Runners train for months, sometimes years, to prepare to run a 26-mile marathon, an exhaustingly grueling experience even under the best conditions.
But many participants in Sunday’s Beijing International Marathon were understandably upset when a gray cloud of pollution blanketed the city, forcing many to wear masks to block out the dirty air and persuading others to drop out of the race.
About 30,000 runners showed up for the marathon despite the smog, which was found to be about 16 times the recommended limit set by the World Health Organization. Before the race, organizers warned about slight or moderate smog, but the U.S. Embassy in Beijing classified the air quality on Sunday as “hazardous.”
The Beijing News reported that runners were given water-soaked sponges and advised to “clean” their skin after it was “exposed to the air.”
“It was really exhausting. Lots of athletes pulled out halfway because of the haze,” said Ma Dong, a 22-year-old male runner. “It was really uncomfortable wearing a mask during the marathon as you can’t breathe freely.”
British runner Chas Pope decided to pull out of the race after six miles, when he realized he was doing more harm to his body than good. “When I looked at the state of the mask after 10 km I decided enough was enough. It felt pretty ridiculous given we’re meant to be running for health and fitness.”
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