urban runners and inhalation of gunk !

[ajwyld]

As I ran along today between the motorway and the river it occurred to me to wonder if I should be doing something to prevent myself from inhaling exhaust fumes. Nearly all my routes involve paralleling the motorway at some point - including those in the park, because that is where the park is... What do other folk do ? Or doesn't it matter ? (I breath in through my mouth, and the air certainly tasted gritty today...)

[ChrisL Graduate]

I certainly avoid peak traffic times now.

[misswobble Graduate]

So do I! It makes sense to do so, not just cos of the fumes, but trying to cross the darn road. Back to the trails now they have dried out a bit

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Being asthmatic traffic fumes can cause me problems especially in the summer on hot days as the fumes don't rise the same. Early morning runs I have found best, tea time is a no no. I also never leave the house without my inhaler and sometimes have to use it in the summer.

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

Me too Oldgirl...

[ju-ju- Graduate]

Not good is it... !!!

[Scarlett_K Graduate]

If you're concerned or if it's grim for you, you could get a pollution mask - they're widely available, usually marketed towards cyclists. You can get some cool designs too I would wear one if I was near a main road or motorway because I would end up miserable if I was constantly getting nasty fumes and smells in my face! Yuck!

Saying that I live in central-ish London, so I'm just getting more subtly polluted when I'm running in the park near me

[ajwyld Graduate]

Yeah, I was wondering about some sort of mask, though really I don't like running with something over my mouth ! Will have to have a think, and I don't think I'll be doing yesterday's route again. My dh's theory is that the trees and shrubs between the path and the motorway should be soaking up the worst of it. And like Scarlett_K I fear that everywhere in town is polluted anyway. (I live in Grenoble in the French alps, a 15 minute drive uphill lets you look down on the yellow pollution layer, at its worst in summer.)