great, and the long term risk is tough to quantify.”
Thanks for the info.
I did decide to run last night, in PM2.5 levels of around 125.
I ran out of steam much earlier than I normally do. It was as though I was doing the same run I always do, except with a backpack full of bricks.
Are things any better if you head indoors? Of course running on a treadmill could never replace the real thing, but it seems preferable to having some respiratory problems down the road. I do a mixture of sports and maybe when the PM2.5 levels get really high, it would be smart to do my workouts indoors.
Imo the health benefits of jogging far outweigh the health side effects of Taiwan’s polluted air. If you are really concerned about the dirty air then lower your exposure at other times and keep your apt dust free with an air filter running.
I discussed this with a runner a couple of days ago. I was very surprised to hear that he doesn’t head out for a run if the air pollution level is at least in the moderate range (over 50). I told him that my threshold is when things get into the orange range (over 100 and I skip my run). I seem to be able to see the pollution when the air quality index is over 100, but not under. How about the other runners here? At what point do you forgo your run?
I used to go for a run as long as the index was < 100. I noticed that I get way more tired though, once the index is > 70. So that is my new cut-off.
Edit: The other day I forgot to check the levels and almost ran out of steam halfway through my usual program. I checked later and the index was 110.
I’m just worried about running and breathing deeper and harder and faster and more of the particles going deeper into my lungs and remaining.
I haven’t noticed any difference in performance. But I haven’t run when the index is over 100, so I have no idea how that would affect my times and how I feel. 70 is probably a good cut-off though it seems the number of running days would be greatly limited, especially in the winter.
Yes, correct. I try to do more indoor swimming during winter.
That worries me, too. But I have to get out there and run and occasionally also cycle. And I can’t always wait for the perfect conditions (though I do have my limits, as I mentioned above).
Well, I definitely do that too. And the steam rooms are so awesome when it’s cold outside.
I have a few times had my mind set on running, checked the index, and then changed my plans to swimming. It’s mentally tiring since you have to psyche yourself up all again for the different sport!