My friend thinks when running into a headwind you get less oxygen.

Yes, true. This is only because a headwind has a slightly lower (but noticable) oxygen content than a tailwind does. If he's implying it has something to do with the internals of your body, then he's wrong.

It's the same principle as water - the surface tension is much greater upstream vs downstream. It's the primary reason it is so hard to swim against a river's current vs floating downstream.

Now, visualize a waterfall. This is an extreme example that combines both of the effects described above. That's why it is virtually impossible to swim up a waterfall, but you can literally ride in a barrel and exert no work going down it.

Yes it's truen but the top elites from Africa have overcome it.

They have a special metabolism that allows their farts to compensate for the oxygen loss.

Your friend is right.

Air is primarily nitrogen (about 80%), and then oxygen (about 20%) and then other stuff. Oxygen is heavier than nitrogen, so what happens is when the wind is blowing towards you, it blows more nitrogen than oxygen, because of the fact that the nitrogen has less momentum by virtue of being lighter, while the oxygen is more resistant to movement. As a result of this, you're running into an area that is overpopulated by nitrogen and underpopulated by oxygen, which can decrease performance.

The opposite happens when running downwind, as the wind blows the nitrogen away, leaving an oxygen-rich area available for the runner, which makes it easier to go fast.

Science Genius wrote:

Your friend is right.

Air is primarily nitrogen (about 80%), and then oxygen (about 20%) and then other stuff. Oxygen is heavier than nitrogen, so what happens is when the wind is blowing towards you, it blows more nitrogen than oxygen, because of the fact that the nitrogen has less momentum by virtue of being lighter, while the oxygen is more resistant to movement. As a result of this, you're running into an area that is overpopulated by nitrogen and underpopulated by oxygen, which can decrease performance.

The opposite happens when running downwind, as the wind blows the nitrogen away, leaving an oxygen-rich area available for the runner, which makes it easier to go fast.

I'm sorry, but other than being about right with the percentages of oxygen and nitrogen, the rest of that is complete BS.

There is a single truth evident in your friends statement, your friend is an idiot.

Science Genius wrote:

Your friend is right.

Air is primarily nitrogen (about 80%), and then oxygen (about 20%) and then other stuff. Oxygen is heavier than nitrogen, so what happens is when the wind is blowing towards you, it blows more nitrogen than oxygen, because of the fact that the nitrogen has less momentum by virtue of being lighter, while the oxygen is more resistant to movement. As a result of this, you're running into an area that is overpopulated by nitrogen and underpopulated by oxygen, which can decrease performance.

The opposite happens when running downwind, as the wind blows the nitrogen away, leaving an oxygen-rich area available for the runner, which makes it easier to go fast.

I laughed at this. Good one!

Flagpole wrote:

I'm sorry, but other than being about right with the percentages of oxygen and nitrogen, the rest of that is complete BS.

Good thing you're around, Flagpole, to help everybody understand when things are COMPLETELY ASININE AND RIDICULOUS SATIRE.

I'm hoping you realized this was the case and were just trying to "help a brother out," and that you didn't actually think somebody would propose, in seriousness, what I posted.

Also, thanks for ruining a good joke.

I hope the guy was kidding.

IllinoisMaster wrote:

Science Genius wrote:

Your friend is right.

Air is primarily nitrogen (about 80%), and then oxygen (about 20%) and then other stuff. Oxygen is heavier than nitrogen, so what happens is when the wind is blowing towards you, it blows more nitrogen than oxygen, because of the fact that the nitrogen has less momentum by virtue of being lighter, while the oxygen is more resistant to movement. As a result of this, you're running into an area that is overpopulated by nitrogen and underpopulated by oxygen, which can decrease performance.

The opposite happens when running downwind, as the wind blows the nitrogen away, leaving an oxygen-rich area available for the runner, which makes it easier to go fast.

I laughed at this. Good one!

Brother, people here say stupid things in earnest all the time, so yes, I could believe someone might think that. Not sure it was a "good joke", but you did fool me into thinking you really thought that.

Science Genius wrote:

Flagpole wrote:

I'm sorry, but other than being about right with the percentages of oxygen and nitrogen, the rest of that is complete BS.

Good thing you're around, Flagpole, to help everybody understand when things are COMPLETELY ASININE AND RIDICULOUS SATIRE.

I'm hoping you realized this was the case and were just trying to "help a brother out," and that you didn't actually think somebody would propose, in seriousness, what I posted.

Also, thanks for ruining a good joke.

Flagpole wrote:

Brother, people here say stupid things in earnest all the time, so yes, I could believe someone might think that. Not sure it was a "good joke", but you did fool me into thinking you really thought that.

No, it was a good one. It had just the right amount of "science" to fool the clueless.

I was going to agree w/ that poster and propose use of a snorkel to get the air from the other direction to increase the oxygen content, but alas, this amusing thread must die.

Flagpole wrote:

I'm sorry, but other than being about right with the percentages of oxygen and nitrogen, the rest of that is complete BS.

Flagpole, what is your degree in? Anything science? Doubtful. Leave the science talk for the big boys.

I think I remember something about Bowerman at one time instructing runners to restrict their exhaled air by tightening their lips and blowing out their cheeks. He was under the belief that this would increase the pressure in the lungs and help force more oxygen into the blood.

If this were true, then running into the wind could increase the pressure in the lungs in the same manner and if Bowerman's hunch is correct, could result in more oxygen being transferred into the blood.

You are all wrong. Running into a headwind is harder on breathing because the wind pushes the CO2 back into your lungs each time you try to exhale. Your body sends O2 to the blood stream when you exhale. The wind inhibits your ability to exhale and, as such, inhibits your ability to get the 02 into your blood stream. This is the primary reason cyclists, skiers, etc. drop their head down when going into the wind. They do not want to exhale into the wind.

I once swam up a waterfall. It was tough dodging all the barrels coming the other way, but I made it.

Precious Roy wrote:

You are all wrong. Running into a headwind is harder on breathing because the wind pushes the CO2 back into your lungs each time you try to exhale. Your body sends O2 to the blood stream when you exhale. The wind inhibits your ability to exhale and, as such, inhibits your ability to get the 02 into your blood stream. This is the primary reason cyclists, skiers, etc. drop their head down when going into the wind. They do not want to exhale into the wind.

Umm...you couldn't re-inhale the CO2 you exhaled while riding on a bike even if you tried...well, MAYBE if you tried, but you'd have to exhale and then take a very unnatural immediate breath to do it. Good Lord.

You get more oxygen running into a headwind because you are breathing air at a greater pressure tha with a tail wind.

But that's just a guess.

J.O. wrote:

You get more oxygen running into a headwind because you are breathing air at a greater pressure tha with a tail wind.

But that's just a guess.

This is the primary reason treadmill running is easier... because it doesn't f*ck up the oxygen content and air pressure.

Well if it's windy outside when you are running on your treadmill, the air pressure is bound to be changing, so you can't win.

No, you are all wrong. When you run into the wind, the lack of aerodynamics of our head creates an area of wind turbulance right in front of your face. Your face is basically flat, and the air bounces off your face when you run into the wind. Thus, the oxygen gets pushed away from your mouth. This is why birds have aerodynamic bills/beaks. They are able to breath easily when flying into the wind because the air does not bounce off their face.