Running in Smoky Colorado

I'm in Boulder, and the haze has let up some since this morning. If you're close to Ft. Collins, I'd say wait a day, but if you're in Denver or its suburbs, start it and see how it feels.

I was thinking of riding my bike this morning, but opted out from the smokey smell and the haze. Gotta feel bad for those who are losing their homes and those not knowing what has happened yet, not to mention the person or two who have/will die.

Thanks, agree on the real tragedy for others.

I am in FC, and will likely jog (if not bike), but thought running hard might be a bad idea. Seems like testing it for 5-10 minutes could lead to regretting it for a week or so.

I was in the smoke today, near Loveland. I would venture to say that the air is not runworthy. Athletic types are risking more than Average Joe ... Joe doesn't process as much air as someone who is out running or cycling, but feel free to act as a human air filter for me.

Go for a drive into the foothills, and you should be fine.

It smelled like a campfire at my house this morning ... the same at work as well.

Our thought & prayers go to everyone in Colorado and all can stay safe. I grew up in Southern California, so I remember how scarey and how bad the air and conditions can be.

WE had intended to come out to ride in the double Triple Bypass (Evergreen to Avon & Avon to Evergree) again this year, as planned. And liked to stay areound Frisco/ Copper area. We've tried to get info from the organizers, but not one can predict two weeks from now. But I would be very interested in the opinions of other athletes, who live and ride/run in the area.

Not having been able to make our flights yet, and with all the devestating scenes of fire and smoke, I wonder if it is best to wait and just come back out later and try to do Copper Triangle when things settle down in early August.

Thanks for the in insights into the smoke conditions.

Yes, stupid.

I'm in Golden-it's not that bad from a smoke perspective-I was in Loveland/Fort Collins last weekend, and it too was a lot better than it had been the week before. Smoke seems to be worst in the AM-as the day proceeds the wind picks up and moves it out. Triple Bypass should be fine. Wind blows to the east, northeast generally, so unless another fire starts further west, you should be OK. Dry lightning as I type, though, so cross fingers, legs, and eyes.

I run 30-40 mpw, and the smoke has not slowed me as much as the 105 temps. It does get to the mid 60s at 5:30 AM though.

My daughter is in FC. Says it smells smokey. If you can smell it then microscopic particles can lodge in your lungs and take years to get out...if ever. Just wait.

It is definitely best to avoid smokey areas if you can. There is surprisingly a decent amount of research on air pollution's effects on athletic performance.

The combination of particulate matter and various toxic gases is especially dangerous to athletes because of the higher ventilation rates. So, a sedentary person breathing in smokey air will get a much lower dose of particulate matter than an athlete.

There is actually not much done on wood smoke - most of the research is done using exhaust from fossil fuel combustion engines. The few that are out there don't use exercise protocols equivalent to the intensity of running an 8x800m interval workout, so it is tough to say.

The ultrafine particulate matter is the most dangerous particulate component, as it gets deposited deeper within the lungs, and I would imagine that much of the particulate matter in the Colorado fires has agglomerated to form much larger particles by the time you are breathing it in.

There is some evidence that we can adapt to particulate matter exposure, but that is limited. So as far as this workout making you "tougher" it is a possibility, but it is also very possible that it will have a lot of negative effects, as particulate matter exposure has been demonstrated to do (impaired blood vessel function, decreased heart rate variability, increased pulmonary inflammation).

My advice is stay out of it as best as possible for now - do a treadmill workout or something. Going to a windy place with lots of airflow may help, as particle concentration may be lower there.

I should correct that one statement - a sedentary person will get a lower dose than an athlete, while that athlete is performing aerobic exercise...

Dr.S wrote:

The combination of particulate matter and various toxic gases is especially dangerous to athletes because of the higher ventilation rates. So, a sedentary person breathing in smokey air will get a much lower dose of particulate matter than an athlete.

Dr.S wrote:

The combination of particulate matter and various toxic gases is especially dangerous to athletes because of the higher ventilation rates. So, a sedentary person breathing in smokey air will get a much lower dose of particulate matter than an athlete.

[/quote]

My son is scheduled to run a meet in the front range (Longmont) on Saturday. I am thinking seriously about holding him out as this is right next to Boulder. These fires in Colorado are devastating. I also have a friend running the Hard Rock 100 (Silverton) July 13th. I know he is worried about it getting cancelled.

Thanks Leadville Native for the information. I did make plans and we're headed out for the Triple Bypass. Found a great site for the air quality, and monitored that along with some into from the fires, esp on that Treasure fire last week too. Great to hear your running hasn't had to slow down due to smoke, though those temps are enough to make me run fast............into the SHADE!!! Happy trails!

The site was

http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/ap/

From my california experience and health agency warnings over many years of fires here , its the ash in the air that is most dangerous for your lungs. You develop short and long term issues.Get indoors to train until the ash fallout clears.

Its stupid to run. Take a forced break of some treadmill running.

dang, I went running yesterday AND today in SE Portland where it was really smoky. I could smell the smoke. Did I do long term damage?