There have been a lot of ozone warnings for our area recently. That's something we runners should pay attention to.
Ozone is a good thing when it's way up in the sky where it belongs, filtering UV rays, but when it accumulates down here where we live and run and breathe, it's unhealthy. Here in the foothills we are snug up against the east side of the mountains. Those mountains block a lot of the eastward moving weather patterns, so the air doesn't get cleared out as much. Smog accumulates, and that forms ozone in the air, especially when it's hot, especially when the wind is still, and especially when it hasn't rained much. The Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) keeps tabs on ground-level ozone and issues a forecast, which you can check [here]. Right now the forecast for tomorrow, July 1, is into the range that is "unhealthy for sensitive groups" ... and if you'll scroll down that page to their definition you'll see that "sensitive" isn't just people who already have asthma, but also "active children and adults." That's us.
I believe it. I ignored the ozone warning a couple weeks ago and went running for a while -- I cut it short because I felt like I was huffing exhaust fumes, and I wasn't even on a busy road. Repeat exposure can cause respiratory illness, so if health is one of our reasons for running ... maybe we should stay inside and stretch or something when the ozone is bad.
Ozone is a good thing when it's way up in the sky where it belongs, filtering UV rays, but when it accumulates down here where we live and run and breathe, it's unhealthy. Here in the foothills we are snug up against the east side of the mountains. Those mountains block a lot of the eastward moving weather patterns, so the air doesn't get cleared out as much. Smog accumulates, and that forms ozone in the air, especially when it's hot, especially when the wind is still, and especially when it hasn't rained much. The Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) keeps tabs on ground-level ozone and issues a forecast, which you can check [here]. Right now the forecast for tomorrow, July 1, is into the range that is "unhealthy for sensitive groups" ... and if you'll scroll down that page to their definition you'll see that "sensitive" isn't just people who already have asthma, but also "active children and adults." That's us.
I believe it. I ignored the ozone warning a couple weeks ago and went running for a while -- I cut it short because I felt like I was huffing exhaust fumes, and I wasn't even on a busy road. Repeat exposure can cause respiratory illness, so if health is one of our reasons for running ... maybe we should stay inside and stretch or something when the ozone is bad.
( source: http://www.epa.gov/air/oaqps/gooduphigh/ )
News and Announcements:
Seneca High School alumnus Lakya Brookins wrapped up her Senior year for the Gamecocks at the NCAA championships. She came in 6th in her last race, the 100m dash. Sure, it would have been cool to punctuate her college career with a first place finish -- but, hey, she's a two time indoor 60m champ and spent a few weeks just recently as "the fastest woman in the world" ... doing that well in the finals doesn't exactly tarnish her career. I look forward to seeing what's next for her. [link]
At the same NCAA championships, Clemson women came in 7th as a team. [link] Several Clemson Tigers, past and present, went to the USA Championships in Eugene OR. A couple of hept- and decathlon guys did well, but not much from the distance runners. Coach Lawrence Johnson got ACC coach of the year, again. A summary for the season is [here]. Let's root for a great upcoming senior year for Kim Ruck!
Online registration is open for the Walhalla Eagle Race at active.com. [here] Club members, please use the paper registration to give yourself the $5 discount. Better yet, please volunteer to help at the race.
Oconee Road Runners Club members now get a 15% discount at runningwarehouse.com . With that, plus the discounts on several area races, the monetary benefits of membership are more than the membership cost, so why not join?
Oconee Road Runners Club members now get a 15% discount at runningwarehouse.com . With that, plus the discounts on several area races, the monetary benefits of membership are more than the membership cost, so why not join?
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