How Runners are dealing with the air Pollution in China

Running in China is rapidly growing and the pollution can’t stop people’s enthusiasm. People are finding alternative ways to keep running. Pollution isn’t really a factor if you run on the treadmill in the gym if the Air Quality Index (AQI) is bad. Otherwise many people run in the morning on the streets, between 7 and 8am. Unfortunately the chronic air pollution is indeed an issue, and it often pushes people indoors or discourages them from exercising all together. This is particularly the case in northern China. “Personally, when I moved from Jilin to Beijing,” says Helen, “I was initially making fun of Americans, who instead of asking what the day’s temperature was, said “what’s the AQI today?” When the reply came, these people, who two seconds earlier had been totally fine, often got sick on the spot. However, it did not take long before I had to adjust my opinion and acknowledge the effect the dirty air has on one’s lung capacity.” The Beijing area was required to reduce pollution by 25 percent, and the city set aside an astounding $120 billion for that purpose.

posted Friday April 6th