So I went running the past few days, amidst all of the wildfires and smoke filled air here in California, and let me tell you, it has not been easy. I know there are air advisories and warnings to stay indoors, but earlier this week I was down in Florida and could not find any time to run. Indoors was also not an option when I got back, and I just had to get my mileage in.
So as I said, it was not easy. I noticed a few things that were significantly different from "normal" runs on clean air days. First, my breathing rate, was insane. Keeping the same easy run pace on Thursday I felt like I was running to a 5K almost all out. The air also burned a little, leaving my mouth and throat very dry. Finally, my eyes, even with sunglasses on, felt dry and scratchy. Half a bottle of visine when I got home hardly helped at all.
Friday's run was a little better...I was able to mix in some speed work. Still, the air was very stagnant and breathing was difficult.
As I ran my cool down miles I began to think about all this smoke. I then really began to think about all of the issues surrounding the bad air in Beijing and this summer's Olympic games. Beijing (and many parts of China) are pollution cesspools. It is clearly documented that the Chinese have had no regard for the environment for decades and have long been a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Funny how the U.S. is blamed for all of the problems though. A "nice" day in Beijing is like a smoke filled California wildfire day. Maybe you can see the sun...if you do it is a faint orange color, not the bright yellow light we all know. If you can't see the sun...you think its overcast, but in Beijing it just means more pollution. You know its bad in China when you see hundreds of thousands walking around with pollution masks on.
So I asked myself again, "How are the world's elite athletes and marathon runners going to perform this summer?" Some won't. Ethiopian elite runner, Haile Gebrselassie has already dropped out of the 26.2 and is sticking to the 10,000 meter. Britain's Paula Radcliffe has hired a "pollution expert" to help deal with this issue. American medal hopeful Deena Kastor is primed for an excellent race, but who knows how the pollution will affect her. At least she does most of her training at 7,000 feet!!! I am going to e-mail her and advise her to start smoking two packs a day from now until the race! I am sure it would help. I have even heard stories of runners in Beijing coughing up soot after a run. JUST DISGUSTING!!!
So why Beijing? Why China? Pollution, human rights violations, clear cases of espionage, violation of women's rights? Lead paint! Did you know if you are a foreign traveler in China, it is very likely security will come into your hotel room (while you are out of course) and sift through all of your belongings, and in many cases, they will image your hard drive (if you have a laptop or computer)??? Did you know that still today, many female babies in China are left in back alleys, dropped off at orphanages, or even left out in the countryside to die! This lies in the one child policy and the cultural significance of having a male child. Let me ask you...what will happen in 25 years when the Chinese population is mostly male???
So I ask again, why Beijing? There are so many other, more deserving countries than China that can hold these games. We already know the IOC is corrupt, but they must have been smoking some serious crack when they made this decision. You watch....China will do its best to mask the problems and act like nothing is wrong. Hell, I bet they will even pay NBC to filter out the smog in the Hi Def broadcast in order to make it look like clear blue skies! It will be interesting my friends...and the sad thing is, the world will go along with it. Why? Because China is the reason why we pay $100 for our Nike's and not $250. We care more about that, than the fact that they are now the real Super Power, and they are driving the price of gas up...not OPEC.
Well, all I can do is keep on running...only if the air clears up!
