Training for the Elements in Beijing - Should Triathletes get out in the SMOG?
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defro781 posted 19 weeks ago.
Look at this article from today!
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/the-big-question-is-polluti...
Brian
Writer - The Endurance News Network - http://www.endurancenews.net
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ChunkyB posted 19 weeks ago.
I saw one of those special features the other day on ESPN, and it was all about pollution. On one hand, you had the Chinese government saying that the pollution had decreased every year for the last 8 years (based on the worst metrics you've ever seen) and on the other hand you had this expert who had been living in Beijing over that period and actually recording the pollution levels from all their stations and stuff.
Basically, he said that the pollution has actually gotten much worse over the last 8 years. The government had taken many of the recording stations from the most polluted areas and moved them out to the boondocks to make it seem like there had been less pollution. And, even with that blatant dishonestly, they still had to totally lie because even then the numbers were getting worse.
They have this system to classify days as green, yellow, or red, based on the pollution. Their whole claim that pollution has decreased is based on the fact that the government has declared more and more green days every year. But, they've basically been raising the threshold of the green days so that they could get more. And even with the raised pollution threshold for a green day, this dude still had tons of days on record where the level was way above the threshold, and the government still declared it green.
Honestly, I got angry just watching this. It also made me feel bad for the Chinese people as a whole. I know their quality of life is better than the majority of the world, but it's like the whole country is being lied to, and of course this isn't the only time the government has lied to them.
Okay, sorry for the tirade. I just thought that show was interesting. Not as interesting as "the man whose arms exploded", but interesting nonetheless.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
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miner06 posted 19 weeks ago.
That is a tough decision for the athletes. Risk competing in the pollution or miss out on the biggest sporting event in the world. Even with the horrible air, I couldn't pass up the chance to compete in the Olympics. I'd stay indoors more than I would like, but not skip the games.
On a side note. I live in Reno NV, and we have had some bad air quality days from the Northern California fires. Having the smoke and particles in the air, do make for uncomfortable training outside. Definitely leaves a taste in your mouth.
"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible."
- Arthur C. Clarke
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ChunkyB posted 19 weeks ago.
tri-ac wrote:
it's not like we're all daisies and butterflies over here!
Well, it kind of is though. LA is bad sometimes, but it doesn't even come close to Beijing. An average pollution day for Beijing is worse than the worst day in LA, which happens to be the worst polluted city in the US.
Maybe you've been there, and maybe you haven't, but I've read that the visibility in Beijing isn't more than 1/4 mile very often. That blows my mind. I don't think I could even imagine it without actually going there, but it's certainly a lot worse than anything we have in the US.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
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kylie posted 19 weeks ago.
I live in LA, and even I was surprised at the air in Beijing.
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miner06 posted 19 weeks ago.
I don't think that you could even compare Denver to Beijing. Occasionally there is a brown haze over Denver, but it never limits visability and only lasts for a day or two.
"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible."
- Arthur C. Clarke
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theShiba posted 19 weeks ago.
kylie wrote:
I live in LA, and even I was surprised at the air in Beijing.
Have you been here since you were a kid? I remember days in elementary school when we had to cancel recess because of air quality. Southern California may not have the lowest pollution in the world, but we HAVE made improvements.
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kylie posted 19 weeks ago.
Yeah I moved here after those days -- I grew up in wine country in Sonoma (different air that is sure!!). I have friends who spoke of it though.
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defro781 posted 19 weeks ago.
Another article:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13908_3-9985221-59.html?hhTest=1&part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
Brian
Writer - The Endurance News Network - http://www.endurancenews.net
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toni posted 19 weeks ago.
Just curious... I assume you are going to Beijing for the Olympics. Are you going there as a journalist, spectator or athlete?
-Toni
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. - FDR
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qb ant posted 19 weeks ago.
My husband travels to China a lot and says it is beyond bad. He is hardly ever outside and keeps to his workouts to the hotel gym, and he says it takes him a week being back home for his lungs to clean out. He said that in all his trips there, he has never even seen a blue sky or the sun for that matter.
"90% of the game is half mental" Yogi Berra
Training for the Elements in Beijing - Should Triathletes get out in the SMOG?
A comedic take on the alternative training for the elements in Beijing (pollution, etc):
SWEEP Training for Beijing Athletes
Thoughts?
Brian
Writer - The Endurance News Network - http://www.endurancenews.net